Flystrike is a rapidly fatal welfare emergency in rabbits that requires vigilant prevention during warm weather, especially in rabbits with underlying conditions.
Flystrike is one of the most acute and rapidly fatal welfare crises possible for pet rabbits, and one of the most preventable. Maggots can consume substantial amounts of tissue within 24 hours of egg hatching, causing a nightmarish welfare emergency. The rabbit is initially unaware of the infestation as maggots produce anesthetic compounds. By the time owners notice the problem, the rabbit may already be in shock. Rabbits that survive the initial attack often require extensive wound management and may suffer from toxemia from maggot-produced toxins. The welfare cost of flystrike is entirely disproportionate to the cost of prevention: daily inspection, treatment with cyromazine products, and management of underlying conditions that cause soiling effectively eliminate the risk.