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Fly Larvae In Fur?

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lolo123

lolo123

Junior Guinea Pig
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Oh dear I am panicking because I was bringing my guineas in from their outside pen and I noticed blood on their playhouse! I took a look at Gingers bottom and there was a raw patch, and a bald one above it. I immediately brought her into the bathroom and rinsed her bottom, only to find little white maggots all buried in her wound :( I nearly got sick it was horrible! I managed to remove two of the worms, but I saw more. My mother said we would take her to the vet ASAP, which might be as late as monday :(((( I cant stop worrying about her! Anybody have some advice ? xx
 
Sorry to hear this. Isn't there an emergency vet near you. I know it is Sunday and most places are closed, but there might be someone who can clean the wound and give medication.
 
Ok. One way is to get some antiseptic cream and smear it over the wound or maggot holes. This will block the hole from air and the maggot will surface to get air. You will need tweezers to grab it when you see it. If the wound is big, flush the maggots out with a saline solution. Make sure there are no maggots in the wound and cover it. Make sure no more flies can get to the wound. I hope this works for you. I know maggots only eat dead flesh, not living tissue.
 
So sorry to hear about this! Like your mum said you need to take her to the vet asap! Is there any emergency vet near you? How big is the wound? Like Pip said get some antiseptic cream and put it onto the wound so the maggots can't breath and it will make them come to the surface... Please do not use your hand when picking the maggots out! Tweezers is a good option or anything that can grab them with! Do you keep them in a room? If so close all the windows and doors at all time so not more flies can get to her, She might squeal when you put the cream on, But always the best thing to do is take her to a emergency vet, They will know what to do :)
 
Oh my goodness I can only imagine horrible this is for you!

We had a rabbit who got this, fly strike and we managed to get to the vet before it closed. She gave us something that is like a glue stick that you paste over the wound, fly guard I think its called. Its only a prevention so definitely still get to the vets and do what the other posters have suggested.

I hope you and the piggie are okay x
 
If you have no antiseptic cream to put over the wond to draw the maggots out, use a smear of vasaline / petrolium jelly. Not too thick, you want the maggots to come out for air.

All the best until you can get to a vet.
 
You need to get your piggy to a vet asap .Spraying the rear end with tea tree spray helps to deter flies ,but a clean environment and vigilance are the best way to prevent it.Best of luck.
 
Sorry to hear your lil furball has this, please contact a vet urgently, fly strike can kill in a short time. Its to do with the toxins the maggots give off in the guinea or rabbits bloodstream/system.
U must remove all the maggots u can see as the others have said &make sure she has clean hair near her rear end, no urine or poops in the hair to attract more flies. If she's long haired a trim may be beneficial.
Rabbits are more prone to fly strike than guineas but please contact a vet ASAP they will have an emergency number if the actual surgery is shut. Its a bank holiday in England so she may not last out until regular opening hours on Tuesday
Also make sure she has clean bedding to lie on.

Well done for noticing though as they are hard to find at first.

Good luck,speedy recovery &keep us updated. Xx
 
Sorry, my tag didn't work. I agree with the others, he needs the vet today, this is fly strike and he needs urgent treatment by a vet.
 
Hi, have you phoned or taken him to the vets yet ?
I googled it and this is what it says.

Flystrike is a potentially fatal condition which occurs when flies lay their eggs around a guinea pig’s anus. The eggs then hatch into maggots which mature and eat away at the surrounding flesh. In the summer, this whole process can take as little as a few hours, so it’s advisable that guinea pigs are checked at least twice a day. Symptoms to look out for include eggs and maggots around a guinea pig’s anus, wounds and skin loss. Pets suffering from obesity, dental problems, diarrhoea, arthritis and skin wounds are at high risk of flystrike as flies are attracted to guinea pigs suffering from dirty bottoms or wet fur. Guinea pigs living in dirty hutches are also susceptible, as flies like damp and smelly conditions.

If you think your pet has flystrike, remove the visible maggots with tweezers and call your vet immediately. Your vet will be able to clip away the fur and remove the remainder of the maggots. Guinea pigs with flystrike are often given antibiotics to help prevent infection and some vets also use anti-parasitic products to try and penetrate the skin and kill any remaining maggots.
 
Tweezers and antiseptic cream will NOT do
This is an EMERGENCY
You need a vet, with good surgical skills, to provide the possible extraction, fluid replacement and other anti-insecticidal/antibiotic and pain relief meds that will be required.

IMMEDIATE ACTION TODAY REQUIRED FROM A VET - NOTHING ELSE WILL DO IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES

xx
 
Elwickcavies said:
I agree with Pebble. Dont try to treat this yourself, get to an emergency vet. It is life-threatening!
Click to expand...

I agree too. I have never heard of 'Fly Strike' before today. The treatment I mentioned is an emergency treatment, not a remedy. A vet is a must.
 
Good you came to that conclusion before I posted this is not just an inconvenience this is lethal I have known pets to die from this in a matter of hours please use the vet locator I'm slightly worried for you (paws crossed) x
 
As above, get to a vet as soon as you possibly can.

Did notice the OP is in Canada. Even if you only have farm specialist vets near you they will be able to treat fly strike - so if you can't make it to an exotics specialist (or you don't have one in your area and I understand that living in a very rural part of England) then you should still be able to get decent treatment.
 
Please have her seen as an absolute emergency as quickly as you can get her to a vet!

Fly strike can kill very quickly and it is a horrible way to go, as she is literally being eaten up from the inside. Whether she makes it or whether she has to be put to sleep to end her suffering, every minute counts! You can find out your out-of-hours vet from your usual vet's answering machine.

http://www.oginet.com/pgurney/blowfly-strike-guinea-pigs.shtml
 
PS: You will have to thoroughly clean and scrub and then disinfect the hutch. If she has a companion or you have got other animals nearby, they also need to be cleaned and bathed and their housing the same.
 
@lolo123 how's your lil guinea pig today? Did u manage to get hold of a vet in time?

Speed recovery little one xx
 
I have good news everyone! We took ginger to the vet today, and he treated her very well. It turned out she only had one more maggot, he removed it. He shaved the area and cleaned it all up. I wasnt present but my mother said it went well. We are giving her antibiotics twice a day (strawberry flavored yummy), and he also gave us a bottle of special wash to wash her with everyday. You guys sure worried me but the vet says she will be just fine, I hope hes right! She wont be going outside until the scabs fully heal of course.
 
Happy to hear she will be alright! How scary of a situation and hope it never happens with me. Makes me happy we've not had many flies, or bugs in general, this summer.
 
lolo123 said:
I have good news everyone! We took ginger to the vet today, and he treated her very well. It turned out she only had one more maggot, he removed it. He shaved the area and cleaned it all up. I wasnt present but my mother said it went well. We are giving her antibiotics twice a day (strawberry flavored yummy), and he also gave us a bottle of special wash to wash her with everyday. You guys sure worried me but the vet says she will be just fine, I hope hes right! She wont be going outside until the scabs fully heal of course.
Click to expand...


I'm so relieved that this is sorted out.

I would just like to say that seeking emergency veterinary treatment was sound advice from forum members - fly strike is a serious condition which should be treated promptly.

The important thing is that your guinea pig is OK
 
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lolo123 said:
I have good news everyone! We took ginger to the vet today, and he treated her very well. It turned out she only had one more maggot, he removed it. He shaved the area and cleaned it all up. I wasnt present but my mother said it went well. We are giving her antibiotics twice a day (strawberry flavored yummy), and he also gave us a bottle of special wash to wash her with everyday. You guys sure worried me but the vet says she will be just fine, I hope hes right! She wont be going outside until the scabs fully heal of course.
Click to expand...
Well done I'am so glad it ended well ! x
 
Well done in getting her to the vets. The best move you could have done. We do worry about other pets as well as our own. If left longer, it could have turned serious. I am pleased she is good. :)
 
I was looking at the first page and I nearly cried.. ! But the second page made me smile again haha :)
I'm glad to hear that she's alright :)
 
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