Rabies is a severe and nearly always fatal viral disease caused by a Lyssavirus that affects the central nervous system of all mammals, including rabbits. It is primarily transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. While rabbits are susceptible to the virus, they are not considered primary carriers or vectors like raccoons, bats, or skunks. Documented cases confirm that infection is possible, despite its rarity.
Understanding the Low Risk of Rabies in Rabbits
The risk of a rabbit, whether wild or domestic, contracting and transmitting rabies is significantly low compared to carnivorous mammals. This low prevalence is due to biological and behavioral factors. As prey animals, rabbits rarely survive an attack from a rabid predator, which is the primary mode of transmission. They often succumb to the physical trauma of a bite before the virus can complete its incubation period.
Rabbits also lack the aggressive, territorial behavior that facilitates the spread of the virus among primary vectors like foxes or raccoons. In the United States, rabbits and other lagomorphs are almost never found to be infected with rabies or known to transmit the disease to humans. Most neurological issues observed in pet rabbits are caused by far more common diseases that mimic rabies symptoms.
These common ailments include Encephalitozoon cuniculi, a parasitic infection targeting the nervous system, kidneys, and eyes, which causes symptoms like head tilt, lack of coordination, paralysis, and seizures. Another frequent cause of neurological signs is Pasteurellosis, a bacterial infection that can spread to the middle ear and brain, leading to head tilts and imbalance. Therefore, when a rabbit shows neurological distress, the likelihood of it being one of these common infections is statistically much higher than rabies.
Transmission and Clinical Signs in Rabbits
Rabies transmission to a rabbit is almost exclusively the result of a bite from a rabid mammal, such as a raccoon, fox, or bat, as the virus is concentrated in the infected animal’s saliva. The virus must be deposited deep into the muscle tissue through a wound for the infection to take hold. Once the virus enters the body, it travels through the peripheral nerves to the brain and spinal cord, causing fatal inflammation.
The incubation period in rabbits can vary but is often relatively short, with symptoms typically appearing within two to three weeks of exposure. Infected rabbits usually develop the paralytic, or “dumb,” form of rabies, which contrasts with the aggressive “furious” form seen in dogs or cats. Initial symptoms are often non-specific and may include lethargy, fever, and a lack of appetite.
As the infection progresses, specific neurological signs become apparent, including poor coordination, hind limb weakness, and eventually ascending paralysis. Other observable symptoms may involve head tremors, difficulty swallowing, excessive drooling, or a slack jaw. The disease course is rapid once symptoms begin, with death typically occurring within three to ten days.
Responding to Potential Exposure
If a pet rabbit is bitten or exposed to saliva from a wild animal, immediate action is required. The rabbit must be isolated from humans and other pets, and a veterinarian should be contacted right away for consultation and quarantine advice. Since rabies is a reportable disease, the incident must be reported to local animal control or public health authorities.
There is currently no rabies vaccine approved for use in rabbits in the United States, limiting preventative measures once exposure has occurred. If a human is bitten by a wild rabbit, the wound should be thoroughly washed with soap and water, and medical consultation should be sought immediately. Due to the low probability of a rabbit carrying the virus, post-exposure prophylaxis is rare, but the decision is made by medical professionals and public health guidance. The primary prevention method for pet rabbits is securing their enclosure to prevent contact with wildlife.