Warning to all rabbit owners. Fly strike.

[Tortoise]

I had not heard of this before today. My neighbour put some greens in for our rabbit and guinea and noticed a wet looking patch on the rabbits back end and a few maggots.

Took her to the vets earlier and she has fly strike. Maggots have been eating into the flesh at the back of her. [eww emoticon!] vet said the fly lays eggs in any poo stuck to the back end of the rabbit which then hatch and eat the rabbits flesh. [double eww!]

Just a warning to any rabbit owners who hadn't heard of this. Check your rabbit daily in the hot weather for any sign of maggots, the eggs hatch within hours of being laid. Luckily ours was caught early and should be ok now it is being treated and the vet has picked off the maggots. (I will have to do this too if i find any! As well as rubbing cream onto the bald area)

Oh Tortoise, how sad! We are new to pet-keeping (only had rabbit for three weeks now) and I am terrified of something happening, but I know it is inevitable at some point. I guess it will be a life-lesson for your dcs; they will be very sad.

I think you did the right thing bringing her home; she'll get a lovely send-off I'm sure.

I'm bumping this as a reminder for people to check their bunnies, as I lost my much loved little Netherland Dwarf rabbit, Freddie yesterday to fly strike. He was fine and eating and running around as ususal the day before; this can kill in 24hours. The vet said that there is a lot of fly-strike around at the moment due to the hot/moist weather.

I had him for 6 years so he was a bit of a little old man rabbit, and the vet was not sure he would make it through anaesthetic,plus he would have been in so much stress and discomfort so I decided to let him go. I am so upset about it, he was such a little character. Can't imagine how people must feel losing dogs or cats.

WARNING! Be extremely careful even if you're not in a hot country, I live in the northern part of England and one of my rabbits still has fly strike, it is lasting well but has lost a lot of its back fur.

If your rabbit has an open cut, take it to the vet ASAP as even the tiniest of cuts can me an enteracne for a maggot nest. You should check your rabbits on its belly and around its bum.

If it is poo wise, the flys usually go for the healthier rabbits, this is for a better habitat for there maggot babies.
Wash your rabbits VERY thourghly and frequently or else It is not a nice procedure for you or your rabbit(s).

No one should have to go through what I did, so please take this on board.
Thanks