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Flystrike - Rabbit

22 9:49:11

Question
Hello Dana.

My lovely rabbit Floyd was put down about 6 months ago due to Flystrike. It is something I still think about everyday and even writing this now, I am in tears trying to word this as best as I can.

Floyd was the most beautiful, loving and well cared for rabbit you will ever meet. This is why it makes it so hard to comprehend that he is not here anymore.

I live in Australia and we had a very hot summer. It got to 42c on some days. Floyd was in his own courtyard with brick tiles which were nice and cold for him. He was cared for like you wouldn't believe...but I will admit, I didn't know about Flystrike and wasn't checking him over for it-as I had no idea about it.

When I noticed that he wasn't too-well, I took him straight to the vets. He didn't show any signs of discomfort at all leading up to this...but did seem a little "lazier" than usual.

The vet did an examination and saw some maggots on his bottom. I was in such shock-I couldn't believe it. Floyd was a mini lop x domestic rabbit...and was a big boy-nothing mini-lop about him. He was about 5kgs and had a beautiful coat. Floyd was 6yrs old. I informed the vet that if he thought that Floyd was in any pain or discomfort that I would prefer it if that he was put go sleep. The vet informed me that he thought that being his age and the treatment that would be necessary, that he should be put to sleep.

I haven't been able to get any of it out of my mind and thought I would ask a few things.

1) How common is Flystrike?
2) How long do rabbits normally live for?
3) How long does it take for Flystrike to take hold?

Any information would be great-I need my mind put at rest. I feel so much guilt still and miss my beautiful boy so much.

Thank you.

Nathan

Answer
Dear Nathan,

I am so sorry about the tragic loss of your friend.  Flystrike is not all that uncommon in rabbits left outdoors, and it's wise to check the fur for any sign of fly eggs any time the bunny is out, once he's back indoors.  A quick going-over with a flea comb will remove the eggs, and you can feel them in the fur if you stroke the bun, as they will show up as hard, small clumps that don't feel normal.

A well cared-for houserabbit can live ten years or more, and many live well into their teens.  So your bunny was not old by any means.  And--I hate to say this--unless the fly strike was so extensive that massive amounts of tissue and muscle were missing, there was no need for Floyd to be put to sleep.  We have saved fly struck rabbits with extensive damage.  While the treatments took a few weeks for the tissues to fully heal, it's worth it to save a life that could then go on for many more years.  I know I didn't see the extent of the damage, so I can't really say whether the vet jumped the gun on Floyd.  But I have *never* lost a rabbit to fly strike except for ONE case in which the vet insisted on putting the rabbit under anesthesia when she was already recovering, and she died from that.  Many of the cases I've seen have been pretty horrifying. But once you get past the initial shock, you just get down to business and treat it.

I have to wonder if the vet you saw either was not very experienced with rabbits, or perhaps did not value them because they are considered pests where you live.

Fly eggs can be laid and start hatching within 24 hours, and it takes several days for the maggots to get to appreciable size.  But if there are lot of them, even small maggots can make a bunny truly miserable.  The first step is to douse affected areas with full-strength povidone iodine, which makes the maggots flee.  They can then be picked off one by one.  The bun needs to be checked every few hours for maggot survivors until all are completely gone from every crevice.

Subcutaneous fluids, antibiotics, and--in severe cases--artificial skin bandages and topical disinfecting medications are essential throughout the healing process, which can take days or weeks, depending on the severity of the attack.

I know this doesn't help Floyd, but I hope if you ever have another bunny in your heart and home, that this might help.

Take care,

Danay