Should I be worried about fly strike?

[piglet_and_rogers_mama]

My pigs live in my basement because it keeps them safe from the cats, and I have never really seen any bugs down there, except for the random spider. Well this evening I saw a fly flying around, I tried to kill it but he got away. Am I being paranoid, or are they at risk for fly strike?

 

[fluff]

so long as they are kept clean and dry, disinfectant used liberally at each cleaning out they should be fine, if they are only cleaned out 1 x weekly then flies will be attracted as they like the damp smelly bedding, always keep a check that the pigs dont get damp/wet bums- if they do then shampoo and dry off and change bedding more ofton

 

[piglet_and_rogers_mama]

Thanks for the advice. What kind of disinfectant do you use? I have always been afraid of using more than vinegar and hot water or dish soap on the cage, in fear of poisoning them. :{

 

[michell240583]

Hi I use tee tree shampoo watered down in spray bottle with lemon.I spray all the bottom of cage and then rinse off and dry. This time of the year with flys they seam to hate tee tree and lemon. I then put news paper on top then my shavings.I have been changing them 3 times a week at moment as they all live indoors.I also purchased a 30 amp fly zapper works a treat .|)x

 

[bubble&squeak4ever]

For the disinfectant I use johnsons clean 'n' safe. I've always used it and it's never caused the pigs any harm whatsoever and also it has a nice fragrance!

 

[purple blobs]

Haha, I use Petsathome's clean 'n' safe! Never caused my piggy any harm either

 

[Lil-Ninnibig]

I agree with other posters keep the cage dry and clean, and the piggys bottoms clean, do not leave any old food or veggys rotting in the cage also.. And i dont no if you can buy these where you are but where i live at my local diy store i used to buy fly catchers, basically it is a roll of super sticky tape that you could hang around the basement, basically it has something on the tape that the flys love and are attracted to it once on the tape they are stuck and killed, sounds awful but if it prevents fly strike thats all that matters. I used them when my rabbits and guineapigs hutchs were in a shed as a child. They really work.