Can mice transmit diseases or parasites to my pet rabbit?

There are a few diseases that a wild rabbit can carry, but fortunately they are not commonly ones that would affect people, or be easily transmitted from the cat to people. There are a few different parasites that they can get from rabbits, so it will be a good idea to have her dewormed sometime soon to prevent the worms from growing. Your vet can recommend the best dewormer to prevent the worms of concern with rabbits (roundworms and tapeworms are the more common ones). As long as Sunday is not showing any signs of illness, the chances of her transmitting a disease like tularemia (https://www.cdc.gov/tularemia/) is not likely. If she happens to appear ill (vomiting, decrease in activity, decrease in appetite, diarrhea, breathing heavily, etc.), then it would be best to keep her away from your children and have a vet evaluate her as soon as possible. It would be rare for her to have acquired a disease that she can transmit to you or your children, but you can always take some precautions just to be sure. You can keep her separate (contact is really the only concern) from the children for 7-10 days to be extra safe. If she does not have any signs of illness during this time, then it's very unlikely she will have a disease that can be transmitted. I hope that helps and all is well.

Thanks for reaching out about Fluffy. There is a relatively low risk of cross-contamination but a possibility. Diseases such as leptosporosis or Encephalitozoan cuniculi can be horizontally transmitted through the urine and feces, it really depends on what area of the United States you live in. Contacting a local veterinarian with experience with rabbits and exotics should be able to answer those questions. If concerned, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic plan. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about your pets. Different species of animals commonly carry bacteria that can be harmful to other species, but most commonly transmitted by bites or claws. It is not recommended that predator and prey species co-habitate. Just be careful. Good luck.

Rabbits are not susceptible to heartworm infection. They can get other parasitic and bacterial infections though. Keep the area in and around the hutch clean to avoid attracting flies and wildlife. Monitor your rabbit for lethargy, loose droppings, or decreased appetite. Since rabbits can be sensitive to many different medications, it is always best to have a sick or injured rabbit physically examined by your veterinarian before any treatment or medication is administered.

I do not recommend it. Wild mice can carry many diseases including hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), Tularemia, and Salmonella. It's a very real concern with keeping these wild animals, and I highly recommend getting an exterminator in to get rid of them. I hope this helps.

In general, there are very few instances of any diseases being passed from a hamster to a human. There are, however, rare instances of some diseases (bacterial or rarely viral) being passed from small mammals to humans. The ones we may rarely see in hamsters could include Camplyobacter, Salmonella, and Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus. You can read more about these diseases at https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pets/small-mammals/index.html . As I mentioned, however, they are very rare.

Hi and thank you for this question. Yes, in theory the same bacteria from your cats sneezing can cause snuffles to your rabbit (although rabbits usually get it from other rabbits). It is recommended that you have your cats examined by a vet, and also tjat you minimize their contact Topaz.