Then they migrate to a subcutaneous (under the skin) location. When a rabbit comes near the eggs their body heat triggers the egg to open and the tiny cuterebra attach to the fur of their victim entering generally through the nose or mouth. The females lay eggs where rabbits have been or in an area they frequent. Cuterebra hole after removal shown center of photo and upper right hand corner. The bot fly that targets rabbits (other small mammals can get them, too) looks somewhat like a cross between a horse fly and a large bee. Cuterebra Cuterebra hole before larva removed.īot flies are not usually found indoors as the fly needs a suitable environment for laying the eggs so the bunny getting exercise outside is more susceptible than the one indoors. A thorough vet exam, possibly more flushing, debridement and antibiotics will be needed any time maggots have been found on your pet. Follow this with an immediate trip to your veterinarian or head to your veterinarian first if you cannot flush them out. The rabbit should also be thoroughly checked for additional patches of eggs that may not have yet hatched. Watch carefully for the tiniest sign of movement anywhere on the animal’s fur or area of maggot entrance. Follow up care with antibiotics was also required.Įvery single maggot must be removed or it will burrow back inside at the quickest opportunity. Our opossum was a super trooper and lay quietly upside down in a volunteer’s lap for over an hour while I flushed out the maggots, carefully picking off every one with a tweezers as it came to the surface. Left much longer, the maggots would have killed her but serious flushing using a long tipped 35 cc syringe with a solution of hydrogen peroxide, warm water, and a small amount of betadine (be careful not to get any down the throat in a situation like this) finally won the war against the maggots. The infestation was apparent from the twitching motion in the muzzle not caused by muscle movement. Flies laid eggs on her muzzle and the maggots crawled into her mouth and up through the open area in the gum. You can frequently tell where they are by a rippling motion under the skin.Īn opossum I treated during my wildlife rehab days had a tooth knocked out when she was hit by a car. If you see them on the surface of your pet they are also under the surface. You may have seen such wiggling masses on garbage or dead animals. The maggots themselves are tiny white worms (the larval stage of the fly) and there can be hundreds or thousands of them. Removal is the key so shaving it off is best. Vinegar also helps kill the eggs, but do not rely totally on this and DO NOT use vinegar on open cuts or wound. If egg patches are found, a flea comb can help remove them. Inspect your rabbit thoroughly and regularly. Blow fly infestation before treatment and after debridement of infected area. With appropriate care this rabbit did survive. These photos were taken before and after flushing and debridement of an area where thousands of maggots had been feasting. Between tissue damage, infection and toxic shock they do a terrible job on their victim. If not found and flushed out before getting too deep, there may be no hope. The tiniest cut can provide access beneath the skin to blow flies where they begin to burrow and eat deeper and deeper. When the eggs hatch, the maggots automatically migrate 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. Blow flies don’t need to lay eggs on the injured area that’s merely what attracts them. House flies want to lay eggs on the moist, food coated area and are carriers of infection. The more restricted a rabbit is in movement, the more likely he is to be a target. Blow flies have a metallic sheen and specifically target open cuts or sores. If that household also happens to have a rabbit with an open cut, a newly removed tooth, a messy bottom, or food stuck to him, he can be a victim of the ordinary house fly or blow fly species. Even the cleanest household can have a fly slip in when someone comes through the door. Maggotsįly Strike can happen anywhere and anytime when weather is warm enough to hatch fly eggs. This article is for the good of rabbits everywhere since fly strike happens both indoors and outdoors. WARNING: This article is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.
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