11/06/2023
🐇 Rabbit Owners 🐇
Can you recognise fly eggs when you see them?
It is important to be able to recognise fly eggs on your rabbits fur, hutch or run so they can be removed immediately.
Fly eggs, when they hatch cause a serious and potentially life threatening condition, commonly called flystrike, mainly affecting rabbits, but can also effect other domestic pets. Flystrike occurs when flies lay eggs on your rabbit and/or inside their hutch. The eggs hutch out as maggots which then cause damage to the rabbits skin and tissues, as they eat into the rabbits flesh.
Flystrike is the most common in the Summer months the when fly populations are high and the weather is warm.
Ways to prevent Flystrike;
🐇 Use a fly repellent spray on your rabbit. Not all fly sprays are safe to be used on pets, so be sure to check the manufacturers instructions and guidelines.
🐇 Flies are attracted by faeces and urine, so keeping hutches and runs clean and fresh, can prevent attracting flies.
🐇 Check hutches and runs regularly for the presence of fly eggs.
🐇 Check your rabbit frequently throughout every day, the most important areas to check are around the hind legs, tail and ge****ls. Fly eggs can be removed from fur with a fine toothed comb, such as a flea comb.
🐇 Covering your rabbits hutch or run with a fine mesh netting, or old net curtain can help keep flies out whilst still allowing good ventilation.
🐇 Making sure your rabbit is a healthy weight can also help, as rabbits need to be able to reach round to their bottoms to keep themselves clean. Overweight rabbits cannot reach round successfully, and so become covered in faeces, which attract flies.
If you are concerned about your rabbit, or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact our nursing team, who will happy to help.
Phone: 07926 881285
Email: [email protected]
