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Scientists highlight risk factors for flystrike
For every 1ºC rise in the average local temperature, there was a 33 per cent increase in the risk of flystrike.

Study defines impact of temperature on risk level 

Liverpool scientists are raising awareness of flystrike as part of Rabbit Awareness Week (2-10 June), after recent research showed how disease risk is affected by temperature.

A study published in Preventative Veterinary Medicine suggests that for every 1ºC rise in the average local temperature, there is a 33 per cent increase in the risk of flystrike.

The study looked at electronic health records from more than 40,000 pet rabbit consultations from UK veterinary practices. Risk levels peaked between June and August, but rare cases were seen as early as March.

Researchers joined forces with veterinary surgeon Molly Varga, who teaches Liverpool veterinary students about rabbit disease.

Together they created 10 top tips for rabbit owners on how to prevent flystrike:
1. Check your rabbit daily, and twice daily during peak season from June to August.

2. Keep your rabbits clean: Lack of grooming and overall poor coat hygiene can increase the risk of flystrike. The vast majority of blowfly strike affects the perineal area. Clean your rabbit’s bottom if it’s dirty as organic matter can attract flies.

3. Keep your rabbits’ hutch/environment clean.

4. Keep your rabbits’ at a healthy weight: Increased weight in rabbits increases the risk of flystrike.

5. Don’t change your rabbits’ diet quickly or feed lots of greens.

6. Use vet-approved insect repellent on your rabbits and use fly killers around the hutch.

7. Be extra vigilant with older rabbits: Rabbits aged five and over were almost four times more likely to be affected by flystrike. This might be because with age rabbits become less able to efficiently groom themselves, or because they receive less human interaction, such that owners may fail to, or take longer to, identify those health risks that predispose to flystrike.

8. Be extra vigilant between June and August.

9. Have your rabbits checked regularly by your vet.

10. Call your vet if you are worried, especially if you suspect flystrike.

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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

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News Shorts
BBC Radio 4 documentary addresses corporate fees

BBC Radio 4's File on 4 Investigates has released a documentary exploring how corporate-owned veterinary practices may be inflating bills to increase profit.

Released on 15 April, 'What's Happening To Your Vet Bills?' revealed the policies which many corporate groups have in place to increase their profits. This included targets and upgrades which veterinary teams are tasked with meeting on a regular basis.

It also features Anrich Vets, an independently-owned practice based in Wigan. Following the case of Staffordshire terrier Benjy, who is diagnosed with a tumour, the documentary shares how the team were able to offer contextualised care and advice to make the procedure as affordable as possible for his owners.

The documentary can be heard on demand on BBC iPlayer.