October 2026
A rabbit can look fine at breakfast and be critically ill by afternoon. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type 2 (RHDV2) is highly contagious and often fatal. It has been confirmed in multiple states. For pet rabbits, vaccination is the main protection we have.
I have talked about this virus in local media because the useful time to act is before a rabbit is exposed, not after. At Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital we offer the vaccine. Part of that visit is deciding, with you, whether your rabbit should have it and when the next dose is due.
RHDV2 spreads readily between rabbits. A sick rabbit does not have to live in the house for the virus to arrive. Indoor rabbits can be exposed through shoes, clothing, or other materials brought in from outside. Living entirely indoors does not close the question.
The risk is easier to picture when a rabbit goes outdoors, attends shows, or lives with other rabbits. Those households should talk through vaccination. An indoor rabbit still deserves the same conversation. Tell us how your rabbit lives. That history is what the recommendation hangs on.
The vaccine is generally well tolerated. What is commonly done is an initial series of two doses, followed by annual boosters. Your veterinarian will recommend a schedule for your rabbit. I do not want a printed calendar to stand in for that conversation, because the right timing depends on the rabbit in front of us and on how that rabbit lives.
Vaccination is the main layer of protection currently available. It does not make a rabbit invincible. A new rabbit still needs a plan before joining the household, and your veterinarian should be part of that plan. Hay, a calm setup, and a sensible introduction are medicine here, the same way a vaccine is medicine.
Tell me the rabbit's age, whether they go outdoors, whether they attend shows, and how many rabbits live in the home. That history is what the recommendation hangs on. Indoor rabbits are not automatically low risk. Shoes, clothing, and other materials can bring the virus in from outside. Outdoor rabbits, show rabbits, and multi-rabbit households should discuss vaccination even when every rabbit looks well.
I have talked about RHDV2 in local media, and the clinic offers the vaccine. If another veterinarian already gave a dose, bring the date. Your veterinarian will recommend a schedule from there. The commonly used pattern is still an initial series of two doses, then annual boosters, adjusted to the rabbit in front of us.
Call now if a rabbit becomes suddenly weak, collapses, or stops eating, especially if other rabbits live in the home. These animals can decline quickly, and a rabbit who was fine this morning should not wait overnight.
Book soon if your rabbit has never been vaccinated, or if you are not sure when the last dose was given. Outdoor rabbits, show rabbits, and multi-rabbit households should have that conversation before a problem shows up.
To schedule an RHDV2 vaccine at Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital, call (615) 361-4646.
This article is general information, not medical advice for your pet. Reading it doesn't create a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR). Please talk with your own veterinarian before making changes to your pet's care.