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Protection against fly strike

C

chookmom

Young Bun
Hi, it is a long time since I have looked on here as all has been happily quiet for some years with my rabbits.
They are a happily bonded pair who have a shed/ outside run set up.
The female is 11this month, I know she is 11 as she was born at the rescue. She is still eating well, though is thinner, and is bright and active but stiffer in her back legs.
In the last few months she sometimes has poo stuck to her bottom. I check her every day and she is mostly clean but every 1-2 weeks have to remove poo stuck in her fur. I believe these are caecatrophs and she can't clean herself so well.
As the weather is warming up I am starting to think about fly strike. I do some protecting of the shed with mesh etc but know how quickly it can happen.
I have seen Rearguard, would this be a good idea? Or can you suggest anything else
 
Checking your rabbit twice a day is usually recommended, but may not be enough. Flystrike can happen within hours - it's an awful thing to deal with, and a real risk in warmer weather with vulnerable animals.

Is she on anything to help with arthritis? If she's better able to keep herself clean, that will give her the best chance of avoiding flystrike. Otherwise, keep her living area really clean so that flies are less likely to be attracted there. Any toilet area needs to be scrupulously clean.

Is there anything in her diet that is causing the problem? It may be a case of slight dietary modification to resolve the issue.

Rearguard is an option, but can cause reduced appetite (which can cause other issues in rabbits), needs reapplying if it is washed off, and is quite expensive. F10 germicidal wound spray with insecticide is effective, cheaper and can be used daily if needed, even on open wounds. I used it on a couple of outdoor rabbits who had major jaw abscess surgery and had permanently open wounds (ie fly magnets). It is toxic to cats, so make sure they can't have contact with it.

https://www.f10products.co.uk/f10-germicidal-wound-spray-with-insecticide-product-information/
https://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/?id=-452554
 
Thank you.
They are going to the vet for vaccinations in May so I will ask about pain relief for her.
I will send for the other product. It looks good
 
Are they outside? You could try planting repellent plants around them to help minimise the flies, in pots if needs be - most of the herbs will do this (so they can double as a tasty treat!) but lavender, mint, rosemary, lemon thyme, basil, sage, lemongrass, bay leaves can all help. Won't be a huge amount in comparison to mesh etc, but is a pleasant addition at least. You can add some of the safe but less desirable-to-eat herbs like rosemary and lavender to bedding areas too to help between litter changes, just sprinkle it about.
 
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