Advice re Mr Bunny

[Fudgey]

I've been reading up about all the do's and don'ts on Piggies but i have a few questions about Mr Bunny.
I lost a rabbit last year to flystrike (although at the time I didn't know about flystrike )
I acquired another bunny just before I lost the last one, via my son he was living in a bad environment at one of his friends houses (the rabbit not my son)

Anyway I've noticed today his back end is a bit smelly, I checked him and he isn't bunged up or any dirty patches.

I have been alll over today and I couldn't find anything to bath him in. When I do how do I bath him? What can I do about flystrike? etc.

Tracyx

[Guinea-Tia-Flossie]

Be careful about bathing rabbits, they find it so stressful and rabbits so easily die of shock. Just normal rabbit and guinea pig shampoo is fine, but only bath where he needs it. Before he goes back outside make sure he is 100% dry, flies are attracted to soggy bunnies just as much as smelly ones.

As regards to fly strike.... You can by fly free spray or go to the vets and get them to put Rear Guard on him. Also throw a net curtain over his cage to stop flies getting in! works a treat! and most importantly check him EVERY day. Fly eggs become maggots in just 24 hours. Rear Guard or fly spray kills the eggs before they become maggots.

If you need to know anything else on the subject of bunnies give me a bell....i have kept them for 9 years and atm have 23 of them, so i know a lot ;)

Jeanette x

[Fudgey]

I am in the process of putting a half door on the shed and covering the rest with a fly net as I have noticed the last few days a few flies around.

They all live in a shed which doubles as a daytime run (they go in shifts) Although Mr Bunny gets most of the time as the piggies come inside for floortime too.

It was so awful to see our poor Flopsy dieing from flystrike I would do anything possible to keep them away.

After the weekend I think I will make an appointment for the vet to see what they can do.
Although I really don't have much faith in them at the moment as they sexed a Piggie wrong and didn't see the danger of flystrike or warn me about it when I took flopsy as he was all bunged up on his bum.

[Guinea-Tia-Flossie]

:( oh dear. When you go to the vets ask them for Rear Guard, you don't need anything else but this. It has a green label and is in a bottle with a sponge on the end, they should just use the whole bottle all over his rear end, tail and back legs.

Sounds like you have everything else covered, so i'm sure you'll have a maggot free summer.

Oh just a thought, if he has alot of mess stuck to his bum, try trimming his fur a bit, to stop it from getting so messy.

[Fudgey]

Thanks for the advice,

I will certainly be doing everything possible

Tracyx

[Loopylou]

You can clean him up by using baby wipes or special animal wipes. Best to avoid bathing if possible. Make sure you check his bottom and the surrounding area at least once each day (sounds like you're doing this anyway :) ).
You could use a citronella or other fly repellant spray that is intended for use around animals to spray round his cage as a deterant. Dynamite is a good one.
What kind of diet is he on?

[maxthepig]

I believe fly eggs can hatch in 8-12 hours :o...so it is best to check him in the mornings and evenings to be sure O0