Flystrike *New bunny owners Info*

Bumped for 2011
As the weather warms up (although it may not seem it yet..) some new bunny owners may not be aware of the danger of Flystrike.
It is a good time to get your bun(s) used to their daily bum checks, esp. if they aren't that used to being handled.

We have an article on Flystrike here, and the same text is also in this video, which also demonstrates the 'bum check'.

ETA: If your bun can't be handled for a bum check, or you have any further worries about Flystrike, then talk to your vet about prescribing 'Rearguard' which you can apply to the fur and prevents Flystrike. Follow instructions given, but it gives around 10 weeks protection.



Please take time to familiarise yourselves with these, as Flystrike is largely preventable and certainly treatable, provided you take the recommended steps and check your buns every day.

Any questions on it, please ask, Thanks

Great post Jay

Can I please stress that it is not just outside bunnies that can get flystrike but house bunnies can as well

Having lost a rabbit to this, it is a gruesome thing and happens very very quickly. Good timely post Jay.

I have to admit i've never heard of fly strike before ! That video was very informative but scary, I ran to my bunnies to check their bottoms (which they did not enjoy). Thanks for the information

Fantastic post Jay
I've now started to do my bum checks (all 7 of them)
Just a question, can guinea piggles get it?

Apprently so Hetty clicky
I think anything with fur can, on the farm when I was a kid, we used to see the most horrendous flystrike attacks on sheep - it's an image that's never left me, I think that's why I made that video so scarey..!

Ahh no, 9 bum checks to do now!
Doesn't help that the piggies are the messiest of them all!!

Great video, i had NO IDEA this exist! Actualy I'm pretty worried because we have ALOT of flies here, but how am I supposed to check Kenzo's butt? His fur is so very long, and it's white! I'm realy worried now

Gloria is incredibly fluffy around her bum like Kenzo and she is a very very clean bun. I find it really impossible to check her because she gets so stressed out about being handled and if I stress her too much she goes into stasis.

The rabbit I lost had been ill and had wet poos. I didn't realise that such a thing as fly strike existed as I was very new to bunnies then. The first we knew was when she was sitting in her hutch looking sad. By then it was too late. She saw the emergency vet at 10.00 pm who gave her a painkiller and something to help her gut. Then they cleaned the wound and put her on a drip to rehydrate her. She was put on syringe feeding but just got weaker and weaker and died after about 5 days.

I make sure I keep a good look at their litter trays every day and check the consistency of their poo. They have lots of hay as too many veg can give them wetter poos. Also I make sure their hutch is much cleaner in the summer so there is nothing to attract flies.

Scary Stuff. Another thing to add to the "watch list" Daisy's Bottom!

Lottie wrote:Great video, i had NO IDEA this exist! Actualy I'm pretty worried because we have ALOT of flies here, but how am I supposed to check Kenzo's butt? His fur is so very long, and it's white! I'm realy worried now

Hi Lottie, in Kenzo's case (and for any bun who can't do the bum check etc.) it may be advisable to talk to your vet about Rearguard.

“Rearguard” – this is a medication that a vet can prescribe to help prevent flystrike. It lasts approximately 10 weeks and is applied to the rabbit's hind quarters in liquid form.

(taken from the Flystrike article.)

Hope that eases your concerns

Ok I guess I'll ring my vet about this med! You realy are so helpfull Jay

I did check Chewy's butt though, since he is short haired, and he has no eggs or maggots on him, and both of my bunnies bums are dry and clean, so that has me less worried already.

*Spider* wrote:Fantastic post Jay
I've now started to do my bum checks (all 7 of them)
Just a question, can guinea piggles get it?

I have had a guinea pig with fly strike. She had a tumour on her genitals so found it hard to keep herself clean. we caught it really early but in the end we had her pts as the risk of it happening again was just too great

It's time to bring out the Flystrike reminder again folks

Well done Jay, please everyone take note of this and check your bums twice a day, well not yours, your bunnies bums

Can anyone give me the name of this video please? It won't work straight on my phone so I'll have to search it on the YouTube app.

Dotdot wrote:Can anyone give me the name of this video please? It won't work straight on my phone so I'll have to search it on the YouTube app.

Sure, it's called Rabbit care - Myiasis - Flystrike in Rabbits - An Information film

the URL is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FC2TVwgJxo

Thank you Jay for your great post. Even though Mr Snuffles is a house bunny, I still check him regularly. I just wish I could help the other bunnies out there who might be affected. Don't you just hate parasitic things?

Jo xx

Fab post Jay...I have to admit, even tho I have Roo indoors, i have a bit of a phobia of this flystrike...so consequently I check Roo twice a day and am what you could consider a bit OCD about picking up poo, horrible disease

Nice work Jay x

Thank you for the informative video!

I have a question re flystrike that I was hoping you guys would be able to help with.

Thumper is 10, and getting a bit slack on the whole cleaning thing. Don't get me wrong, she's not DIRTY. I took her to the vet about 3 weeks ago and got them to trim her back end because I think she is going for a wee in her sleep and she was getting very messy. But she's not shaved right to the bone.

Sometimes after having a wee, she has a little bit left on her so before I put her outside I always give her a wipe with a scented grooming wipe.

Will giving her a wipe with this deter the flies at all? Will they be put off by the "nice" smell?

Would really appreciate any feedback on this as I am really paranoid about fly strike.

Thank you for any help.

I don't know what a scented grooming wipe is, but if her coat is not thick enough there for a fly to lay maggots in, then they most likely won't, but I can't say for sure.

Could you just use a damp cloth if you're worried about the scent? Also, your vet can give Thumper 'Rearguard' to spay on the rear, which will protect her for a few weeks each application, alternatively, you could shave the area.

If you cant get to the vet to ask, I found this

http://www.vetscriptions.co.uk/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1&Product_Code=REARG25&Category_Code=

Thank you for your replies.

Does anyone have experience with Beaphar Fly Guard Spray?

I'm thinking about buying it, you can get it at Pets At Home. It says it provides cover for up to 3 months, but I can't see any reviews on the internet (apart from on the Pets At Home website itself).

Thanks.