![]() ![]() Be sure and check the rabbit ALL over for them, as they can be anywhere! Next, get your rabbit to a vet immediately this is an emergency situation!Ĭlick on link below to get more information provided by the Rabbit House Society, a great place for all sort of information regarding rabbits. Do not try and remove a Bot Fly maggot yourself. Tweezers work good for the maggots (you must kill them once removed) and a flea comb works well with the egg removal. What should you do if you discover your rabbit has Fly Strike? First off, remove every maggot and egg you can find. Fatal damage from Fly Strike can occur in as little as 72 hours. Unlike the common Housefly, Bot Flies are attracted to the rabbit itself rather than odors. They release toxins like the Housefly larvae. This larva has the appearance of being a mass and is referred to as a warble tumor. The larvae then begin burrowing into the rabbit and grow much larger than the Housefly maggots. The seeds (eggs) are then opened by the animal cleaning the infested hair or by brushing up against the eggs. The eggs look like tiny yellow seeds attached to the rabbit’s individual hairs. Sick, disabled, wet, injured and obese rabbits are at a higher risk for this infliction, but all rabbits should be checked at least daily and more frequently if they spend time outside.īot Flies are another type of fly that also lay their eggs on or near where rabbits dwell. Once this food source is exhausted, they begin burrowing into the animal and feeding off their healthy tissue while releasing a toxin that will eventually lead to shock in the rabbit. They then consume the diseased and/or soiled areas on the surface. Once this happens, it takes 8 – 12 hours for the eggs to hatch into maggots. The fly will search out a warm, moist place to lay their eggs though, they can lay their eggs anywhere on your bun. House flies are attracted to odors such as urine, feces and diseased or infected areas on a rabbit. You can use insecticide sprays too, however these are not guaranteed to prevent the condition.įollow the above steps and your pet bunny should be safe from Fly Strike! If you ever think your pet has the condition then contact us immediately so they can help you get your bunny the treatment they need.This is another potentially deadly threat to rabbits that is more common during the warmer months.It will repel flies for up to 10 weeks once applied. Rearguard is the licensed preventative for fly strike.These repel flies from laying eggs and you should only need to use them during the hotter months.Both of these reduce the chance of your rabbit being able to clean itself properly. This is especially important in rabbits who do not have a companion, or are overweight.Ensure you dry your rabbit thoroughly afterwards, as flies like moist environments. You can wash small areas of faeces off with warm water.Use blunt ended scissors and go very slowly. If you attempt to remove it yourself then do not use electric clippers.Ideally this should be done by your vet/vet nurse, as rabbit skin is very thin and easy to damage.If you notice any faecal material, remove it straight away.It is recommended to check your rabbit all over ideally daily during the hotter months.The rear is a commonly affected site, and is impossible to examine unless your rabbit is picked up. A soiled bottom could invite fly strike, a very unpleasant and potentially deadly situation in which flies lay their eggs on your bunny, and the hatched. You can check for any faecal material this way.It is good to get into the practice of handling, picking up and examining your pet rabbit.Luckily Fly Strike is easy to keep on top of! Just follow the steps below: At worst it can cause severe infections and death. At best this often requires surgery to fix by flushing the maggots out. Once the maggots have eaten the faecal material they will then start burrowing into your rabbit’s skin – something that will be extremely painful within a short matter of days. If your bunny has any faecal material stuck to their fur then this can be a perfect site for the flies to lay their eggs. These eggs hatch into maggots within days, which then start eating their surroundings. The larvae they produce can actually be deadly to our pets, which is why we’ve outlined steps on how to keep your pet bunny safe!įlies naturally lay their eggs in warm, moist conditions in piles of faeces or rotting material. Unfortunately so do flies with the warmer months being their prime breeding season. Summer is when our pet rabbits love the warmer climate and longer days this brings. ![]()
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