Despite reading these forums for a while and gleaning some valuable and much-appreciated advice from you all - My wife and myself as first time rabbit-keepers did not register as we thought we would have nothing much to contribute.
Unfortuntately I know have cause to make a post - and hopefully it wil serve as a warning to any other novice bunny-keepers out there.
We were given a baby dwarf grey buck rabbit "Roly" in early June this year - he was a lovely little fella and pretty soon became the centre of attention of the household.
At the begining of last week I noticed he was not feeding quite so readily -and byWednesday evening appeared not to be feeding at all - this was unfortunate as we had switched his food over the day before and thought he may not be very keen on his new feed - he would still nibble a bit of carrot and the odd raisin and was drinking normally. He had a fairly thorough grooming and cleaning on Wednesday early evening but by Thursday was rather listless and wasn't running to the front of the hutch when we went to feed him and spend a bit of time with him which was very unusual. I made an appointment for the vets - which was for Saturday morning and by Friday Morning he was hardly moving and his vent seemed a little messy and a bit smelly and he was defiantely not himself - I went to work rather concerned and thought I would give him a complete 'wash and brush over' that evening. On returning in the evening - his chin was on the floor and he was almost totally lifeless - it was an effort for him to even stand. I put a towel on the dining room table and took him inside to examine him thorougly. Yep - you've guessed it - his vent and lower back half were riddled with maggots. I had read about the dangers of fly-strike and knew this was serious so made an appointment with the emergency vet as our own vets was by now closed. I took him straight there - I met the wife there who had not long finished work - and the vet told us there was nothing he could do and it was kindest to put Roly to sleep. In all honesty, I think he was not far from death as it was, but at least his last few moments were pain-free as I can't imagine how the poor little mite must have felt - he was basically being eaten alive.
I have read the post below about fly-strike - and the contibutor who says it was "worst moment of her life" when her rabbit had fly-strike and having not lost a very-close relative as yet, I can only echo that. Our house yesterday was not a happy place to be. I am a 16 stone, shaven headed, tattoed guy - not someone to make a fuss in any way usually - but to have to clean out an empty hutch yesteday and remove all of Roly's toys and bowls was very very difficult and the wife still cant look at the empty hutch.
We vowed in the car on the way home that we wouldnt ever have another rabbit after that experience. Now on reflection - we won't be beaten and will maybe have another go next Spring time. We have lived and learned.
Please be ultra-careful when checking your rabbit over - I wish we could tun back the clock and I would have noticed those fly-eggs. It may be nearly winter - but it is still not too late for your rabbit to get fly strike as we have discovered the hard way.
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Unfortuntately I know have cause to make a post - and hopefully it wil serve as a warning to any other novice bunny-keepers out there.
We were given a baby dwarf grey buck rabbit "Roly" in early June this year - he was a lovely little fella and pretty soon became the centre of attention of the household.
At the begining of last week I noticed he was not feeding quite so readily -and byWednesday evening appeared not to be feeding at all - this was unfortunate as we had switched his food over the day before and thought he may not be very keen on his new feed - he would still nibble a bit of carrot and the odd raisin and was drinking normally. He had a fairly thorough grooming and cleaning on Wednesday early evening but by Thursday was rather listless and wasn't running to the front of the hutch when we went to feed him and spend a bit of time with him which was very unusual. I made an appointment for the vets - which was for Saturday morning and by Friday Morning he was hardly moving and his vent seemed a little messy and a bit smelly and he was defiantely not himself - I went to work rather concerned and thought I would give him a complete 'wash and brush over' that evening. On returning in the evening - his chin was on the floor and he was almost totally lifeless - it was an effort for him to even stand. I put a towel on the dining room table and took him inside to examine him thorougly. Yep - you've guessed it - his vent and lower back half were riddled with maggots. I had read about the dangers of fly-strike and knew this was serious so made an appointment with the emergency vet as our own vets was by now closed. I took him straight there - I met the wife there who had not long finished work - and the vet told us there was nothing he could do and it was kindest to put Roly to sleep. In all honesty, I think he was not far from death as it was, but at least his last few moments were pain-free as I can't imagine how the poor little mite must have felt - he was basically being eaten alive.
I have read the post below about fly-strike - and the contibutor who says it was "worst moment of her life" when her rabbit had fly-strike and having not lost a very-close relative as yet, I can only echo that. Our house yesterday was not a happy place to be. I am a 16 stone, shaven headed, tattoed guy - not someone to make a fuss in any way usually - but to have to clean out an empty hutch yesteday and remove all of Roly's toys and bowls was very very difficult and the wife still cant look at the empty hutch.
We vowed in the car on the way home that we wouldnt ever have another rabbit after that experience. Now on reflection - we won't be beaten and will maybe have another go next Spring time. We have lived and learned.
Please be ultra-careful when checking your rabbit over - I wish we could tun back the clock and I would have noticed those fly-eggs. It may be nearly winter - but it is still not too late for your rabbit to get fly strike as we have discovered the hard way.
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