I am freaking out!

[Nibbles_NZ]

I usually change my bunnies litter boxes on a daily basis. Well, I have been so busy and they ran out of carefresh so I scooped some out and added newspaper until I made it to buy some carefresh for them. I bought a big bad today and was doing a deep clean in Baxters living space and when I dumped his litter box out….THERE WERE PARASITES!!!! I am totally freaking out! It was only 3 days. I mean, that is too long but I didn’t feel like I was the worst bunny momma ever for that! Now I do! They looked like a maggot but skinnier kind of. There have been a couple of flies in my house but I thought it was because I open the windows alot. I feel so awful! I am a good housekeeper. That is totally not okay! What could’ve happened to Baxter and Bella? Are they actually parasites?

[Nibbles_NZ]

The Vet did a fecal test on Baxter and I will get the results back tomorrow. I am going to take Bella’s in tomorrow just to be safe

[jerseygirl]

If it were from flies, they may have taken advantage while Baxter was away for the neuter because they weren’t disturbed. But, when you take Baxter back for his follow up, mention it to your vet and he may need to be treated for internal parasites. It might not be fly larve you saw but something like roundworms. Don’t worry – easily treatable.

Edit: I I see you’ve gotten him tested, great!

[Elrohwen]

I wonder if he might have some type of parasite.

I never change my litter boxes before 3 days, and I’ve waited until 5 or 6 days sometimes and have never seen anything strange in there. I imagine something else might be going on – you’re definitely not a bad bunny-mom for waiting 3 days, or I’m a bad bunny mom every week 😉

[Nibbles_NZ]

I hope it’s not an internal parasite but I am so glad I had him tested! I have seen an occasional fly on thier litter box but I didn’t think anything of it. I mean, I don’t know anyone who has never had an annoying fly buzzing around thier house. I googled it and it said that when a fly lays an egg it only takes 24 hours for it to become a maggot. YUK!!! They will also lay in anything that is warm. I keep my house at 80 most of the time unless it is too humid. Thank you for your posts! I still fee terrible but not like it is completely my fault. I didn’t notice it in Bella’s litterbox but I wasn’t really looking at it when I dumped it out.

[Nibbles_NZ]

Oh and they were deep in the litter and not on or in his fecals. Can flies larvae burrow into an animals skin? I did read that they can hide in thier fur.

[Beka27]

Yikes! Let us know what his fecal test comes back as. Maybe the boxes need a good scrub? I never clean the boxes everyday. I only clean them 2 (sometimes 3) times a week, and that’s just dumping and wiping out with a paper towel. I only scrub them out with vinegar once a week. Very weird.

[osprey]

Fly larvae can burrow into the skin, causing a very dangerous condition called Fly Strike. This is caused by the large greenish blue bottle flies you see buzzing around. Their maggots are quite large, I doubt you saw those. It is a good thing you are getting the fecal test. As others have said, the parasites are gross but usually easy to treat. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[Nibbles_NZ]

They couldn’t get enough fecals from him for his test! He isn’t pooping much. He hasn’t pooped at all since I brought him hom at 3:15. They said that if he doesn’t by morning call them and they will let me know what to do or if he needs to come in for treatment. I looked up what I saw. It is fly larvae for sure. They were not large and the ones that I saw do not burrow into the skin, they can hide in the fur. Still gross though! I think it was just regular house flies that did it. I think Jersey may be right, maybe they took advantage of the litter box while Baxter was away getting his neuter. From what I read about houseflies, I can see how this could happen now. He was in our room, it is kinda hot in there. Not dangerously hot but a little warm. That’s the best time for flies to lay thier eggs and it only takes 24 hours to produce flies. YUK! Anyway, I moved him to the air conditioned living room and I will not let this happen again! I just hope he didn’t get anything from them! I went ahead and prepaid for the fecals and I am just going to drop them off when he goes.

[Nibbles_NZ]

Everytime I think about it I feel like they are all over me!

Oh, I definetly scrubbed both litter boxes out!

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