Fly Strike in Rabbits

WHAT IS FLY STRIKE?

During the summer months, pet rabbits may be affected by maggot infestation. Different terms are used for this including flystrike, flyblown and myiasis. Healthy rabbits are generally not affected by fly strike, but rabbits are usually very good at hiding when they are not well so sometimes flystrike is the first indication of a problem. When the maggots hatch, if the rabbit cannot groom itself, these fly larvae survive, spread and may cause a tremendous amount of damage as they burrow into the tissues.

WHAT CAUSES FLYSTRIKE?

There are several problems that can lead to the condition.

• First, a wound to which the flies are attracted and on which they lay their eggs is an obvious site where maggots can cause damage.
• Second and more commonly, a rabbit that is not cleaning him/herself adequately – this can be due to pain such as from osteoarthritis, dental disease or trauma, lethargy due to ill health, or a change in toileting habits such as diarrhoea or a urinary infection. Grooming issues can also be exacerbated due to obesity or very long fur.
• Thirdly inappropriate diet that is not sufficient in fibre can lead to soft faeces and gut upsets.
• Finally, damp or dirty bedding is an ideal environment for egg-laying and maggot growth and development. Flies are also attracted to the smell.

The key factors in preventing fly strike are to ensure that bedding is dry, that the rabbit does not have any wounds or ulcerated areas of skin, and that there are no problems to prevent him grooming themselves effectively.

HOW CAN I PREVENT FLYSTRIKE?

It is important to check your rabbit at least twice daily including checking underneath and around their genital area to identify if they are grooming properly, eating normally, toileting normally or if they have any wounds.

In the hottest days of summer you may need to check more often as eggs may hatch into maggots and flystrike occur within a few hours. This means that if fly eggs have been laid on your rabbit they can be cleaned off before they hatch into maggots and cause further damage.

Ensure your rabbit has clean dry bedding daily. Rabbits cannot keep themselves clean if their bedding is dirty or damp and smelly bedding will attract flies.

Rabbits can be trained to use a litter tray which can make keeping their hutch clean much easier. If this is changed daily then this can be effective at keeping the rabbits fur clean and dry and reducing the smell that can attract flies.

Feeding an appropriate diet with a high level of fibre is important to reduce the chance of soft faeces getting caught in your rabbit’s fur. Rabbits should have a lot of high quality hay in their diet. Many rabbit pellets are not balanced and should only be a small part of their overall diet so check with your vet if you are unsure about the diet your rabbit is being fed.

Your rabbit should have regular checkups with your vet to see if there are any indicators of dental disease, discomfort, ill health or other concerns. If there are dental issues these will need to be managed, usually under general anaesthesia.

TREATMENT FOR FLY STRIKE

Fly eggs are small creamy yellow ovals and are often laid in clusters. If you see these on your rabbit you should remove them immediately – a flea or nit comb works well for this – and take your rabbit to the vet to check for underlying issues.

If you see maggots then remove any you can and bring your rabbit immediately to see us. If we are closed then please go the After Hours Vet.  Do not wait as this is an emergency.

Your rabbit will usually need to be sedated or anaesthetised so that all the maggots can be removed and the whole area cleaned thoroughly. Your rabbit may need antibiotics if there is a secondary bacterial infection. In severe cases intravenous fluids may be needed. In such cases your rabbit will be hospitalised and kept warm and comfortable. In extreme cases surgery may be needed to remove all the dead maggot-ridden tissue. It is therefore much better to prevent problems in the first place!  Your rabbit will need ongoing care to manage the issues leading up to the flystrike also.