Really worried my rabbit has the beginnings of flystrike. Any input appreciated.

[verity]

So around this time last year, my rabbit got flystrike twice. Luckily he survived but I am really worried some flies may habe laid eggs on him again.

Unfortunately, since moving away for university my parent’s aren’t feeding my rabbit correctly. He often has a poopy butt. My parents say they clean it once a week as it can be quite traumatic for him. I’m house-sitting this week and at first glance it looked alright. I put him in the run, left him for a while, and when I got back he had some flies on his backside.

I took him inside and lifted his butt up so I could check for eggs. Because I was by myself and he was struggling it was hard to check thoroughly. But I did a decent check, and his but was a bit poopy (with some globs of poop that were soft but stuck onto him so I left them for now rather then irritate him more.)  There didn’t seem to be any eggs I could see.

Now, I am worried though. The conditions were right. He’s had it before. I put him out at about noon (this is UK time) and fly eggs take about 12-24 hours to hatch.So that means that they could hatch between midnight tonight and noon. It’s a bit chilly outside so I’m worried about washing him this hour. I’m afraid he is an outside bunny

I want to go and check his butt again but I don’t think I can do a thorough check alone. I’d have to flip him over and I’m worried I could hurt him.

Do you think it will be alright to check on him at midnight, then wake up at 3am to observe him again for a few minuted (I think I remember his behaviour from before), then sleep and check at 6am, and then maybe give him a quick wash at 9am?

He seems happy enough now but I suppose the eggs wouldn’t have hatched yet.

[12345ABCDE]

If you truly suspect flystrike, take him to an emergency vet.

With all due respect, your parents need to treat him properly. Feeding him a suitable diet and ensuring he isn’t covered in faeces is the bare minimum. If they can’t be bothered/don’t want to do that, I really think you should consider rehoming him. The fact he is an outdoor bun that only has his poopy butt cleaned once a week is outrageous and as you have experienced, it’s perfect conditions for something like flystrike which I’m sure you’re aware is deadly. I don’t mean to make you feel bad because it seems YOU are doing everything right but your parents…If my parents treated my rabbits like that there would be hell to pay.

[Bam]

Is there any chance you could keep him inside for the night? If you could, you could wash his butt because he’d not freeze inside. I wash my bun’s but by pouring two inches of lukewarm water in a plastic wash basin that I place on the bathroom floor. I then place Bam in the water so he can stand up, with his “hands” on the rim of the basin. it seems to make him feel he has some control, plus if he jumps out, he’s very near the floor. Then I scoop up water with my hands to rinse out the poopy butt.

It is difficult to get a really good look at the butt when you’re on your own, the best way would probably be to very gently trance him in your lap. Trancing a bunny is not something that’s recommended, but there are instances when it can be better than the alternative. If the alternative is not being able to check his butt, it’s worth it.

For the future: Could you put mosquito netting over his outdoors run when the weather is hot? It wouldn’t completely eliminate risk, but it would help. In the UK there’s also Rearguard and other products that are bunny safe and can be bought OTC and helps prevent fly strike.

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