Myxomatosis in Rabbits: Symptoms, Transmission, and Emergency Care
- See your vet immediately if your rabbit has swollen eyelids, eye or nose discharge, skin lumps, fever, trouble breathing, or stops eating.
- Myxomatosis is a severe poxvirus infection of rabbits. It often spreads through biting insects such as fleas, mosquitoes, and mites, and can also spread by direct contact with infected rabbits or contaminated items.
- There is no specific cure. Care is supportive and may include fluids, assisted feeding, pain control, oxygen support, and treatment for secondary bacterial infections.
- Prognosis is often poor, especially in severe cases. Early isolation and fast veterinary care help protect other rabbits and may improve comfort and outcomes in milder infections.
What Is Myxomatosis in Rabbits?
Myxomatosis is a serious viral disease caused by the myxoma virus, a member of the poxvirus family. It affects domestic and wild rabbits, especially European rabbits, and can cause rapid swelling, skin lesions, eye disease, breathing problems, and death. In pet rabbits, this is considered an emergency because rabbits can decline quickly once signs appear. (petmd.com)
The disease is uncommon in many indoor pet rabbits in the United States, but it has been reported in parts of the western U.S., including California and Oregon. Severity can vary by viral strain and the rabbit's overall condition, but many cases are severe. Because rabbits often hide illness until they are very sick, even subtle swelling around the eyes or a sudden drop in appetite deserves urgent attention from your vet. (petmd.com)
For pet parents, the most important takeaway is this: myxomatosis is not a wait-and-see problem. If your rabbit seems puffy around the face, has crusty eyes, develops skin nodules, or becomes quiet and stops eating, prompt veterinary care matters both for your rabbit and for any other rabbits in the home. (petmd.com)
Symptoms of Myxomatosis in Rabbits
- Swollen, red eyelids or puffy face
- Eye discharge or crusting around the eyes
- Nasal discharge
- Skin nodules, lumps, or scabby lesions on the face, ears, eyelids, or genitals
- Drooping ears
- Fever and marked lethargy
- Poor appetite or refusal to eat
- Trouble breathing or open-mouth breathing
- Blue-purple skin spots, skin bleeding, or rapid collapse
Early signs can look like conjunctivitis or mild facial swelling, but myxomatosis can worsen fast. Rabbits may develop swollen eyelids, discharge from the eyes or nose, droopy ears, fever, and firm skin nodules that later scab. As the disease progresses, some rabbits become weak, stop eating, develop pneumonia or secondary infections, and may die within days. (petmd.com)
When to worry: right away. See your vet immediately if your rabbit has facial swelling, eye swelling, breathing changes, or has eaten less than normal. In rabbits, decreased appetite and reduced fecal output are urgent warning signs even before a diagnosis is confirmed. Keep your rabbit away from other rabbits until your vet advises otherwise. (petmd.com)
What Causes Myxomatosis in Rabbits?
Myxomatosis is caused by infection with the myxoma virus. The most common route of spread is through biting insects and external parasites, especially fleas, mosquitoes, mites, and ticks. In some regions, contaminated thorns or skin injuries have also been linked to transmission. This means a rabbit does not need direct nose-to-nose contact with a sick rabbit to become infected. (petmd.com)
Direct contact can also spread the virus. Rabbits may be exposed through infected eye or nasal discharge, shared bedding, bowls, litter materials, or other contaminated items, though indirect spread is thought to be less common than insect-borne transmission. Outdoor housing, contact with wild rabbits, and warm-weather insect activity can all raise risk. (petmd.com)
For pet parents, that means prevention is not only about avoiding sick rabbits. It also includes insect control, careful hygiene, and reducing outdoor exposure in areas where the disease occurs. If one rabbit in your home is suspected to have myxomatosis, separate that rabbit and speak with your vet about protecting any bonded or nearby rabbits. (petmd.com)
How Is Myxomatosis in Rabbits Diagnosed?
Your vet will usually start with a physical exam and history, including where your rabbit lives, whether they go outdoors, insect exposure, and whether there has been contact with wild rabbits. In many cases, the pattern of signs, such as swollen eyelids, skin nodules, fever, and discharge, creates strong suspicion before lab results are back. (petmd.com)
Diagnosis may include blood work and testing of tissue or lesion samples to confirm infection. Your vet may also look for complications such as dehydration, pneumonia, or secondary bacterial infection, because these problems often shape the immediate care plan. Since other rabbit illnesses can also cause eye discharge, swelling, or skin changes, testing helps your vet separate myxomatosis from other conditions and guide isolation decisions. (petmd.com)
If myxomatosis is suspected, your vet may recommend strict isolation and may need to follow local reporting requirements or public animal health guidance depending on where you live and the circumstances of the case. (petmd.com)
Treatment Options for Myxomatosis in Rabbits
Spectrum of Care means you have options. Here are treatment tiers at different price points.
Budget-Conscious Care
- Urgent exam and isolation guidance
- Basic supportive care plan for home if your vet feels it is appropriate
- Subcutaneous fluids in some cases
- Assisted feeding instructions and recovery diet
- Pain and inflammation control as prescribed by your vet
- Discussion of humane euthanasia if suffering is severe or prognosis is grave
Recommended Standard Treatment
- Urgent exam with rabbit-safe handling and isolation
- Blood work and targeted diagnostics
- Hospitalization for fluid therapy and temperature support
- Assisted feeding or syringe feeding support
- Pain control and anti-inflammatory medication as prescribed by your vet
- Antibiotics when your vet is concerned about secondary bacterial infection
- Monitoring for pneumonia, dehydration, and reduced fecal output
Advanced / Critical Care
- 24-hour or specialty hospitalization
- Intravenous fluids and intensive nursing care
- Oxygen support for respiratory distress
- Advanced imaging or repeated lab monitoring if complications develop
- Aggressive nutritional support
- Management of severe secondary infections, sepsis risk, or pneumonia
- End-of-life and humane euthanasia discussions if suffering cannot be controlled
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.
- Based on my rabbit's exam, how strongly do you suspect myxomatosis versus another illness?
- What tests would help confirm the diagnosis, and which ones are most useful right now?
- Does my rabbit need hospitalization, or is there a safe home-care option?
- What signs mean my rabbit is getting worse and needs emergency recheck today?
- How should I isolate my rabbit from other rabbits in the home?
- What supportive feeding plan do you recommend if appetite is poor?
- Are there signs of pneumonia, dehydration, or secondary infection?
- What is the expected cost range for conservative, standard, and advanced care in my rabbit's case?
How to Prevent Myxomatosis in Rabbits
Prevention focuses on reducing exposure to the virus and the insects that carry it. In areas where myxomatosis occurs, keeping rabbits indoors is one of the most practical steps. Use intact window screens, avoid standing water that attracts mosquitoes, and talk with your vet before using any flea or parasite product on a rabbit. This matters because some dog and cat parasite products, especially those containing fipronil, can be dangerous for rabbits. (petmd.com)
Do not allow contact with wild rabbits, and wash hands, change clothes, and clean equipment if you have handled outdoor rabbits or visited areas where wild rabbits live. If you have multiple rabbits, quarantine any rabbit with eye swelling, discharge, skin lesions, or sudden illness until your vet advises otherwise. Shared bowls, litter boxes, bedding, and carriers should be cleaned carefully. (petmd.com)
At this time, routine vaccination against myxomatosis is not available for pet rabbits in the United States. That makes environmental prevention especially important for U.S. pet parents. Your vet can help you build a prevention plan based on your rabbit's housing, region, and insect exposure risk. (petmd.com)