Deadly fly strike11/22/2023 ![]() Calves born in the spring – before flies hatch – or in the fall – after the flies have died – are safe, but a calf born in the summer, when flies are abundant, are at risk. This calf, thanks to quick action, will live, but it is possible to avoid a maggot infestation completely. Maggots need air to survive spraying them cuts off their air supply so the remaining maggots wiggled to the surface of the calf’s skin where we scraped them off. We poured some Ivermectin on the calf to help kill the maggots, then sprayed her with wound cote. It wasn’t pleasant having maggots crawl on our arms but we did manage to get most of the creepy crawlers off the calf. We clipped the thick Highlander calf hair, washed maggot infected areas with Betadine and scraped off the maggots. Willing to help, I grabbed a set of clippers, “wound cote” spray, a bottle of Ivermectin, jumped in my truck and drove to the farm in Plymouth. The cold, wet weather was perfect for the maggots to thrive, and this calf was fighting for her life. Normally a calf warms up during the day, killing the eggs, or the maggots are brushed away by the mom’s tongue. The flies had overwhelmed his calf, laying their eggs in her moist fur. It had been raining and cold for a few days, which is why this calf was so heavily infected. ![]() If conditions are right babies, especially sheep or goats, can die in hours. The maggots burrow into the baby’s skin and multiply causing toxic shock, so the skin dies. Flies lay their eggs on newborn calves, and if the calf is wet and cold, the eggs hatch into larvae also known as maggots. that night, a farmer who, a few years ago, had purchased some Scottish Highlander cows from me called with one question, “What do you do for ‘fly strike?’ ”įly strike happens usually to baby livestock and can kill if not treated immediately. A Highlander calf, born five days earlier, had an army of maggots on her back and legs, which we were trying to remove.Ībout 7:30 p.m. Keep the plants out of reach of your rabbit so they cannot eat them.Even though I had washed several times, two maggots were squirming on my smartphone screen as I called my vet, Christina Murdock. As well as this there are some natural products that help keep the flies away such as, basil, bay leaf, lavender and mint, these can be hung in dried bunches around the hutch. There are products you can get to help prevent flystrike, such as fly netting and flypaper around the hutch or cage, however if you are using these you must take care so that your rabbit doesn’t get tangled or injured by them. If the rabbit isn’t treated immediately, it can unfortunately become fatal. Alongside this an anti-parasitic drug is used to help ensure that all remaining maggots and eggs are killed. Rabbits with flystrike will be in a lot of pain and shock so it is important for an experienced vet to deal with the situation.The vet will also recommend antiseptic creams to be applied to the wound several times a day. This may need to be done under general anaesthetic. The vet will usually shave the area, remove all maggots and give pain relief. If you do spot any maggots you will need to get your rabbit to the vets immediately. If your rabbit seems subdued, quiet, restless or is in any discomfit you should pick them up immediately and check for eggs and maggots. It is also important to remove any droppings or urine from the hutch every day to help prevent the flies. Flystrike is most common in summer months when the weather is warmer, your rabbit should be checked at least twice a day as flystrike can become deadly in as little as a couple of hours. Furthermore, if your rabbit has an unsuitable diet which leads to loose stools this will attract flies and make it difficult for your rabbit to keep clean.Īlthough flystrike often occurs on the rabbit’s bottom it can happen anywhere on the rabbit’s body, especially if they have an open cut or wound, so checking your rabbit and treating any injuries quickly is extremely important. If your rabbit has bad teeth, is old or has arthritis it may find it difficult to clean itself. ![]() This is very painful for the rabbit and be fatal if not caught and treated early.Īny rabbit can get flystrike, but it is most common in rabbits with dirty bottoms, wet fur, wounds or if they are unable to clean themselves properly. Flystrike is a condition caused by flies laying eggs on the rabbit, which then hatch into maggots and eat the rabbit’s flesh. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |