Flystrike - rabbit has been treated by vet but more maggots appeared

Question
Hi Dana,
It is spring here in Australia and the weather is getting warmer. My 3 year-old male dwarf lop (Fluffy) is currently suffering from flystrike. He lives indoor but I let him play outside 2-3 times a week. 4 days ago, I found a maggot near his anus and saw a small bald patch. I immediately took him to the vet (the vet is listed on rabbit.org website) and she found more maggots! The affected area was cleaned with a solution (can't remember the name) and the maggots were all removed. Fluffy was prescribed Bactrim, Metacam and Silvazine cream for 7 days. The vet also applied Revolution on the back Fluffy's neck. The vet asked me to return in 2 days for a check-up. I decided to leave Fluffy there until the next appointment so I could pick him up straight after work. When I picked him up today, the vet told me that she had found 3 more maggots! She assured me that the maggots have now been completely removed but I am still worried. The wound appears to be healing well and there has been no change in Fluffy's behaviour. I dont understand why the maggots keep coming back! How do I ensure that there are no more maggots on Fluffy? Do rabbits generally survive flystrike? Should I take him back to the vet next week? I'm very worried! Thanks so much for your help!

Indri  

Answer
Dear Tammara,

Unless there is really extensive tissue damage, your boy should be fine.  This was a bullet dodged, and it's extremely important that you check him *every day* when he's outside (when you bring him in) for *any* sign of fly eggs in his fur.

The maggots are not coming back.  They often flee the site of a cleanup and medication, crawl into the fur and can't be found.  But they eventually show back up in a fold of skin or back at the original site.  When we've taken in fly strike bunnies, we check them thoroughly twice a day for 3-4 days before we feel satisfied that there are truly no more invaders.

Be sure your bunny gets plenty of supportive care and if the tissue damage is extensive, be sure to ask about antibiotics.  I hope your bunny will be fine very soon.  He was lucky you noticed in time!

Dana