When the eggs hatch, cuterebra prefer the area around the rabbit's neck or under the jaw where they burrow under the skin to eat flesh and grow. These eggs hatch when a rabbit brushes against them. One kind of bot fly attracted to rabbits in the wild will also lay eggs near rabbit habitat, on leaves or stems of normal vegetation. If removal of all eggs cannot be accomplished, warm vinegar should pop the egg hatches and kill the larvae. Warm moisture (such as an animal licking himself) will pop open the egg hatch and release the larva to burrow inside its victim. Eggs look like separate, tiny yellow seeds stuck to the tips of individual hairs and are laid one egg at a time. This extension of the fly is merely the tube for laying its eggs on the targeted area. They are attracted directly to the rabbit himself.Ī bot fly looks like a bee (yellow with black stripes,) but it has a curved body that appears to be stinging its victim. Unlike house flies, bot flies do not require the attraction of food, blood, or feces. However, do not discount the possibility of one getting to an indoor rabbit, especially if you open windows on nice days. A thorough veterinary exam, possibly more flushing, and antibiotics will be needed any time maggots have been found on your pet.īot flies are not usually found indoors so a rabbit getting exercise outside is more susceptible than one kept strictly indoors. Be sure to follow all of this with an immediate trip to your veterinarian. The rabbit should also be thoroughly checked for additional patches of eggs that may not have yet hatched. Watch carefully for the smallest sign of movement anywhere on the animal's fur or near the area of the maggots' entrance. You can frequently tell where they are by a rippling motion under the skin.Įvery single maggot must be removed and killed or it will burrow back inside at the first opportunity. If you see them on the surface of your rabbit, be assured they are also under the surface. You may have seen such wiggling masses on garbage. The maggots themselves are tiny white worms (the larval stage of the fly) and there can be hundreds of them. Vinegar also helps kill the eggs, but do not rely totally on this. If egg patches are found, a flea comb can help remove them. Inspect your rabbit thoroughly and regularly. Between tissue damage and infection, they cause serious harm to their victim and are potentially life threatening. If not found and flushed out before getting too deep, there may be no hope. The tiniest cut can provide access beneath the skin where they begin to burrow and eat deeper and deeper. When the eggs hatch, the maggots automatically gravitate to the appropriate area where they begin to burrow in and, literally, eat their victim alive. The eggs look like tiny patches of off-white mush laid on the regular fur where they can stick. The more restricted a rabbit is in movement, the more likely he is to be a target.įlies don't need to lay eggs on the messy or injured area that is merely what attracts them. If that household also happens to have a rabbit with an open cut, a newly removed tooth, a messy bottom, or food gunked to him, he can become a victim of the ordinary house fly or other fly species. Even the cleanest household can have a fly slip in when someone comes through the door. This article is for the good of rabbits everywhere since fly strike happens both indoors and outdoors.įly strike can happen anywhere and anytime when the weather is warm enough to hatch fly eggs. WARNING: This article is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.
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