The fields where I take the dogs has had a very bad outbreak of myxomatosis. Is it safe to still walk the dogs as they have been known to eat 'rabbits poo'

Yes, its no threat to your dogs at all. You may find that your dogs will be able to catch the rabbits very easily if they have myxy. It is a truly awful disease and the rabbits take ages to die from it :-(

Now just being facetious, if you allowed your dog to hunt these poor beggars could you still be accused of cruelty, or euthanasia?

If you mean under the threatened hunting with dogs bill, in theory no, because they are wabbit not hares :rolleyes: And just for the record, personally we don't let our HPR's deliberately 'hunt' myxy rabbit or any rabbit come to that. But because the rabbits are so sick the dogs just pick them up and retrieve them. At least we get the chance to put them out of their misery then :-( No doubt that would be seen as cruel by some people.

I think Myxy is due to a mite or flea isn't it?

Christine

It is a manmade nasty virus, that is spread by fleas, and direct contact!

I used to show rabbits, and one of my friends had all her meat rabbits wiped out. they were collecting point for the abatoire butcher? They got myxy from affected stock fom another producer. some Rabbits recovwer, and become resistant!

Better that way Leigh than a long, slow, painful death that this awful disease causes them :-(

Don't let them eat the mixy rabbits!! Tinker has a cast iron border collie constitution and she was really really unwell. :( It was coming out of both ends and she ran a really high temperature. Dogs can't catch it , but it can make them pretty ill.

Once they've been like this, they give the mixy bunnies a wide berth from then on.

You can ask my hubbie for further clarification. He was the one who discovered exactly how unwell she was and the day is burned into his memory. :D