VETS are hoping this years’ Rabbit Awareness Week, which runs until the May 17, will encourage owners of almost 1m rabbits to get their pet vaccinated.

In the UK up to 75 per cent of 1-1.3m pet rabbits are not vaccinated, meaning up to 975,000 rabbits are at risk from diseases including myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease (vhd).

Huw Stacey, head of clinical services at Vets4Pets, said: “Vaccinating your rabbit and providing it with regular boosters is the best way to help avoid the fatal VHD disease and the potentially fatal myxomatosis.”