November 1, 2026
A Hare-O is the person who gets their rabbit vaccinated against RHDV2 before the virus ever comes close. You don't need a cape. You need two vet visits about three weeks apart, then one visit a year.
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus type 2 (RHDV2) kills rabbits fast, often before anyone sees a sign that something is wrong. The USDA reports that rabbit hemorrhagic disease kills 50 to 100 percent of the rabbits it infects. Medgene, the company that makes the vaccine used in the United States, now describes RHDV2 as endemic here. It is not going away.
Our earlier post, RHDV2 Vaccination for Rabbits in Tennessee, covers which rabbits should be vaccinated and what history to bring. This post covers how the virus reaches rabbits who never go outside, what the vaccine can and can't do, and the everyday habits that keep your rabbit safer.
RHDV2 moves from rabbit to rabbit directly and on anything an infected rabbit has touched. Your rabbit may share a pet sitter, a carrier, a show table or a rescue foster home with other rabbits. When your rabbit is vaccinated, that is one fewer rabbit the virus can take down.
Being a Hare-O looks like this:
Many of the rabbits we see never set a paw outdoors. That is good for them in a lot of ways, but it doesn't keep RHDV2 out. The virus is tough. Researchers studying the vaccine note that it can survive in the environment for months.
It can come into your home on:
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture warns that the virus can survive in feed and bedding for a long time. Your rabbit eats hay every day, and we want it that way. That is a big reason we recommend the vaccine for indoor rabbits too.
Yes. In January 2022, the Tennessee State Veterinarian confirmed RHDV2 in two domestic rabbits at one location in East Tennessee. Across the country, the USDA reports ongoing outbreaks in wild, feral and domestic rabbits. The USDA keeps an interactive map of where the virus has been found. Check it before you travel with your rabbit or bring a new rabbit home.
At Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital we use the Medgene RHDV2 vaccine. It contains no live virus, so it cannot give your rabbit RHDV2. Instead it carries a single protein from the virus's outer shell. Your rabbit's immune system learns that protein, so it is ready to respond if the real virus ever shows up.
The research behind it is encouraging:
No vaccine protects every animal. Vaccinated pet rabbits in Europe have died of RHDV2. A vaccinated rabbit can also pick up the virus without getting sick and may still pass it on. That is why the habits further down still matter after your rabbit is vaccinated.
When the vaccine first arrived, each bottle held enough for ten rabbits and had to be used right away. We were among the early practices in Tennessee to offer the vaccine, and we held group vaccine clinics so no bottle went to waste. That bottle size is also why I studied whether an opened bottle stays free of bacteria and fungi over 16 days. You can read about that study in Can an Opened RHDV2 Vaccine Vial Stay Sterile?
In 2025 Medgene began making single-dose vials, and that is what we stock now. Your rabbit can be vaccinated on a day that works for you, the same way you would book a wellness exam.
Rabbits starting the vaccine need two visits about 3 weeks apart, then a yearly booster. Medgene reports that rabbits are fully protected about two weeks after the second visit, so plan ahead before a move, a show season or a new rabbit coming home.
Most rabbits go home and act like themselves. A 2024 study followed 29 pet rabbits through their vaccine series. Neither their families nor the veterinarians noticed any problems from the vaccine, and their bloodwork stayed within normal ranges.
Some rabbits have mild changes that pass quickly:
If your rabbit stops eating, or seems more than a little off, call us. A rabbit who is not eating should be seen the same day.
Both problems can start with a rabbit who won't eat. GI stasis is a slowdown of the gut. RHDV2 is a virus that mainly attacks the liver and can cause bleeding.
These signs point more toward RHDV2:
Either way, call (615) 361-4646 right away. If you live with more than one rabbit and one becomes sick or dies suddenly, tell the front desk when you call. After hours, contact Veterinary Emergency Group in Franklin, Murfreesboro or West Nashville.
Dr. Kopp is an exotic companion mammal specialist who sees rabbits from across the Middle Tennessee area. Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital sees patients by appointment only, so please call first, and our front desk will book your rabbit's visit. If your rabbit has had an RHDV2 vaccine somewhere else, bring the date. RHDV2 Vaccination for Rabbits in Tennessee covers what else to bring, and our rabbit care page covers the rest of what we do for rabbits.
Call Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital at (615) 361-4646 to book an appointment with Dr. Kopp.
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.