This has cropped up on a few threads so I thought I would highlight it, especially as we approach flystrike season. Basically, flystrike is a condition that affects rabbits. If they have dirty bottoms, flies are attracted to the poo and lay eggs on it. The eggs hatch, and the resulting maggots burrow into the rabbit's flesh and literally eat them alive. This can happen very very quickly. It is obviously hideously painful for the rabbit and affected rabbits usually either die of shock or have to be put to sleep as they are suffering so much.
Thankfully, flystrike is relatively easily prevented. The following are some ways the risk can be minimised:
- feed rabbits an appropriate diet. Their diet should mimic that of wild rabbits, which eat one thing: grass. Pet rabbits should have a diet that is 90% grass or good quality hay, supplemented with vegetables and a very small amount of dried food. Dried food should NOT be the main source of their nutrition. This is because rabbits become obese quickly, and obese rabbits cannot clean themselves effectively which means their bottoms are more likely to get dirty.
- know your rabbit's poo: rabbits produce two types of poo: the hard, round pellets they scatter about, and the sticky, smelly, shiny poo that is called a caecotroph. They should take these straight from their bottom and eat them - this is how they extract maximum nutrition from their diet, by digesting it twice. Excessive caecotrophs being left around their hutch and not eaten is a sign that the diet is too rich, typically because the rabbits are eating too much dry food and not enough hay. Caecotrophs can stick to bottoms and attract flies, which is another reason to make sure the rabbit's diet isn't too rich. If your rabbit doesn't empty its bowl of dried food within a few hours, it's getting too much - and don't give more within a 24 hour period. Rabbits' tummies must have room for their hay.
- check your rabbit's bottom daily. If it's dirty, clean it - a baby wipe will get mild mess off, but if it's severe you can do a bottom-wash with baby shampoo. You might need to trim some fur around your rabbit's bottom.
- keep hutches very clean and avoid letting poo build up. Poo and contaminated bedding should be removed daily.
- consider using fly paper or other preventatives near the hutch (especially if it's in a shed).
- you can buy fly repellent sprays that you apply to the rabbits periodically - these are useful, but the best prevention of flystrike is a combination of diet, scrupulous hygiene and daily checking of the rabbit's bottom.