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This condition is quite literally as disgusting as I am about to describe it. A perfectly healthy rabbit can die from this condition within 24 hours after being infected!

Fly strike can affect all rabbits during the late spring, summer and early autumn months. This is because flies are present during these months. It is caused by flies laying eggs usually around the anal area and in the pockets on either side of the genitals. In 8-12 hours, these eggs hatch into maggots which bury into the orifice(s) and quite literally devour the rabbit alive! In advanced cases of fly strike, maggots will tumble out of the rabbit’s rear end when it is held upright. One can also see the maggots heaving under the rabbit’s skin. Unfortunately, when it has got to that stage, the prognosis is very poor. The maggots release a toxin in the rabbit which usually ends with the rabbit dying in great pain from toxic shock. If allowed to get to this stage, then it is kinder to have the rabbit euthanased. Disabled, old and obese rabbits are particularly at risk, as are those with a delicate gut and who have runny faeces, but fly strike can affect any rabbit if not checked.

There are things you can do to prevent fly strike in your rabbit:

Check your rabbit’s rear end at least once a day. Fly eggs are off-white and cigar shaped. They are about the size of a sesame seed. If you see any, then pluck them away with tweezers.

Keep the two pockets found on either side of the genitals clean. Both male and female rabbits have these pockets and it is perfectly normal for them to gather waxy pungent debris which looks like ear wax. They can be cleaned out with a damp cotton bud. You should do this at least once a month.

Apply some Rearguard every eight weeks. This is prescription only and can be obtained from your vet.

Rearguard works by killing off fly eggs before they have had a chance to hatch into maggots. I would strongly urge you to obtain some Rearguard from your vet as it could save your rabbit’s life!

What to do if you see maggots

If caught at the early stage, your rabbit has a chance, but you must make an emergency appointment with your vet. Fly strike is a dire emergency!

If you are unable to see the vet straight away, you must try to remove as many of the maggots as you can manually with tweezers. This is a two person job. It is best done over the sink, so that when the maggots tumble away, they can be flushed down the plug hole. Avoid dunking the rabbit’s rear end in the water unless there are a lot of maggots. Wetting the rear end will create a warm and moist environment which maggots love to thrive on. Once you have done this, get your rabbit to the vet as soon as you can.

In conclusion, I would like to say that no rabbit should be subjected to this condition in this day and age when there are products on the market which can prevent this awful killer.

Victoria Carey GBAR RVECP Rodentologist

Author's Resource:

Fly strike in rabbits- You can read about the product by opening the following link, just right click with the mouse and select ‘open hyperlink’: www.parkvets.com/pet_info/rabbits/rearguard.html Victoria Carey

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