Myxomatosis in Rabbits: Symptoms, Prevention & Vaccination

Quick Answer
  • Myxomatosis is a serious poxvirus infection in rabbits that can progress quickly and is often fatal, especially in pet rabbits.
  • Common early signs include puffy eyelids, eye discharge, ear or genital swelling, skin nodules, fever, low appetite, and lethargy.
  • See your vet immediately if your rabbit has facial swelling, trouble breathing, stops eating, or seems weak. Rabbits can decline fast when they are ill.
  • There is no specific antiviral cure. Care is usually supportive and may include fluids, assisted feeding, pain control, anti-inflammatory medication, and treatment for secondary bacterial infections.
  • In the United States, prevention focuses on keeping rabbits away from biting insects and wild rabbits. A myxomatosis vaccine is not currently available for rabbits in the U.S.
Estimated cost: $90–$250

What Is Myxomatosis in Rabbits?

Myxomatosis is a viral disease caused by the myxoma virus, a member of the poxvirus family. It affects rabbits, especially European rabbits and domestic pet rabbits, and can cause severe swelling, skin lesions, eye inflammation, fever, breathing problems, and rapid decline. In pet rabbits, the disease is often very serious.

Many pet parents first notice puffy eyelids, eye discharge, or swelling around the face and ears. As the illness progresses, rabbits may stop eating, become weak, or develop skin nodules and respiratory distress. Because rabbits can become dehydrated and go into gastrointestinal slowdown quickly when they feel unwell, early veterinary attention matters.

In the United States, myxomatosis is uncommon compared with some other rabbit diseases, but it has been reported, especially in western areas and in outdoor rabbits with insect exposure. Your vet may also consider reporting suspected cases to animal health authorities because myxomatosis is a monitored reportable disease in the U.S.

Symptoms of Myxomatosis in Rabbits

  • Puffy, swollen eyelids
  • Eye discharge or conjunctivitis
  • Swelling of the ears, lips, nose, or genital area
  • Skin nodules or scabby lumps
  • Fever and lethargy
  • Reduced appetite or not eating
  • Trouble breathing
  • Ear droop or severe weakness

See your vet immediately if your rabbit has facial swelling, eye swelling, discharge, skin lumps, fever, or any drop in appetite. Treat breathing difficulty, collapse, or refusal to eat as an emergency. Myxomatosis can worsen over days, and even mild-looking signs in rabbits deserve prompt attention because rabbits hide illness well.

What Causes Myxomatosis in Rabbits?

Myxomatosis is caused by infection with the myxoma virus. The virus is most often spread by biting insects and external parasites, including mosquitoes, fleas, mites, ticks, and biting flies. That means rabbits living outdoors, spending time on porches or in yards, or living in areas with heavy insect activity may have higher exposure risk.

The virus can also spread through direct contact with infected rabbits or their eye and nasal secretions. Less commonly, contaminated items such as bedding, food bowls, water bottles, or hands and clothing may play a role. Contact with wild rabbits increases risk, especially in regions where the disease has been documented.

Outdoor housing is not the only concern. Indoor rabbits can still be exposed if insects get inside, if hay or supplies are contaminated, or if people handle wild rabbits and then interact with their pet rabbit without changing clothes and washing up. Your vet can help you assess your rabbit's specific risk based on where you live and how your rabbit is housed.

How Is Myxomatosis in Rabbits Diagnosed?

Your vet usually starts with a history and physical exam. The pattern of swelling around the eyes, ears, and genitals, along with skin nodules, fever, and lethargy, can make myxomatosis a strong concern. Your vet will also ask about outdoor time, insect exposure, contact with wild rabbits, and whether other rabbits in the home are affected.

Diagnosis is often presumptive at first, meaning your vet may suspect myxomatosis based on the clinical picture while also ruling out other causes of swelling, eye disease, skin lesions, or respiratory illness. Depending on the case, testing may include bloodwork, cytology, or laboratory testing on tissue or blood samples to help confirm infection.

Because myxomatosis can resemble other serious rabbit diseases, your vet may also discuss differentials such as abscesses, severe conjunctivitis, trauma, allergic reactions, rabbit hemorrhagic disease, or other infectious conditions. If myxomatosis is suspected, isolation from other rabbits is important while your vet guides next steps.

Treatment Options for Myxomatosis in Rabbits

Spectrum of Care means you have options. Here are treatment tiers at different price points.

Budget-Conscious Care

$150–$450
Best for: Rabbits with suspected early disease, pet parents needing a lower-cost starting plan, or cases where hospitalization is not feasible.
  • Urgent exam with isolation recommendations
  • Basic supportive care plan for home or outpatient management when appropriate
  • Subcutaneous fluids if needed
  • Assisted feeding instructions and recovery diet guidance
  • Pain control and anti-inflammatory medication if your vet feels it is appropriate
  • Discussion of quality-of-life monitoring and humane euthanasia if suffering is severe
Expected outcome: Guarded to poor. Some rabbits with milder strains may survive, but many pet rabbits decline despite care.
Consider: Lower upfront cost, but less monitoring and fewer interventions. Rabbits can worsen quickly at home, especially if they stop eating or develop breathing trouble.
Most Common

Recommended Standard Treatment

$400–$1,500
Best for: Most pet rabbits with suspected myxomatosis that are still stable enough for active supportive treatment.
  • Urgent exam and rabbit-safe isolation protocols
  • Bloodwork and targeted diagnostics as recommended by your vet
  • Fluid therapy
  • Assisted feeding or syringe feeding support
  • Pain control and anti-inflammatory medication
  • Antibiotics when secondary bacterial infection is suspected
  • Close rechecks or short hospitalization depending on severity
Expected outcome: Guarded. Supportive care may improve comfort and help some rabbits with less severe disease, but mortality remains high.
Consider: More complete monitoring and treatment than conservative care, but still no specific antiviral cure. Costs rise with repeat visits, rechecks, and nursing care.

Advanced / Critical Care

$1,500–$4,000
Best for: Critically ill rabbits, rabbits with respiratory distress or severe dehydration, or pet parents wanting the fullest available supportive care.
  • Hospitalization with intensive nursing care
  • Intravenous fluids and warming support
  • Oxygen support if breathing is affected
  • Frequent syringe feeding or feeding tube support in select cases
  • Advanced diagnostics and repeated monitoring
  • Aggressive treatment of secondary infections or complications
  • End-of-life discussions if suffering becomes severe despite treatment
Expected outcome: Poor to grave in severe cases, though advanced supportive care may improve comfort and give selected rabbits the best chance of short-term stabilization.
Consider: Highest cost range and emotional intensity. Even with intensive care, survival is uncertain because treatment is supportive rather than curative.

Cost estimates as of 2026-03. Actual costs vary by location, clinic, and individual case.

Questions to Ask Your Vet About Myxomatosis in Rabbits

Bring these questions to your vet appointment to get the most out of your visit.

  1. Based on my rabbit's signs and where we live, how likely is myxomatosis compared with other causes?
  2. Does my rabbit need to be isolated from other rabbits in the home right away?
  3. What supportive care does my rabbit need today, and what can safely be done at home versus in the hospital?
  4. Are there signs of pain, dehydration, pneumonia, or secondary infection that change the treatment plan?
  5. What warning signs mean I should return immediately, especially overnight or this weekend?
  6. What is the expected cost range for conservative, standard, and advanced care in my rabbit's case?
  7. If my rabbit survives, what kind of recovery timeline and long-term skin or facial changes might happen?
  8. What insect control and housing changes do you recommend to reduce risk for my other rabbits?

How to Prevent Myxomatosis in Rabbits

Prevention centers on reducing exposure to insects and infected rabbits. In the United States, if you live in an area where myxomatosis has been reported or where biting insects are common, keeping your rabbit indoors is one of the most practical ways to lower risk. Outdoor hutches and exercise pens increase exposure to mosquitoes, fleas, and wild rabbits.

Use screens, mosquito netting, and your vet's recommended parasite control plan for rabbits. Not every flea or parasite product used in dogs and cats is safe for rabbits, so ask your vet before applying anything. Good sanitation also helps: clean bowls, litter areas, and housing regularly, and avoid sharing supplies between rabbits unless they have been disinfected.

Try to prevent any contact with wild rabbits or hares, and wash your hands after handling other rabbits or spending time in areas where wild rabbits are present. If you touch a wild rabbit, change clothes and shoes before handling your pet rabbit.

For U.S. pet parents, an important point is that a myxomatosis vaccine is not currently available for rabbits in the United States. In some other countries, vaccines may be used in certain settings, but U.S. prevention relies mainly on housing, insect control, quarantine, and prompt veterinary care for any suspicious signs.

Find a Vet Near You