Grooming as Flystrike Prevention: Summer Checks

Flystrike (myiasis) is one of the most rapid and devastating conditions a rabbit can develop, and it is almost entirely preventable with the right daily grooming and hygiene routine. During warm weather (above 10°C/50°F, and particularly in temperatures above 20°C/68°F), a complacent owner can lose a rabbit to flystrike within a single day. This guide explains how to use grooming as your primary preventive tool.

What Is Flystrike?

Flystrike occurs when blowflies — primarily Lucilia sericata (the green bottle fly) and Calliphora species — are attracted to warm, soiled, or moist areas of a rabbit’s fur. They lay eggs in the fur, and the eggs hatch into maggots in as little as 12 hours in warm conditions. The maggots begin feeding on the rabbit’s flesh immediately, releasing toxins that cause rapid systemic shock and organ failure.

The RWAF estimates that a significant proportion of flystrike cases are fatal, and even with emergency veterinary treatment, the survival rate decreases dramatically with every hour of delay. A rabbit found with established flystrike at 10am and treated by noon has a far better prognosis than one found at 4pm.

Who Is Most at Risk

Flystrike can affect any rabbit, but certain factors dramatically increase risk:

• Soiled hindquarters — the primary risk factor. Uneaten cecotropes, diarrhoea, or urine soiling attracting flies
• Wounds or skin breaks — flies are attracted to any breach in the skin, including small scratches
• Obesity or mobility issues — preventing the rabbit from cleaning themselves
• Dental pain — causing abnormal posture during urination and defecation
• Diarrhoea — any condition causing soft droppings increases risk enormously
• Outdoor or semi-outdoor housing — more fly exposure

The Daily Summer Check

During warm weather months (in the UK and similar temperate climates, this means May–September at minimum; in warmer climates, extend the period), every rabbit requires at least one dedicated perineal check per day. This is not optional — it is the primary flystrike prevention action.

How to Perform the Perineal Check

1. Lift or tip your rabbit gently to inspect the underside
2. Check the fur immediately around the anus and genitals
3. Check the fur on the inner thighs
4. Check the tail base area
5. Part the fur in these areas to see the skin beneath — eggs may be laid close to the skin and visible only when the fur is separated

What you’re looking for:

• Any soiling — wet fur, staining, or soft droppings sticking to the fur
• Tiny white or cream-coloured eggs — similar in appearance to very small grains of rice, laid in clusters in the fur. These are fly eggs and constitute an emergency.
• Any maggots — any maggots visible means the rabbit needs emergency vet care immediately

If You Find Fly Eggs

Fly eggs are a veterinary emergency, not a watch-and-wait situation. In warm weather, eggs can hatch and maggots can cause tissue damage in less than 12 hours.

1. Contact your vet immediately and describe what you’ve found
2. While arranging transport: use fine-toothed comb to remove as many eggs as possible from the fur — do not delay going to the vet to do this
3. Do not put the rabbit outdoors while waiting
4. Keep the rabbit in a cool environment (this slows egg development)

If You Find Maggots

This is a critical emergency. Maggots feeding on tissue and releasing toxins cause rapid shock.

1. Call your vet immediately and travel without delay
2. Do not attempt to remove maggots yourself — there may be many more embedded in the tissue than are visible on the surface
3. Do not apply any substances to the area before veterinary assessment
4. Keep the rabbit calm, warm (they may be going into shock), and transport immediately

Preventive Products

Rearguard (active ingredient: cyromazine) is a licensed preventive product for rabbits in the UK. Applied to the hindquarters, it prevents fly larvae development in the fur for up to 10 weeks. It does not kill adult flies or existing eggs — it is a larval development inhibitor. It should be used in addition to, not instead of, daily checks. Consult your vet about appropriate use.

Reducing Flystrike Risk Through Hygiene

Beyond the daily perineal check, these grooming and hygiene measures reduce overall risk:

• Spot clean the enclosure at least daily in summer — remove soiled bedding, faeces, and any wet material that attracts flies
• Investigate and address any cause of soiling — a rabbit with persistently dirty hindquarters has an underlying problem that needs veterinary attention
• Check for wounds — inspect the body during grooming for any cuts, scrapes, or sores that could attract flies
• Ensure correct diet — predominantly hay; excessive pellets or fruit contribute to soft droppings
• Use fly screens on outdoor enclosures — reduces fly access significantly
• Move outdoor enclosures away from compost heaps and any rotting organic material — major fly breeding sites

The RabbitCare App

The RabbitCare App (free on Android) includes a daily summer care reminder specifically designed to prompt flystrike checks throughout the warm weather period, with the option to log the outcome of each check for your records.

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References & Sources

1. RWAF — “Flystrike” — rabbitwelfare.co.uk
2. House Rabbit Society (HRS) — “Flystrike Prevention” — rabbit.org
3. Harcourt-Brown, F. (2002) — Textbook of Rabbit Medicine, Butterworth-Heinemann
4. PDSA — “Flystrike in Rabbits” — pdsa.org.uk
5. Meredith, A. & Lord, B. (Eds.) (2014) — BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine, BSAVA