When you decide to raise a pet, you think it is all rainbows and sunshine. When you get a pet, you realize plenty of complications and worries attached to raising an animal. Animals cannot describe their needs to make you know what they require.
It would help if you were strong-willed to constantly observe and decipher your pet’s behavior to keep it happy. Rabbits are the most fragile pet in the market and most prone to catching parasites.
Bunnies have thick fur and sensitive skin, so you cannot give them a regular bath. Due to this, your rabbit can develop skin diseases and attract parasites like wolf worms. So, how to prevent and treat wolf worms in rabbits?
There are plenty of preventive measures that you can use to help your rabbit stay away from wolf worms, like cleanliness and daily checkups. As for the treatment, taking your rabbit to the vet is best, and let the professionals handle the situation to avoid venom poisoning from the worm larva bursting.
When you see your rabbit in pain, you would want to fix the problem on your own because it is faster. However, waiting for your vet’s appointment will be the safest thing for your poor sick rabbit.
You can do various things to ensure your rabbit’s safety from wolf worms, starting with understanding the parasite. Read on to learn about wolf worms and how to keep your rabbit away.
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What Are Wolf Worms?
Wolf worms are the earlier stages of botflies. Wolf worms are revolting parasites that can cause severe pain to your poor rabbit. The eggs are not initially visible, but once they start showing, do not wait.
The botfly larvae burry themselves in the host’s skin till they hatch out of the eggs. They will erupt from your rabbit’s skin, leaving a relatively large hole filled with pus and an aching wound.
Wolf worms do not eat or harm rabbits, per se. The parasite uses its host for the warmth and moisture it needs to grow into an adult botfly. The bump where the larvae grow is known as a warble. Warbles are not easy on the eyes and have gaping holes once the wolf worms decide to leave their host’s body.
How Do Wolf Worms Get Into Bunny Rabbits?
Mature botflies do not directly lay eggs in other furry animals. An adult botfly will lay its eggs near an area with plenty of animal traffic. The eggs will then go inside the animal through an opening, such as the nose, ears, an open wound, or pores. When grown into larvae, the wolf worms will form their cozy lump in the poor host’s skin.
When the wolf worms are ready to hatch or grow further, they burst out of the animal’s skin, causing a gaping wound. After the parasite leaves the animal’s body successfully, it will lay in the ground until hatched into an adult botfly.
If you have an outdoor rabbit, the poor animal has a higher chance of catching wolf worms, as it will zoom about in your backyard or open spaces. There is no way for pet owners to see or notice the eggs entering their rabbit’s body before they have infected the poor bunny. Due to this terrifying reason, it is best to have indoor rabbits to minimize their risk of contracting a painful parasite like a wolf worm.
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Signs The Prove Your Bunny Rabbit Has Wolf Worms
As mentioned earlier, wolf worms do not have visible signs in the initial stages of infestation. However, with time, your rabbit will begin to exhibit symptoms of a wolf worm infestation. Larger animals mostly do not feel when a parasite like a wolf worm is in them, but rabbits do.
Due to their small stature and sensitive skin, bunny rabbits can develop different skin and emotional discomfort when having wolf worms. When suffering from the parasitic wolf worm, your rabbit will experience the following:
The Lump
For proper growth, wolf worms need to burrow themselves into the skin of your poor rabbit. Once they do that, a pinkish or yellowish lump will appear on your rabbit’s skin. If you have a precious furry friend with a thick fur coat, it might be challenging to locate this lump. You can spread your bunny’s fur to try and search for the wolf worm lump.
A Gaping Hole
The specification of this lump is the gaping hole. Wolf worms need oxygen to breathe, which is why they create a hole in the lump of skin in your rabbit. It brings oxygen to the worm and infection to your poor pet. The opening of the lump is like a gaping wound, which is an open invitation for bacteria and various skin diseases.
You poor rabbit can have a single wolf worm or many living in its skin simultaneously. The first indication of a wolf worm infestation in your rabbit is the lump with a gaping hole. If you notice this in your bunny, contact your vet immediately for a consultation.
Treatment for Wolf Worms In Rabbits
When treating the wolf worm infestation in rabbits, you should never try to extract the larvae alone. If the wolf worm explodes in your rabbit’s skin, it will release venomous contents that can be dangerous for your poor pet rabbit. It would be best if you went to your vet to get his opinion on the matter.
There are two ways your rabbit’s vet will deal with the parasitic infestation:
Removal of The Worm
Depending on what degree of infestation your rabbit is dealing with, the vet will decide whether to extract or let the worm run its natural course.
If the wolf worm has caused infection and pus in your rabbit, which can cause serious health issues for the poor animal, the vet will decide to remove the larvae. It is a very fragile procedure, as the bursting of the larvae can be bad news.
The vet will take time extracting the nasty parasite from your rabbit’s skin. Once removed, the vet will instruct you to keep the open wound dry and clean and to apply some antibiotic cream to prevent further infections.
Running Its Course
After inspecting the wolf worm site, your vet might decide to do nothing and let the larvae escape your rabbit naturally. If your bunny rabbit is not in pain and visible discomfort, there is no need to put the little guy under the knife. As the larvae will be near to emerging, the vet will let them come out naturally to avoid complications with the venom.
No matter which procedure happens for removing the wolf worms, your vet will advise you to clean the wound twice a day, keep it dry and put antibiotic cream to prevent your bunny from suffering more.
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Preventing A Wolf Worm Infestation In A Rabbit
Wolf worms love moist and sticky weather. When there is plenty of rain and humidity, that is the time for botflies to shine. It is when you should make extra efforts to keep your bunny safe from getting wolf worms. Here are a few preventive measures you can adopt to ensure your rabbit stays clean:
An Indoor Hutch
The safest way to keep your rabbit away from wolf worms is to create your bunny’s hutch indoors.
Fine Screen
Use a thin sheet of wire as a screen for your rabbit’s ventilation spot to prevent botflies from entering your rabbit’s hutch.
Hygiene
Clean your rabbit’s home daily, as your bunny can bring the botfly larvae with it while playing outside.
Clear Your Backyard
Rabbits love to play in the open grounds. Removing bushes, twigs, and greenery, where botflies can lay their eggs, will be best. You will not be able to see the eggs to prevent your rabbit from getting in contact with them. Ensure to reduce the laying points for the botfly.
Use a Flea Comb
Before bringing your precious furry friend back inside, use a feal comb on their fur. Gently comb out the thick fur of your rabbit to remove any invisible botfly eggs.
Regular Vet Visits
No matter how much research you conduct about your rabbit or wolf worms, you will still be a step behind the professionals. Maintain a regular schedule of vet visits to ensure your rabbit’s safety and health. Only a professional can judge your bunny’s health condition to the maximum and provide a suitable course of treatment.
Final Word
Wolf worms are hideous parasites that can leave painful bruises on your poor rabbit’s skin when they leave. As a pet owner, you are responsible for your rabbit’s safety and health. If you decide to keep a rabbit, bring yourself to keep it indoors.
It will prevent plenty of health problems in your bunny. When your rabbit remains indoors most of the time, it will be easier for you to keep an eye on it to ensure it does not get in trouble. A safe and healthy rabbit means a stress-free life for you!