Hi, I hope you don't mind me posting, but I feel I need to to act as a warning to you all so as none of you have to go through what we are going through at the moment.
Yesterday afternoon, I sat out in the garden and began to groom/clip nails on Leo and Adam (my two very fluffy long-haired lionheads). I started on Adam who as he has the thickest coat of the two. I began to start brushing and clipping back his coat (as I do in warmer weather for comfort as it is so thick and even grows over his eyes). Did his top and around his head. Got to his rump where the fur was very deep and thick and a couple of mats had formed. I started clipping and as I clipped one section and the fur came away...all I could see was maggots. Wriggling maggots.
I know about flystrike after having rabbits for many years and reading about it, but naively thought it would 'never happen to me' as I am so obsessive with cleaning and checking my rabbits. What a fool. I completely broke down and panicked, shouting out to my husband. He came and within 15 mins we had got Adam to the emergency vets. We also took Leo, as although his coat isn't as thick as Adam's, it is still very thick and long.
We were at the vets for about 45mins as the vet went to shave both rabbits to have a look at the extent of the flystrike. The image I had then, and still do is a hole into the inside of my rabbit and maggots. Horrific.
After 40mins the vet called us back in to say that he needed more time to shave the rabbits as their coats were so thick they were blunting up the blades and the shaver needed to cool down so they needed to take a break. He advised us to go home and await a call within an hour or two.
We did.
An hour and a half later, he called us to say that thankfully Leo didn't have any maggots on his (unfortunately they had nipped him twice accidently whilst clipping though that needed to be glued and apologised for that). Adam on the other hand had flystrike with maggots that had got under his skin. They had caused damage around his bottom and opened a skin wound 4-5cms wide revealing the muscle. Thankfully, the maggots hadn't got to eating the muscle, but had extensively damaged the skin in large areas.
The next 24hours were crucial.
We went back to the vets and I was close to being physically sick when I saw the damage that had been caused to my beautiful rabbit. Both boys came home with us yesterday and have been moved into the house. The vets advised us that Adam would now require intensive care for the foreseeable few weeks/months. 24hours would see if he would continue eating/drinking. He had been given pain killer to last him 24 hours. The vet was honest in saying that if he survives to make the following vet appointment (today 2 o'clock) then he will need more pain killer and antibiotics). He was reluctant to give it us there as he said we needed to monitor the next 24 hours first.
We have to keep everything spotlessly clean and wash the wounds with saline solution 3-4times a day.
We are due back at the vets with Adam today in an hour. The vet bill so far is already over £300. He will be seen today and then every 2-3 days over the next two weeks (where then if recovery is going to plan he will then undergo an operation to try and fix his very large open wound over his muscle...quoted around £300 for this). We will pay for whatever Adam needs, but I feel it is important to put this here so that you have all of the facts.
I have been monitoring and cleaning him/beddings/cage religiously. Adam is barely eating (he's had a small nibble on a piece of hay and a small nibble on a piece of apple. I've tried everything - all of his favourite things to try and get him to eat). He is far from out of the woods- in fact, when we see the vet in an hour, we will know more. In my heart of hearts I don't feel confident that he will make it. I am devastated.
The reason I am posting this:
1) Please, please, please be obsessively observant when checking your rabbits. I never thought this would happen to me (how stupid!) as I keep my rabbits clean, tidy, fed well, healthy, handle them etc. How wrong was I. I have been out to buy fly netting this morning for all the hutches.
2) Adam gave NO sign what was going on underneath his coat. Hopping around, grooming his brother, eating/drinking. No sign was given until I saw it for myself when grooming him!!
3)The guilt i feel for missing this and letting it happen to him is so intense. I blame myself completely. I didn't sleep at all last night as the image of the maggots on him, in his skin, in his body will stay with me forever. It is truly horrific. I would not wish any of you to go through this.
The vet said that he had seen two emergency cases of fly strike already this week. It is common. It could happen to one of your bunnies. Be vigilant.
Sorry to be so intense, but honestly, please don't be in the same place and Adam and I.
Please send your prayers. I love my little boy so much.
Yesterday afternoon, I sat out in the garden and began to groom/clip nails on Leo and Adam (my two very fluffy long-haired lionheads). I started on Adam who as he has the thickest coat of the two. I began to start brushing and clipping back his coat (as I do in warmer weather for comfort as it is so thick and even grows over his eyes). Did his top and around his head. Got to his rump where the fur was very deep and thick and a couple of mats had formed. I started clipping and as I clipped one section and the fur came away...all I could see was maggots. Wriggling maggots.
I know about flystrike after having rabbits for many years and reading about it, but naively thought it would 'never happen to me' as I am so obsessive with cleaning and checking my rabbits. What a fool. I completely broke down and panicked, shouting out to my husband. He came and within 15 mins we had got Adam to the emergency vets. We also took Leo, as although his coat isn't as thick as Adam's, it is still very thick and long.
We were at the vets for about 45mins as the vet went to shave both rabbits to have a look at the extent of the flystrike. The image I had then, and still do is a hole into the inside of my rabbit and maggots. Horrific.
After 40mins the vet called us back in to say that he needed more time to shave the rabbits as their coats were so thick they were blunting up the blades and the shaver needed to cool down so they needed to take a break. He advised us to go home and await a call within an hour or two.
We did.
An hour and a half later, he called us to say that thankfully Leo didn't have any maggots on his (unfortunately they had nipped him twice accidently whilst clipping though that needed to be glued and apologised for that). Adam on the other hand had flystrike with maggots that had got under his skin. They had caused damage around his bottom and opened a skin wound 4-5cms wide revealing the muscle. Thankfully, the maggots hadn't got to eating the muscle, but had extensively damaged the skin in large areas.
The next 24hours were crucial.
We went back to the vets and I was close to being physically sick when I saw the damage that had been caused to my beautiful rabbit. Both boys came home with us yesterday and have been moved into the house. The vets advised us that Adam would now require intensive care for the foreseeable few weeks/months. 24hours would see if he would continue eating/drinking. He had been given pain killer to last him 24 hours. The vet was honest in saying that if he survives to make the following vet appointment (today 2 o'clock) then he will need more pain killer and antibiotics). He was reluctant to give it us there as he said we needed to monitor the next 24 hours first.
We have to keep everything spotlessly clean and wash the wounds with saline solution 3-4times a day.
We are due back at the vets with Adam today in an hour. The vet bill so far is already over £300. He will be seen today and then every 2-3 days over the next two weeks (where then if recovery is going to plan he will then undergo an operation to try and fix his very large open wound over his muscle...quoted around £300 for this). We will pay for whatever Adam needs, but I feel it is important to put this here so that you have all of the facts.
I have been monitoring and cleaning him/beddings/cage religiously. Adam is barely eating (he's had a small nibble on a piece of hay and a small nibble on a piece of apple. I've tried everything - all of his favourite things to try and get him to eat). He is far from out of the woods- in fact, when we see the vet in an hour, we will know more. In my heart of hearts I don't feel confident that he will make it. I am devastated.
The reason I am posting this:
1) Please, please, please be obsessively observant when checking your rabbits. I never thought this would happen to me (how stupid!) as I keep my rabbits clean, tidy, fed well, healthy, handle them etc. How wrong was I. I have been out to buy fly netting this morning for all the hutches.
2) Adam gave NO sign what was going on underneath his coat. Hopping around, grooming his brother, eating/drinking. No sign was given until I saw it for myself when grooming him!!
3)The guilt i feel for missing this and letting it happen to him is so intense. I blame myself completely. I didn't sleep at all last night as the image of the maggots on him, in his skin, in his body will stay with me forever. It is truly horrific. I would not wish any of you to go through this.
The vet said that he had seen two emergency cases of fly strike already this week. It is common. It could happen to one of your bunnies. Be vigilant.
Sorry to be so intense, but honestly, please don't be in the same place and Adam and I.
Please send your prayers. I love my little boy so much.