Flystrike danger

FLYSTRIKE

BBC Countryfile 22/05/11. We are told that bluebottles are much more active than they would normally be at this time of year because of the warm, dry spring. This is of concern to farmers whose stock can be affected by blowfly strike.

**For rabbit owners this is also particularly important news.**

Please check your rabbits at least once per day, preferably more often. If bottoms are dirty, please clean them thoroughly at once, ensure bedding is as clean and dry as possible. If your rabbit is elderly or has mobility problems this is particularly important, as it may be less able to keep itself free of caecals, or may not be able to squat properly to urinate.

It's possible to buy Rearguard from your vet, which will inhibit the development of maggots, but you cannot rely on that alone. Owners need to be very vigilant as this is a real danger and can kill a rabbit in a very short time, very painfully. The maggots will burrow into and eat living flesh.

Please see the leaflet on Flystrike which can be downloaded here http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/content/leaflet_pdfs/flystrike_sep_05.pdf

https://happyhoppers.forumotion.co.uk/t79-what-is-myiasis-flystrike

This article is available with many others on general welfare issues in the Information section of the forum.

I've printed a few of the Flystrike leaflets out to leave out with my other leaflets and flyers for my customers who board their rabbits with us as I think Flystrike is awful.