When at our local feed store I overheard a young man was asking staff about the best cleaning agent to use on an infection on his rabbit’s backside that was showing maggots!!!
Knowing just what was happening to his rabbit, I jumped into that conversation right away and told him about Fly Strike on rabbits. I advised him to get the rabbit to a local veterinarian as soon as possible!
What is Fly Strike for Rabbits
Fly Strike afflicts a rabbit when a fly lays eggs on the rabbit’s wet or soiled fur, open cut, sore or damaged skin.
In as quickly as 24 hours the eggs hatch into larvae, also known as maggots, the larvae begin to begin to burrow into the rabbit and consume rabbit tissue. Simultaneously, the larvae secret toxins that result in the rabbit going into shock.
Fly Strike can quickly kill rabbits.
Read On To Learn How To Prevent This Killer of Rabbits!
A rabbit with Fly Strike that is left untreated will die a nasty death. This deadly Fly Strike in rabbits is also known as “Blow Fly Strike”.
How Fast Is Fly Strike Rabbit
Fly strike can happen very quickly. One fly lays up to 250 eggs.
Within 24 hours the eggs hatch into hungry larvae – aka maggots!
The larvae eat the surface debris near them. If larvae are on the fur then they follow the fur down to the skin to continue to eat. If hatched in an open wound, sore or dermatitis area, then they will begin to eat tissue right away.
The larvae quickly do tremendous damage to tissue, cause toxemia (blood poisoning due to infection), shock and a painful, rapid death of the rabbit.
How Quickly Can Fly Strike Kill A Rabbit
Rabbits can die in just a few days after the fly lays her eggs on the rabbit.
A rabbit can go from happy and healthy to a deadly state of shock in just 24 hours due to infestation caused by fly strike.
There is no doubt about it, Fly Strike is deadly to Rabbits. A Great Britain based study recorded 243 Fly Strike cases presented to veterinarians over 3 years. 45% of those fly strike cases resulted in euthanasia or death.
And as with many rabbit maladies, rabbits age 5 years or older are several times more susceptible to fly strike than younger rabbits.
Why are older rabbits more likely to get fly strike? As rabbits age, many of them lose flexibility and mobility.
Additionally, older domestic rabbits have a tendency toward obesity. These factors mean the older rabbit has a hard time bending and stretching to groom and clean itself and is also more likely to dribble or spray some urine on its fur.
The fecal soiling or urine scalding of the fur in the genital area is highly attractive to flies. As such, Fly strike rabbit bum is a tremendous risk to aging rabbits that are housed outside. Additionally, the fly population increases as the outside temperature increases. So, risk of fly strike in rabbits also increases significantly as the outside temperature increases.
Fly Strike in House Rabbits
Fly strike can happen in house rabbits too. It only takes one fly to lay eggs on a house rabbit that is not grooming itself well enough.
Why Do Rabbits Get Fly Strike
Moisture, odor and warmth attract flies. This is why it is so important that your rabbits remain dry and clean everyday. Their cages and hutches also need to be dry, clean, and as odor free as possible as not to attrach flies.
In addition, house rabbits who use a litter box must not sit in their litter boxes! All rabbit litter boxes need to be cleaned on a regular basis to keep flies away.
We know that some bunnies dribble or spray urine due to injury, bladder or urethra sludge, or old age. This wet, smelly, warm fur is a magnet for flies. And older bunnies with bouts of diarrhea, who cannot properly groom themselves are also at high risk.
Be sure to groom and clean your old or weakened rabbits daily to avoid Fly Strike!
Fly Strike Rabbit Symptoms
Symptoms of rabbit fly strike include:
- Maggots on the rabbit’s fur.
- Open wounds with maggots.
- A bad smell of rotten flesh.
- Seizure.
- Lethargy and eating less.
If your bunny is exhibiting any of these symptoms take them to your local vet immediatly and clean their hutch well!
Fly Strike Rabbit Prevention
The best prevention for fly strike is to provide a clean, dry, and hygienic environment and living space for your rabbit.
Additionally, a universal best practice for rabbit owners is to always feed your rabbit a good diet of hay, pellets and clean water; and ensure they get plenty of exercise.
Here are some other helpful hints for preventing fly strike in rabbits:
- Trim Away Excess Hair & Diligently Spot Clean Bottoms – Any disabled, obese, injured or aging arthritic rabbits that has a hard time cleaning themselves needs your assistance to avoid Fly Strike. You can trim away excess hair or even shave it short; we particularly recommend this in the genital area. Be sure not to soak the rabbits bottom or leave it wet. Rather, be diligent in spot cleaning the rabbit’s bottom and leaving it dry.
Trimming away excess hair and spot cleaning the rabbit’s bottom will help prevent Rabbit Wet Tail, which invites Fly Strike!
- Topical Cleaning Agents for Rabbits – Online and at your pet store you may find shampoos or topical cleaning agents that are both approved for sensitive rabbit skin and are antibacterial and antifungal agents.
We suggest using these for your diligent spot cleaning of the rabbit’s bottom. And again, do your best to leave the high risk areas dry.
- Fly Traps – Fly traps can help but do not catch the majority of flies.
- Fly Strike Sprays – There are fly strike sprays available to rabbit owners. Insecticides and chemical sprays can be effective, but are not good for your rabbits or you.
- Fans – A fan can be very effective but will not stop all flies. Flies do not like the wind. We see large fans in the dairy barns near our hobby farm. These fans circulate air and help keep the flies off of the cows.
- Clean Cages, Hutches and Litter Boxes – Be diligent in cleaning cages, hutches and litter boxes. This reduces smell and has many benefits.
- Trim Long Hair – If your rabbit has trouble grooming it’s genitals and bottom, then keep these high risk areas trimmed short.
- Monitor Wounds or Sores Very Closely – If your rabbit has wounds or sores from a fight or tussle, then be sure to monitor them daily until they fully heal.
What To Do If Maggots On Rabbit
If you find maggots (fly larvae) on your rabbit you must act quickly.
If you’re not squeamish and are going to take quick and calm action, then do so. If you’re squeamish and not able to take quick helpful action, then don’t bother trying, just get your rabbit to a vet.
If you can remove the maggots with tweezers, then do so. This may take two people. One to hold the rabbit and the other to work the tweezers.
We recommend against dunking or bathing the rabbit to try and remove the maggots – that does not work well and may put the rabbit into shock and more stress.
After removing all maggots that you can quickly remove, we recommend that you rush your rabbit to the veterinarian for further, advanced treatment. If it is after working hours or on the weekend, do not wait until the next work day! Instead, call the veterinarian’s emergency after hours phone number or call service.
When To Contact Your Veterinarian About Fly Strike
If you see maggots on your bunny, then immediately call your veterinarian.
Here is a helpful video about symptoms and prevention for Rabbit Fly Strike!
Fly Strike Rabbit Treatment
Your veterinarian will evaluate the rabbit that has fly strike and if too much damage has been done, then the vet may recommend that the rabbit be put to sleep in lieu of further suffering.
If the vet believes the rabbit can reasonably be saved then the rabbit will be further cleaned to remove all maggots and some hair may be shaved away in and around the affected area. Sometimes the vet will anesthetize the rabbit to reduce pain and stress while cleaning and treating the rabbit.
The most common next step is for the vet to prescribe medication to kill maggots and eggs. Note that your rabbit may also need an intravenous drip (IV) if it is dehydrated or in shock, and a course of antibiotics.
Two great videos on prevention and treatment of Rabbit Fly Strike!
Frequently Asked Questions Related To Fly Strike Rabbits
Do Baby Rabbits Get Fly Strike?
Typically, nursing bunnies do not get fly strike. Fly strike is more prevalent in rabbits age 5 years or older as they are typically less able to properly groom their bottoms.
Does Urine Scald Cause Fly Strike?
Yes, urine scald causes wet, moist fur that is a magnet for flies.
Severe urine scald causes dermatitis and open sores. Again, these conditions are magnets for flies.
Here is a third video about Rabbit Fly Strike!
Final Thoughts on Fly Strike For Rabbits
Fly strike is a rabbit killer.
In as little as 24 hours a rabbit can go from happy and healthy to life threatening shock due to fly strike. Owners must act very quickly when Rabbit Fly Strike is observed.
The best defense against fly strike is:
- A clean, dry environment
- A good clean diet of unlimited quality hay, a measure of quality pellets, and clean water.
- Plenty of Exercise
- Trim or shave hair on rabbits that can not cleanly urinate or poop.
- Spot clean rabbit bottoms as necessary.
- Monitor any cuts or scrapes for maggots
The best treatment for fly strike is to immediately take your rabbit to the veterinarian.
If you delay, do so only because you are willing to calmly and quickly remove the maggots with tweezers before taking the rabbit to the vet. Tend to and watch your rabbits closely – especially older or sick bunnies!