Myxomatosis - a reply

Authors: Cozens GB
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 33, Issue 12, pp 218, Dec 1985
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Wildlife
Subject Terms: Animal welfare, Biosecurity, Legal/regulation, Viral, Pest/pesticides, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Veterinary profession
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: With reference to the communication “Myxomatosis” by Dodd, Jackson, Mulvaney, Bishop and Jopp (N.Z. .vet.J. 33:154). I have recently returned from two and a half years practice in England-two years in a mixed animal practice in the Cotswold area. During that time clients presented a number of pet rabbits for treatment suffering from myxomatosis and feral rabbits for euthanasia. The general public noticed this disease due to its very visual nature e.g. rabbit found huddled in the middle of the road with a mucopurulent ocular and nasal discharge. In a time when the animal welfare community is trying to influence farming and veterinary practices generally it must be the time that the profession must not be seen to be condoning animal suffering. This is what support for introducing such a disease must be seen as. If we intend to maintain our privileged position we must…

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