Protecting Animals from Myiasis
Also Known as Fly Strike - Occurs when Flies Lay Eggs on Skin or Fur
A potentially deadly condition known as Fly Strike - technically called myiasis - should be a constant concern for animal caregivers, particularly during the warm weather. Fly Strike occurs when flies lay their eggs in an animal's wound, diseased or infected tissue, matted fur, or fur that's soiled with urine, feces, blood, or other body fluids.
Within a short period of time, the eggs hatch and fly larvae are born. These larvae are commonly known as maggots.
The maggots will remain on the animal, consuming diseased or infected tissue. The maggots can quickly travel beneath the skin, and the infestation can spread throughout the animal's body. If the maggots infest a vital area - such as the eyes or intestines - death can result shortly thereafter.
"The problem is, an animal who is affected by myiasis is usually ill or neglected to begin with. So their body is already susceptible and ailing, and then these maggots move in and quickly cause even more damage...the animal's prognosis can go downhill very rapidly," explained Dr. Michael Levine, DVM.
What Animals are Prone to Fly Strike?
All animals are susceptible to fly strike. Animals to live or spend a great deal of time outside are most at risk, so the condition is most commonly seen in rabbits, dogs, cats and livestock.
Proper care can help lessen an animal's chances of being affected by fly strike, but there is no way to completely prevent this problem from arising. This is due, in part, to the speed with which this process occurs. Within as little as eight hours, flies will locate a wounded or otherwise ailing animal, so quick action on the part of animal caretakers is key.
Tips to Prevent Fly Strike
- At least twice daily, all animals should be thoroughly checked over for signs of wounds, illness and injury.
- If any wounds are found, they should be promptly cleaned and disinfected.In the case of illness, frequent cleanings should be performed to keep the animal's skin and fur free of discharge, blood, urine, feces and other body fluids that attract flies.
- An ill or injured animal should be brought indoors to limit their exposure to flies and to the elements, as the body is typically more fragile and therefore less tolerant of heat/cold and other stressors.
- Diarrhea very commonly attracts flies, so prompt treatment of the diarrhea is vital. Flies that are attracted to the animal's anal opening can lead to especially deadly form of myiasis where the maggots enter the body and destroy the intestines.
- Bathe and groom pets on a regular basis. Dirty, matted fur, for instance, is an ideal condition for the formation of a skin infection. And once a skin infection is present, the flies will be attracted to the site. To make matters worse, the matted fur can obscure the area from view, delaying discovery of the problem.
- Overweight, chronically ill and incontinent animals are especially at risk, so monitor these animals very closely for signs of a problem.
- Speak to your veterinarian about an animal-friendly pet fly control product to help make the animal less attractive to flies.
In the event that an animal is found to be suffering from myiasis, there are a few measures that should be taken to help increase the animal's chances of a good outcome.
- Contact a veterinarian immediately. Prompt veterinary attention is required for this condition, as the problem is often much worse than is visually apparent, due to the maggots' tendency to burrow deep into the body.
- Trim away soiled fur surrounding the affected area.
- Thoroughly wash the area with an anti-bacterial soap three times daily until healed.
- Follow vet-recommended procedures for cleaning wounds.
- Use tweezers to remove all visible maggots. Repeat this process as necessary.
- Give prescribed antibiotics and other medications exactly as prescribed by your vet once he/she has examined the pet and cleaned the wound.
In addition, experts recommend keeping the phone number of a 24-hour veterinary facility or service on-hand in the event of life-threatening emergencies such as myiasis or fly strike.
