In some cases, anti-inflammatory medications such as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are indicated to control inflammation and manage pain. Systemic antibiotics are often needed to control any secondary infections, and topical medications are applied to the wounds to keep them clean and disinfected. This is usually an outpatient procedure, but the surgery may be extensive depending on how severe the infestation is. This is usually done surgically and requires sedation or general anesthesia.
Deadly fly strike skin#
The goal of treatment is to remove the maggots and larvae invading the skin of the infected animal. Treatment Options for Pets with Flystrike Dermatitis Unlike other infections or parasite infestations, flystrike dermatitis in dogs and cats often requires a more invasive treatment approach.
Skin tests such as cytology, bacterial culture, skin scraping, and skin biopsy are usually performed to rule out other possible skin conditions or check for the presence of secondary infections.Ī definitive diagnosis is needed to come up with a treatment plan. As mentioned, the presence of larvae and maggots is not always readily visible and close examination of the skin lesions in an infected animal is of high importance. The season as to when the symptoms appeared also helps in the diagnosis of myiasis.Ī thorough physical exam is important in diagnosing flystrike dermatitis in pets. Any possible exposure to flies will help your vet arrive at a diagnosis faster. How is flystrike dermatitis diagnosed in pets?Ī detailed history is essential in the diagnosis of flystrike dermatitis in dogs and cats. A foul smell from the purulent and swollen sores may also be present in cases of myiasis in dogs and cats. Excessive vocalization can also be seen in infected cats. Generalized signs of illness such as lethargy, decreased appetite, and reluctance to move may be seen in dogs and cats with flystrike.Įxcessive biting at the skin and shaking of the head can also be seen in animals with myiasis because of the extreme discomfort the skin condition brings. Myiasis causes a varying degree of discomfort to the affected animal depending on how severe the infection is. Open wounds that are painful when touched may also be present in pets that are affected with flystrike. Infected animals may also have matted hair which is occasionally damp or moist. Initial clinical signs of myiasis in dogs and cats include red, raised, sores on the skin often filled with pus-like discharge. However, in most cases, larvae and maggots are not easily visible. The presence of maggots or larvae on your pet’s skin is the hallmark sign of myiasis or flystrike. These larvae will invade the skin and eat necrotic or infected tissues around it, causing inflammation, pain, and predisposing the skin to secondary bacterial and fungal infections. Matted hairs of dogs and cats can also be an egg-laying site for these flies.Įggs laid on these contaminated matted hair regions will hatch into larvae or maggots which will rapidly move to an open or infected wound to penetrate the skin. Newborn puppies with newly cut umbilical cords are also commonly affected. These flies require an intermediate host to lay their eggs into for larval nourishment and growth.įlystrike occurs when the fly lays their eggs in the infected skin wounds of an animal.
House flies, botflies, flesh flies, and blowflies are the most common fly species associated with myiasis in dogs and cats. What causes flystrike dermatitis in dogs and cats?įlystrike in dogs and cats are caused by different groups of flies, all of which require an intermediate host to complete their life cycles. Cats and dogs that have a concurrent illness and are not able to groom or clean themselves properly are also at an increased risk of being affected by flystrike dermatitis. Bite wounds from other animals or other external parasites are also a common site of flystrike dermatitis in pets. It usually affects pets with open wounds or ongoing skin infections. Flystrike is usually seen during the warmer months of the year. This is often associated with guinea pigs and rabbits, but the flies responsible for the skin condition also affect cats and dogs. Medically termed as myiasis, flystrike dermatitis is a painful skin condition characterized by the presence or invasion of maggots under the skin of your pet.
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