As the summer temperatures rise, so too does the risk of one of the most distressing conditions that can affect our beloved pet rabbits—rabbit flystrike. This potentially fatal issue is more common than many realise, but with some preventative steps and simple daily care routines you can help to keep your rabbits safe, healthy and comfortable throughout the warmer months.
In this guide to summer rabbit care, you’ll discover essential handling and rabbit grooming tips, must-have grooming tools, clever ways to keep your rabbit cool, and practical advice on how to protect them from the threat of flies.
What is Rabbit Flystrike and Which Rabbits Are Most at Risk?
Rabbit flystrike occurs when flies (often green or bluebottles) are attracted to soiled fur or open wounds and lay their eggs on a rabbit’s skin. These eggs then rapidly hatch into maggots within hours and begin to burrow into the flesh, causing immense pain, infection and—in severe cases—can be fatal if not treated promptly.
While any pet rabbit can fall victim to flystrike, some breeds and individuals are especially vulnerable. Rabbits with long, dense coats—such as Angoras, lionheads, Flemish and Continental giants, American fuzzy lops, and Jersey woolies are at increased risk, as their fur can easily become soiled or matted, making it difficult to detect early signs of flystrike.
Other high-risk groups include:
- Elderly rabbits that may struggle to keep themselves clean.
- Overweight rabbits who cannot reach their rear end to groom properly.
- Rabbits with dental issues which can impact their ability to eat and clean themselves.
- Female rabbits with large dewlaps , where folds of skin can trap moisture and debris.
- Rabbits prone to digestive issues such as soft stools or diarrhoea, which can attract and create the perfect breeding ground for flies.
By protecting your rabbit with essential twice daily checks, regular grooming, a clean environment and prompt attention to wounds or any signs of illness or discomfort, you can greatly reduce the risk of flystrike.
Tips For Summer Rabbit Care
Below are some simple and essential summer care tips to maintain your rabbit's health and hygiene:
- Maintain a Balanced Diet: Ensure your rabbit’s diet is high in fibre. A balanced diet prevents digestive issues such as diarrhoea which can attract flies and soil the fur leading to flystrike. While fresh greens are essential, overfeeding can lead to loose stools so be sure to monitor your rabbit's diet carefully.
- Keep Living Quarters Clean: Clean your rabbit’s hutch or living area daily to remove soiled bedding, which can attract flies. A clean environment is vital in preventing flystrike and other health issues.
- Disinfect Regularly: Thoroughly clean your rabbit's living quarters and equipment with a pet friendly disinfectant at least once a fortnight. This helps reduce the build-up of bacteria and smells that attract flies and could pose a threat to your pet’s health.
- Regular Health Checks: Conduct thorough checks on your rabbit twice a day by lifting them up and looking at their underside and focusing on their rear end to ensure it is clean, dry, and free from any sign of maggots or fly eggs. Early detection is key to preventing flystrike from becoming severe. You'll also be able to spot any wounds or more easily notice changes in behaviour which could be a sign all is not well.
- Cooling Methods for Hot Weather: Ensure their run or hutch is out of direct sunlight to help them keep cool and place a few ceramic or slate tiles in their enclosure for them to lie on. A fan can be used to create a breeze in a part of enclosure but avoid pointing the airflow directly at your pets. Never place wet towels directly on your rabbit to cool them down, as damp fur is more attractive to flies and could increase the risk of flystrike. Instead, you can dampen their ears with cool water and place large bottles of frozen water in their living quarters. These bottles will help to lower the ambient temperature, keeping your rabbit comfortable and also entertained as they may enjoy playing with them!
TOP TIP – Never place or submerge your rabbit in cold water. The shock to them can be deadly.
Grooming Tips For Rabbit Flystrike Prevention
Rabbits moult with the changing seasons, but this process can take time, especially in long-haired breeds. Regular grooming is essential to remove loose hair that can lead to the formation of mats that pull on their delicate skin causing bruising and discomfort.
- Brushing: Daily brushing of your rabbit's coat not only removes loose hair and helps prevent knots and matting, but also strengthens the bond between you and your pet. Grooming also provides you with the perfect opportunity to thoroughly check your rabbit’s skin for any cuts, abrasions, or signs of infection and check their feet and nails. Even minor wounds can attract flies, so early detection and treatment is vital. Don't forget to groom the hair around the rear, belly, feet, and under the legs—especially in rabbits with dense or long coats where injuries can easily go unnoticed. Addressing small issues quickly can help prevent them from becoming more serious problems.
- Trimming: When grooming, pay particular attention the hair and skin health around the rear end. Keeping this area clean from soiling with urine or droppings is an important step in reducing the risk of rabbit flystrike. Careful trimming of the excess fur around the bottom of long-haired rabbits reduces soiling and attracting flies. Our small, ultra quiet Showmate II rabbit trimmer is perfect for clipping small mats our of your rabbit's coat and facilitates grooming by shortening the hair in places most prone to tangles, soiling or that are difficult to groom properly. The Showmate trimmer comes with a selection of plastic comb guards to safely trim your rabbits coat.
"How do you clip an Angora rabbit? The only way is with Masterclip Clippers. We honestly couldn't believe how easy these clippers glide through the Angora fur and they do not clog up! "
- Monitor Eyes, Ears and Mouth: Clean your rabbit’s eyes and mouth daily to prevent any build-up of discharge that could attract flies. Grass seeds that have a sharp outer husk can also be a problem for your rabbit if they penetrate the skin and cause wounds. Although they enjoy nibbling on grass seeds, check your bunny’s mouth, nose, ears and fur and remove any that are caught in their hair. A flea comb is a great inexpensive tool with very fine teeth that will pick up and remove grass seeds, burrs or bits of hay caught in the coat.
- Fly Protection: Protect your rabbit’s enclosure by using a fine garden mesh to keep flies out. This simple step can significantly reduce the risk of flystrike.
- Consider a Flystrike Prevention Product : Speak to your vet about applying a flystrike prevention product, such as a spot-on treatment or Rearguard. These products can provide additional protection, especially during peak fly season.
Summer Rabbit Care Checklist
If you have any concerns about your rabbit's health, particularly during the warmer months, seek advice from your vet. Early intervention and urgent veterinary care are critical when dealing with conditions like flystrike.
Here's a quick checklist for your rabbits daily summer care:
Prioritise Daily Checks & Grooming: Check your rabbit twice a day, especially around the rear, and groom regularly. Trimming and brushing long-haired breeds like Angoras and lionheads helps keep them clean and reduces the risk of rabbit flystrike.
Keep Things Clean & Cool: Maintain spotless living quarters with daily cleaning and regular disinfecting. Keep your bunny cool with shade, tiles, frozen bottles, and by gently dampening their ears—never use cold baths or wet towels.
Support Vulnerable Rabbits with Smart Prevention: Feed a high-fibre diet to avoid digestive issues, use fly barriers or vet-approved treatments, and pay extra attention to elderly, overweight or long-coated rabbits who need more support in summer.
By following these tips, you can help ensure your rabbit stays safe, healthy and comfortable throughout the summer. Take a look at our rabbit grooming products on our website or for advice on the best grooming tools for your bunnies, contact us using the link below.
