What Is Fly Strike and How Do I Prevent My Rabbit From Getting It?

With the weather heating up and summer almost here, there are a few things you'll need to pay more attention to than normal. One of those things is the potential of getting fly strike. Fly strike, also known as myiasis, is hazardous to your rabbit. But...what exactly is this medical issue?

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What Is Fly Strike?

Fly strike is where flies lay their eggs on dead animals or on live ones and then the hatched maggots eat the flesh. If you've ever wondered "could flies have killed my pet rabbit?" the answer is yes!

Good news though, this is preventable!

How Do I Make Sure My Rabbit Won’t Get Fly Strike?

If you show your rabbit the proper care there shouldn’t be much worry about fly strike. However, with temperatures rising the possibility does increase so you need to be extra diligent to ensure your pet rabbit doesn’t have this happen to them.

• Check your rabbit daily to ensure everything is normal on them. Feel their entire body and visually look at them, especially in the rectal area—since this where the flies are attracted to most.

• Keep your rabbit clean. If you notice feces or urine of any sort on its feet, body or near its bottom make sure to clean him right away. Flies are drawn to the smell of feces and urine and will seek that out as a spot to lay their eggs.

• Keep your rabbit’s cage and surrounding environment clean—this includes their litter box. Changing it frequently, preferably daily will help to prevent fly strike but should also be done anyways to provide the highest rabbit care possible for your little fluffy guy. Who wants a dirty litter box? You’ll both reap the benefits on this one!

• Do all that you can in the first place to prevent flies being in contact with your bunny by not allowing them to be in your home. Hang fly strips, have a zapper or be extra diligent on killing flies when you do see them. If your rabbit goes outside, always check him afterwards just in case.

If you notice anything wrong with your rabbit or see signs that it may have eggs around its bottom, is starting to have a patch of skin becoming inflamed or you can actually see the hatched eggs (maggots) on them—visit your local vet IMMEDIATELY. Fly strike damages fast and can lead to death. DO NOT attempt to try to fix this problem yourself; fly strike requires a veterinaries expertise, surgery, painkillers and antibiotics.

If you are interested in learning more, we are sharing the article below with you. It’s written by the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund and offers some great advice on specific ways to prevent fly strike and what to do if your rabbit gets it.

Fly Strike –Don't Get Caught Out

Posted by The Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund

The vet is really the person to carry out this job and you must get your rabbit to the surgery as quickly as possible, no matter what the time of day or night. Waiting for the next time the vet's normal surgery hours begin is not an option. It is important to keep the fur dry so that the vet can clip it off easily to remove the maggots so don’t try to wash your bunny.

Generally, maggots will need to be removed surgically. Your rabbit will need painkillers, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics and hospital inpatient care if caught in time.

Routines to Prevent Flystrike

Daily

• Check your rabbit's bottom at least once per day in winter, at least twice per day in the summer

• If there is any urine or feces, wash and dry the area

• Remove dirty bedding and litter

General

• Apply Rearguard or a similar product as recommended by the manufacturer

• If your rabbit is obese, it needs to lose weight so that there is less strain on joints, it is able to squat properly when toileting and it is able to clean itself properly

• If you suspect your rabbit has a urinary problem then take it to the vet for diagnosis and treatment

• If your rabbit is producing unusually wet feces, take it to the vet for diagnosis and treatment, and be prepared to change diet accordingly

• If you suspect your rabbit has arthritis, ask the vet for anti-inflammatory medicine to ease pain in joints and ensure it isn't overweight.

[Continue reading original article]

Hopefully this article helped you to learn more about fly strike and answer you questions as to "why is my rabbit getting fly strike, can I stop it from happening?" This condition is definitely preventable! Your rabbit just needs your help to stay clean so those flies will stay away.

Curious about other rabbit basics that are important to know to keep your little one happy and healthy? Download our Rabbit Starter Kit today and get access to our rabbit term glossary and more!