Parts of North America are home to the botfly, whose eggs require a living animal host for their larvae, called cuterebra, to grow. Rabbits can be among the animal hosts for cuterebra when botfly eggs are picked up outdoors from rocks, brush and grasses, stick to the bunny’s fur and are ingested while grooming.
If you live in an area with the botfly (your local vet can normally tell if you do), you may wish to check for any unusual, tumor-like protrusions on your bunny’s body (especially the hind quarters, shoulders & neck area) in the coming days and weeks. Consider keeping your bunnies indoors until the first frost as a precaution if you live in a region where the botfly is endemic (although the botfly can lay eggs indoors, too, if it gains access).
Should you notice anything unusual during your tactile inspection of your rabbit, check with your rabbit-savvy vet. Surgical removal under anesthesia is generally required for removal of cuterebra larvae, since crushing the larva subcutaneously can release dangerous toxins which may kill the bunny. For more info on cuterebra, please read this article from medirabbit (an excellent site for medical information pertaining to rabbits). WARNING: article contains some graphic photos!
Written By: The Bunderful Iris – Guest Blogger
