Flystrike

Hi all

I am new to this forum, so apologies if there is already a thread on this.

Yesterday I found my 3 year old male with maggots around his genitals which were very swollen and red. He is a very fluffy rabbit that we have to groom regularly, and are always checking and cleaning his bum area.

I managed to get the maggots off and did speak to a veterinary nurse last night, who seemed to think we could have caught it early as there didn't look to be any eaten away areas, and that swollen sore genitals would be normal. I put nappy cream on him as suggested to act as a barrier, and he seems less swollen this morning. He is still eating and drinking and has no new maggots on him today. I have let him back in the garden.. even though I am paranoid about flies getting at him, but he seemed a bit fed up stuck in kitchen with his run, even though his companion, who was also fed up was with him.

The rabbits have the run of the garden during the day. I am paranoid about him being out there as have none of this "rearguard" that seems to be a must in preventing this, but also dont want to cage him up as he looks so miserable. Any advice gratefully received. Thanks x

He needs to actually see a vet. Since he now has a history of Flystrike you should probably use rearguard on him every year.

Thank you Tim. I will get him to one asap. Have a good day

He should still see a vet ASAP as some of them may have crawled up inside his anus and be eating him from the inside, or eggs may still be on him.

They can give him an injection which will kill these.

Reargaurd can be bought from the vet also.

One of the best ways to stop this is also to make sure his bottom is kept trim and that he is not to overweight to eat his caecal pellets - so that he does not get a messy bum.

If he does have a messy bum sometimes then a change of diet to one that has more hay and less pellets and sigary foods is very highly recommended.

the vet nurse was not really correct and I suggest that you try to fond a vet who is listed as being a specialist with rabbits.

If you post a new thread on here for 'good rabbit vet near . . . ' (where ever you live) you will get advise.

However I recommend that you try and get the rabbit seen ASAP. Flystrike is very very serious and they really can eat from the inside out.

You do need to see a vet to make sure that your rabbit is clear of maggots - they can easily crawl inside cavities, and may look clear to the eye.

Treatment such as Rearguard should be applied and as you have a really fluffy bun that is now prone to flystrike it is worth getting the vet to shave his butt for you so its easier to keep clean.

You need investigation into why flystrike has occurred - usually due to either a wet or dirty bum, or because the rabbit has an underlying illness

Veterinary treatment is required asap

parsnipbun said:

He should still see a vet ASAP as some of them may have crawled up inside his anus and be eating him from the inside, or eggs may still be on him.

They can give him an injection which will kill these.

Reargaurd can be bought from the vet also.

One of the best ways to stop this is also to make sure his bottom is kept trim and that he is not to overweight to eat his caecal pellets - so that he does not get a messy bum.

If he does have a messy bum sometimes then a change of diet to one that has more hay and less pellets and sigary foods is very highly recommended.

the vet nurse was not really correct and I suggest that you try to fond a vet who is listed as being a specialist with rabbits.

If you post a new thread on here for 'good rabbit vet near . . . ' (where ever you live) you will get advise.

However I recommend that you try and get the rabbit seen ASAP. Flystrike is very very serious and they really can eat from the inside out.

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Completely agree.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I will post a thread to find a good rabbit vet. It wasn't my local vet I spoke to last night, and this one was about 20 miles away.

I have only had this rabbit a year, along with my other one. I rescued them both from the RSPCA. I only know that he was a stray and nothing else really. He is a very friendly docile thing.

The do have the run of the garden during the day. He doesnt really suffer with abnormal poos, its just his fur can get a bit long and sometimes it gets stuck overnight where they are shut away. They have fresh hay in their hutch (well playhouse) and have a handful of dried food at night. They do eat a lot of fresh grass though.

Thanks again. Much appreciated. Lisa

Hi again

Just wanted to say thanks again for all your advice. Took Cozie to emergency vet this eve. Was trying to hang on until the morning as the consultation fee tonight has wiped me out.. but the rabbits are my daughters. I bought them from RSPCA rescue for her when her dad left. She is only 7 but totally devoted and conscientious when it comes to caring for them. I just felt tonight that I needed to do this as much for her as for Cozie.

The vet has checked him and luckily it seems it is not related to the gut, like someone here mentioned. Wow you guys sure do know your stuff. His tummy is soft and making the right gurgling noises. He has strong pulse and breathing ok.. eating and drinking.. so hopefully will have caught this in time. He has had the jabs and needs to go back to our vet tomorrow. But he did say.. the nappy cream has worked really well acting as a barrier, and the swelling had nearly gone from his genitals. Will make sure I always have nappy cream to hand now.

Thanks again guys... feel a lot happier this eve x

I am so glad he is doing ok.
My rabbit Fudge suffered from flystrike lucky like you I caught it early this is only from experience as when I was a teenager one of my buns died from it.

xxx

So glad you caught it early.

I am so glad your bunny is ok and that it has been caught early.

There is a lot of info on RU about Flystrike and other issues, so I hope you stay around.

The RWA produced some handy information as well, here is a leaflet about Flystrike, in case its of any use: http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/leaflet_pdfs/flystrike_sep_05.pdf

Flystrike is one of my biggest fears

Survivable

My first post and i would like to share this story which may benefit some and give hope to anyone whose Rabbit suffers from this devastating problem. From what i can gather - someone may correct me - the fly chooses its victim using the usual => underlying illness/dirty rear end etc but also when it needs to release its eggs. These hatch very quickly (sometimes within 30mins) and start straight away to devour the victim.
Our story; I fed and let out our rabbit from his hutch at around 730 in the morning - he appeared fine. By 1500 my daughter rang me and said something is wrong with Bo. On returning home 300-400 maggots had eaten the rear third of his skin :shock: It took us half an hour to clean him up. He was also hospitalised at our vet for a day or so where he was monitored and cleaned as required. Oral Painkillers & Antibiotics for 7 days were fun as he didn't like the taste and saying "Here comes the aeroplane" did not work :lol: Dressing changes kept us busy as he liked to rip them off once we left the room. :rabbit2: His little smug face on returning to the room was quite amusing :rabbit2: Bo is now well on the way to a full recovery and i think his survival is due to his strength of character as he is 11yrs old. The veterinary clinic have called him the 'Miracle Bunny'! Our vet bill stands at £330 oh and £70 for an indoor cage during is convalescence It's been an expense but we would pay it again.

Aw Hi Bo Bunny

Glad your rabbit ok too. Mine is nearly fully recovered. Only cost us £190 :shock: and £130 of that was for emergency vet consultation fee. Ours happened very much like yours.. let out early, bum checked, then by the afternoon riddled with maggots. We have been told this was a mild case and we had done really well in picking off all the maggots. He still has a tiny sore bit on his genital area, but other than that he is fine. He never went downhill or stopped eating. If he turned his nose up at dandelion leaves or carrots I would know he was ill!

Hope yours makes a full recovery

Bo Bunny I am glad your bunny survived, thank you for sharing his story. Its shocking how quickly it happens.

Coz n Pops glad your bunny is doing well now too.

coznpops said:

Aw Hi Bo Bunny
He never went downhill or stopped eating. If he turned his nose up at dandelion leaves or carrots I would know he was ill! Hope yours makes a full recovery

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'Ditto' After initial clean of maggots he happily got stuck into his fav - broccolli. He now has a scab which is slowly falling off and the skin and fluff is growing back
All the best for a speedy recovery of yours too.

Helgalush many thanks for kind words.

Sad News

Unfortunately Bo has gone to that great big hutch in the sky. He did recover from the fly-strike but underlying medical problems meant he could not keep his food down and as rabbits can’t vomit (apparently) he became quite stressed as the food just seemed to come up and make him choke. One of the hardest decisions of my life to take him to the vet for the injection. Still he was a majestic +10yrs old - so had a long and happy life.

I am so sorry to hear this -

perhaps you could post a memorial to him in the Rainbow Bridge section?