Pet Medical Advice Urgently Needed: Our dog has a bot fly

[Nicholas]

I just discovered that what we thought was a cyst on one of our dogs was in fact... a bot fly larvae (or the Wisconsin equivalent).

Of course, I discover this on a Friday night, and the vet is closed for the weekend, so I'm doing the recommended thing and putting petroleum jelly on the wound to suffocate the thing.

Anyone know what else I'm supposed to do? I tried removing it a few times, but it's to quick to actually catch and I've probably irritated the wound enough.

Also, how bad is this type of situation health wise?

[Crow]

OK, whatcha got there is a warble. It will keep through the weekend and your dog will be fine.

I've heard of killing them with petroleum jelly or motor oil. We killed them with ivomectin, and don't go out and buy some--this isn't an emergency.

Just get an appointment with the vet Monday and let him deal with it. He probably has something way better than we used.

[Nicholas]

OK, whatcha got there is a warble. It will keep through the weekend and your dog will be fine.

I've heard of killing them with petroleum jelly or motor oil. We killed them with ivomectin, and don't go out and buy some--this isn't an emergency.

Just get an appointment with the vet Monday and let him deal with it. He probably has something way better than we used.


Thank you. I'm relieved to hear that I did the right thing, and even more relieved that she'll be fine.

[Nicholas]

I just checked and from what I can tell, the larvae isn't moving, so the petroleum jelly may have killed it. If that is the case, should she be alright with a dead fly larvae on the right side of her back until we can get to the vet on Monday?

[Nicholas]

We called the vet this morning, and they strongly suggested that we leave it alone until it comes out by itself. We don't have the skill to catch it when the head pops up, and if we kill it without making sure to remove the body it could lead to a septic infection. Apparently none of our efforts were successful in killing it last night, because since we couldn't remove it the Vet said that we would have seen signs of a septic infection.

At the very least, aside from having a disgusting maggot in her back, Kayla (the dog) seems perfectly fine.

Crow, since you seem familiar with this to some extent, do you have any advice on what we should do?

[Teallaura]

Um, I'd call for a second opinion - Monday. It seems a bit odd to just leave it, especially if Crow is right about treatment. That's not a ding against your vet - sometimes differences in treatment aren't necessarily 'wrong'.

Don't panic - it's not usually very serious and doesn't progress that quickly. I would still get a second opinion - honestly, I think you'll be more comfortable treating it and I'm not sure the dog really cares either way.

[Nicholas]

Um, I'd call for a second opinion - Monday. It seems a bit odd to just leave it, especially if Crow is right about treatment. That's not a ding against your vet - sometimes differences in treatment aren't necessarily 'wrong'.

Don't panic - it's not usually very serious and doesn't progress that quickly. I would still get a second opinion - honestly, I think you'll be more comfortable treating it and I'm not sure the dog really cares either way.

Ok, I'm a bit worried now because the wound appears to have closed, which given the warning about the dangers of leaving a dead larvae in their really worries me. The vet is closed until Monday. The thing about what the vet said is that they wouldn't want to do anything to try to remove it unless the head is visible, but if the thing is dead I'd assume they'd have to do something more invasive.

[Teallaura]

Two possibilities: it's gone back into hiding or it came out. Neither means it's time to panic (okay, that latter would make me panic - ICK!!!!).

These might help:

http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/infectious-parasitic/c_multi_cuterebrosis

http://animalrange.montana.edu/documents/GrubsBotsTorsalo.pdf

[Nicholas]

Two possibilities: it's gone back into hiding or it came out. Neither means it's time to panic (okay, that latter would make me panic - ICK!!!!).

These might help:

http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/infectious-parasitic/c_multi_cuterebrosis

http://animalrange.montana.edu/documents/GrubsBotsTorsalo.pdf

Is there any easy way to tell the difference between whether it's gone back into hiding or simply came out? The wound is healing over to the point where it's hard to tell it was more than a simple scab whereas last night there was a cyst of some sort leaking all sorts of disgusting stuff.

Looking at the PDF file, when I was cleaning it last night before realizing there was a maggot in there it looked nearly identical to the picture listed as a mature larvae in early spring, though it was much, much smaller than the one in the picture.

[Teallaura]

The only thing I can think of is feel it - if it's been abandoned the skin should be loose. If there's something in there it will feel firm.

ICK!!!!!!!

[Nicholas]

The only thing I can think of is feel it - if it's been abandoned the skin should be loose. If there's something in there it will feel firm.

ICK!!!!!!!

It feels firm, but don't they make a cocoon of some sort in there?

The thing that makes me wonder if it left is that it's allowing the thing to heal over, which means it won't be able to breath. If it's alive, wouldn't it be keeping the opening clear?

[Teallaura]

No, not necessarily. The opening it needs to breathe would be very small - getting out is a different matter. It is probably not visible until the thing is trying to get out.