rabbit fly strike myiasis, what happens and emergency response

updated 13 May 2026 by xavier fok

fly strike is the scariest rabbit emergency. flies lay eggs on soiled fur (urine, feces, or wounds). eggs hatch in 8-12 hours into maggots. maggots eat live tissue. rabbits die fast.

this is what happens, and what to do if you find it.

the timeline

how it develops:

hour 0

fly lands on soiled fur or wound
lays cluster of 100+ eggs

hour 8-12

maggots hatch
begin feeding on dead tissue first
then live tissue
rabbit may show no obvious symptoms yet

hour 12-24

maggots burrow into skin
visible wriggling
rabbit becomes lethargic, painful
shock develops

hour 24-48

systemic toxin release
death from sepsis or shock

prevention is the only viable strategy. our fly strike prevention covers it.

the recognition

what fly strike looks like:

visible maggots on rabbit’s body
wet, smelly area on fur
rabbit acting lethargic
rabbit not eating
foul smell
rabbit may show pain (grinding teeth)

most common locations:

rear end (soiled by stool/urine)
around wounds
under matted fur

the immediate response

if you find fly strike:

step 1: call emergency vet NOW

this is hour-zero emergency
our emergency vet directory
transport in carrier

step 2: while traveling

gently brush off visible maggots with damp cloth
do NOT submerge rabbit
do NOT drown maggots (toxin release)
keep rabbit warm
minimal handling

step 3: at vet

vet will sedate
shave affected area
remove maggots manually and with antibacterial wash
IV fluids
pain medication
antibiotics
monitor for shock

the SG vet protocol

what to expect:

sedation or full anaesthesia
thorough cleaning
often hospitalization 24-48 hours
IV fluids and meds
wound dressing
follow-up visits

the survival rates

depends on:

time from infestation to treatment
amount of tissue affected
rabbit’s baseline health

statistics:

under 12 hours: survival often possible
12-24 hours: guarded prognosis
over 24 hours: poor prognosis

the cost reality

fly strike treatment:

emergency consultation: SGD 200-400
hospitalisation 24-48h: SGD 600-1500
surgery if needed: SGD 800-2000
follow-ups: SGD 100-200 per visit
total typical: SGD 2000-5000

the recovery

if rabbit survives:

wound care daily
antibiotic course 2-4 weeks
monitoring for sepsis signs
gradual return to normal
some scarring or fur loss
behavioural changes (PTSD common)

the prevention going forward

most fly strike survivors get it again unless prevention is upgraded:

daily butt check
spot-clean soiled fur immediately
address underlying cause (soft stool, urinary issues)
fly-proof enclosure
our fly strike prevention

the SG-specific notes

three things relevant:

1. heat accelerates everything

SG temperatures speed up fly cycle
eggs hatch in 6-8 hours instead of 12
earlier detection critical

2. mesh quality

standard mosquito mesh sometimes not fine enough
some flies pass through
check enclosure mesh size

3. exotic specialist needed

fly strike requires experience
some SG vets handle, some refer
know your vet’s capability before emergency

the senior rabbit consideration

seniors:

harder time grooming clean
more soft stool
mobility issues mean soiling
higher risk
more vigilant monitoring

the underlying cause

after recovery, find the trigger:

chronic soft stool: cecotropes guide
urinary issues: urine sludge guide
mobility issues: vet check
diet: feeding framework

fly strike is a symptom of something else 80% of the time.

what owners often get wrong

three patterns:

dunking rabbit in water to drown maggots. toxic burst can kill, plus wet rabbit shock
picking maggots one-by-one at home. waste of critical hours, go to vet
assuming the rabbit “looks fine.” maggots burrow, damage isn’t all visible

fly strike prevention — the actual goal
cecotropes — soft stool cause
urine sludge — wet fur cause
emergency vets

community-sourced information here is not veterinary advice. for fly strike, contact emergency vet IMMEDIATELY.