Warning on killer rabbit disease

The disease affects the rabbit's eyes and ears

Rabbit owners are being urged to vaccinate their pets following a recent rise in cases of myxomatosis.

Lincolnshire vet Caroline Barton said there had been an "exceptionally high number" of domestic rabbits being diagnosed with the disease in October.

She said this was down to an outbreak in the wild rabbit population, which can then spread to domestic animals through fleas.

Myxomatosis is a fatal viral disease that arrived in the UK 50 years ago.

Ms Barton from the Rase veterinary centre, said: "Unfortunately, every year, or every other year, we get waves of the disease among the wild rabbit population.

"Once they're affected then it's all too easy for the disease to be crossed to the domestic species."

She added that the symptoms of the disease include an inflammation of the eyes, an increased breathing rate and loss of appetite.