Jenny's Jottings: Flystrike in rabbits
Those of you who own a rabbit, are soon buying a rabbit, or know someone who has a rabbit….beware of maggots!
At this time of year, there are plenty of flies around and these are attracted to rabbits within a dirty hutch or with droppings and urine matted on the fur. They will lay their eggs on and around the rabbit which quickly hatch into maggots. It is a horrendous thought, but these maggots will burrow under the rabbits skin and feed on its flesh. As you can imagine, in large numbers, this will cause severe illness and pain. It is a common problem and these rabbits can die. The condition is known as flystrike.
So how can it be prevented? It is very important to check your rabbit twice daily (especially around the back end) for signs of droppings or urine in the fur, fly eggs or maggots. Any soiled areas should be cleaned. The rabbit hutch must be thoroughly cleaned at least twice a week and ideally any soiled bedding should be removed on a daily basis, especially in summer.
Now it is getting warmer, think about contacting your vet for products that can be used to help repel flies and therefore reduce the risks. Other risk factors include diarrhoea, obesity and dental disease. The onset of illness from flystrike can be very rapid, but if caught early, rabbits will usually recover. It is vital that veterinary advice is sought immediately if you suspect your rabbit is affected.
An important thing to remember about rabbits is that a lot of common conditions, such as flystrike, are either directly caused by, or influenced by incorrect diet. The diet should consist of mainly fresh, good quality hay or grass, some green vegetables and only a very small amount of high fibre pellet food. The muesli type mixes allow rabbits to pick out their favourite bits – which tend to be low in fibre and high in fat!
A good diet is a large factor in ensuring your bunny is happy and healthy. Remember this and you are well on your way!
By Jenny Jones BVM&S MRCVS, vet at Borrajos Veterinary Clinics
