Fly strike is a life-threatening emergency for rabbits. Understanding prevention and recognizing early signs can save lives during warm weather periods.
Fly strike causes extreme suffering in affected rabbits. Maggots produce proteolytic enzymes that liquefy tissue, causing rapid and severe tissue damage with intense pain. The speed of deterioration means rabbits can go from apparently normal to moribund within a day. The condition is entirely preventable through vigilant husbandry, making cases that occur due to neglected checks a preventable welfare failure. Rabbits that survive often require prolonged recovery and may suffer from traumatic stress.