Flystrike

[Jazlyn]

My rabbit cannot properly groom himself so I have been nervous for the upcoming summer months. I do not want any flies getting close to either of my rabbits. I was considering putting a mesh netting overtop of their pen but I am worried about their air flow with that. I know there are some home remedies but I don’t want to do a trial and error run beforehand. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to prevent the flies from getting near them? They’re indoor rabbits but it still worries me.

[malibu]

You could put up flypaper (out of your rabbit’s reach !!) to keep the fly levels down. I don’t really think the fly thing should be a huge deal, especially if they are indoor if your buns are capable of shaking flies off, then they will probably be fine, I’d think. I also don’t think mesh over their pen would be a bad idea. i put a blanket over Malibu’s cage at night, since it gets cold, and he seems fine.

[Bam]

You can treat them with fly strike prevention drops or spray. There is a variety available, depending on where you live. But a mosquito net over the cage would also be great. In the summer you should check the bunny butts twice daily when it’s warm. Fly eggs can hatch in 6 hours during “favorable” conditions (favorable for the flies that is) and it’s the maggots that do the harm.

[Azerane]

Yes mosquito net or flyscreen over the cage will not prevent too much air flow. Also if you clean the litter tray daily, and bunny has a good diet with healthy poops, the chances of fly strike are very slim. Flies most love to lay their eggs in wet or poopy fur around your bunny’s bottom. If they have healthy poops their fur down there should be dry and clean which is less enticing to flies.

I’ve never used any fly strike preventatives, but if outside you could also plant some insect repelling plants around the cage area either in the ground or in pots out of bunny’s reach.

[Jazlyn]

Thank you so much for all of your answers! I do try to keep him as clean as possible, but it will be my first full summer with them so my anxiety levels have been high. I greatly appreciate the help, it certainly put my worrying at bay.

[Azerane]

I also seemed to have missed the part where you said he can’t groom himself properly. What’s the reason for that? Does he have mobility issues, or arthritis?

[Jazlyn]

In December, he had his circultion cut off for a few hours in his hind leg while I was running errands. I went to a vet who claimed he could treat rabbits but he couldnt. Zel ended up getting gangrene and had to have his leg amputated, so now it is difficult to properly groom himself and ends up having some pee on his leg. I clean it but some days are worse.

[Azerane]

Ahh, that’s certainly understandable as to why he has trouble then. Poor little guy.

As long as you are cleaning it regularly and cleaning his tray regularly the attraction to flies should be quite low. Combine that with the other protections and deterrents and you should be ok If you’re cleaning him daily I suspect if he does get fly strike that you’ll catch it quite early because you check him very regularly down there.

[Jazlyn]

Thank you both for the advice!

[Author]

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