Causes of Rabbit Immune Failure & Prevention Strategies

Common Causes of Immunization Failure in Rabbits

1. Improper Storage and Quality of Vaccines: Many rabbit farmers fail to store vaccines according to the recommended guidelines, leading to spoilage. This can occur either due to inadequate storage conditions or by administering too small a dose of the vaccine, both of which contribute to immunization failure in rabbits.

2. Incorrect Vaccination Techniques:

Uninformed Vaccination: Some farmers vaccinate rabbits without a thorough understanding of the local disease prevalence or without proper research, leading to inappropriate vaccinations.

Incorrect Injection Methods: While most rabbit vaccines are administered subcutaneously, some farmers mistakenly use intramuscular injections or fail to disinfect properly during subcutaneous administration, resulting in local skin infections and reduced vaccine efficacy.

Excessive Antibiotic Use: Some farmers use large amounts of antibiotics following vaccination to prevent stress or engage in excessive disinfection postvaccination, which can weaken the vaccine's immunity and the rabbit herd's overall immunity.

3. Inadequate Immunization Schedules: Many farmers do not keep proper records of vaccination times and doses, leading to missed or overdue vaccinations. Additionally, some may incorrectly assume that rabbits need frequent vaccinations, inadvertently neutralizing the antibodies produced by the previous vaccine, thereby lowering the rabbit's antibody levels and increasing the risk of infection.

It's also important to note that vaccinating rabbits before 30 days of age can be detrimental, as their immune systems are not fully developed and they still retain maternal antibodies. Most vaccines are suitable for rabbits over one month old, after weaning, as they are more effective and safer at this stage.

4. Impact of Rabbit Herd Health: The overall health of the rabbit herd significantly affects the effectiveness of vaccinations. Vaccinating rabbits that are already infected or in the incubation period of a disease can lead to acute deaths, especially during outbreaks.

Stress in rabbits can also lead to immunization failure. Sudden changes in living conditions or a poor environment can cause chronic diseases or stress, drastically reducing the herd's immune response and ultimately resulting in immunization failure.

These are some of the common reasons for immunization failure in rabbits, as highlighted by Oxygen Pet Doctor. It is crucial for rabbit owners to educate themselves on proper vaccination practices to ensure the health and wellbeing of their rabbits.