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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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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.