Flystrike (myiasis) is a rapidly fatal condition in pet rabbits caused by flies laying eggs in soiled or damp fur, making seasonal prevention essential welfare management for all pet rabbits.
Flystrike in rabbits is one of the most distressing welfare emergencies: the maggots consume living tissue rapidly and painlessly initially because they release anesthetics, meaning rabbits may appear unaffected while severe damage occurs beneath the fur. By the time behavioral signs appear (lethargy, reluctance to move), tissue destruction is often advanced and may be incompatible with survival. The combination of rapid progression, hidden onset, and severe outcome makes prevention absolutely critical. Unlike sheep flystrike where affected animals are often not checked daily, pet rabbits with attentive daily inspection have a realistic chance of early detection. The welfare failure is often systemic: rabbits in poor condition that cannot groom, kept in soiled enclosures, or whose owners are unaware of flystrike risk are at highest risk. Preventive medicine (Rearguard treatment during risk season) combined with daily inspection eliminates most flystrike risk.