Seasonal Advice

Summer

Myiasis (Fly Strike) in Rabbits: Prevention and Treatment

Myiasis, commonly known as fly strike, is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that affects rabbits during warmer months.

What is Fly Strike?

Fly strike occurs when adult flies, such as green and blue bottle flies, lay eggs on the rabbit's skin, particularly around the soiled anal area. These eggs rapidly hatch into maggots, which then burrow into the rabbit's flesh, causing severe pain, infection, and potentially death.

Risk Factors:

  • Poor Hygiene: Dirty hutches and inadequate sanitation around the rabbit's living area increase the risk of fly strike.
  • Overweight Rabbits: Overweight rabbits may have difficulty grooming themselves properly, leaving them more susceptible to fly strike.
  • Warm Weather: Warmer temperatures increase fly activity and accelerate the development of fly eggs.

Prevention Strategies:

  • Excellent Hygiene:
    • Regular Cleaning: Thoroughly clean hutches at least once a week, paying close attention to corners and crevices.
    • Disinfectant Use: Use a suitable disinfectant (such as diluted bleach solution) to kill any remaining bacteria and prevent fly breeding.
    • Fly Control: Employ fly traps, insecticides (used cautiously and according to manufacturer's instructions), or natural deterrents like lavender sprays to minimize fly populations around the rabbit's living area.
  • Maintain Rabbit Health:
    • Proper Diet: Ensure your rabbit maintains a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise.
    • Regular Grooming: Regularly check and clean the anal area of your rabbit, especially during warmer months.

Early Detection and Treatment:

  • Observe Your Rabbit: Monitor your rabbit closely for any signs of distress, such as restlessness, excessive grooming, or reluctance to move.
  • Inspect the Anal Area: Regularly inspect the anal area for any signs of fly strike, such as redness, swelling, or the presence of maggots.
  • Immediate Action: If you suspect fly strike, seek immediate veterinary attention.

Treatment Options:

  • Thorough Cleaning: Gently clean the affected area with a mild antiseptic solution (consult your veterinarian for recommendations).
  • Maggot Removal: Carefully remove any visible maggots using tweezers.
  • Veterinary Care: Your veterinarian will assess the severity of the infestation and recommend appropriate treatment, which may include antibiotics, pain medication, and wound care.

Prevention is Key:

While treatment options are available, prevention is crucial. By maintaining excellent hygiene, controlling fly populations, and monitoring your rabbit closely, you can significantly reduce the risk of fly strike and ensure your rabbit's health and well-being.


As soon as you have cleaned the rabbit and made it more comfortable, contact your vet and take them there as soon as possible.


Health Advice:

Rabbits and Encephalitozoon cuniculi
By Brigitte Lord (nee Reusch) BVetMed CertZooMed MRCVS. Lecturer in Rabbit Medicine and Surgery at the University of Edinburgh. BRC Veterinary Adviser

What is Encephalitozoon cuniculi?
E. cuniculi is a common parasite that is spread in urine and affects primarily the nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and kidneys. Other animals can carry the parasite including wild rabbits but in a recent study, very few of them are infected with the disease.

What signs will my rabbit show with E. cuniculi?
Back leg weakness and paralysis are a result of the swelling surrounding the parasite destroying the nervous tissue. Other signs commonly seen with this disease include a head tilt, fitting; loss of balance, tremors, kidney failure and bladder weakness. Unfortunately, once the rabbit develops severe clinical signs this can lead to death. Signs of kidney failure may include increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss and decreased appetite.

The E. cuniculi parasite can infect the eyes of unborn rabbits that are infected whilst in the womb. This may cause destruction of the lens and eye later in life (6 months to 2 years old are commonly seen). Medical treatment can be effective in saving the eye if this is carried out early enough. Otherwise, surgery may be required. The rabbit may develop a cloudy lens and cataract. Then the eye may become red a swollen.

How can my rabbit be tested for it? Blood test:
A blood test can be carried out to measure antibodies that are produced by the rabbit if it has been exposed to the disease at some stage in its life. Over 50% of healthy rabbits were found to have antibodies to this parasite in a study carried out, which makes it difficult to interpret the blood results fully.

More information indicating the stage of infection and immune response can be obtained by taking two blood samples one month apart. If the antibody levels to E. cuniculi are falling, this suggests that a recent history of infection or flare-up of an existing E. cuniculi infection has occurred. Rising antibody levels between the 2 blood samples are more suggestive of a current active infection or flare-up. However, if the antibody levels are the same in the first and second blood samples, it is difficult to conclude too much.

Urine test:
There is now a simple urine test that can test if your rabbit is shedding the parasite in its urine. Most of the parasite is shed in the first 3 months after the rabbit has been infected, but it may be shed intermittently after that. We recommend urine samples be collected for 3 days and sent to the laboratory.

Tissue biopsy:
This is the most accurate way of confirming if your rabbit has the disease. The rabbit must have a general anaesthetic to allow a small biopsy of kidney tissue to be obtained. We can now carry this out with keyhole surgery. This is something we may recommend in certain cases.

What treatment is available for this condition?
Unfortunately, at this stage, we can only support rabbits with the condition because at present there is no specific treatment that will reverse the damage caused by the presence of the parasite.

Medication (Fenbendazole, Lapizole, Panacur) can slow or halt the rate of multiplication of the E. cuniculi parasite within the body.

We can also offer a variety of supportive care and medication to support the signs of bladder problems or nerve disorders.

How can I prevent my rabbit from getting E. cuniculi?
We recommend all rabbits recently acquired (purchased or rescued) receive a single course of fenbendazole for 4 weeks by mouth or on the pellet part of the diet daily. If your rabbit has the parasite it will kill the parasite before it causes further damage and may prevent clinical signs from developing. If your rabbit does not have E. cuniculi it will not cause any side effects. There is no lasting effect so if your rabbit comes into contact with the parasite, it can be at risk of disease. Hygiene is also important as the parasite is easily killed with contact for only 30 seconds with 1-10% bleach.