How to Remove Maggots From Animals

It's not uncommon to find maggots on your pet. Maggots are fly larvae. They eat dead flesh and are often found residing in open wounds. Flies land on the wound site and deposit their eggs. The eggs hatch into maggots. Maggots do not eat live tissue so they aren't harmful to pets. They do, however, give off an unpleasant odor and should be removed as soon as possible.

Things You'll Need

  • Latex gloves
  • Mild soap
  • Small jar
  • Electric razor
  • 10 cc syringe
  • Cotton ball
  • Towel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put on a pair of latex gloves.

    • 2

      Shave the fur around the wound with an electric razor. Shave in the direction away from the wound.

    • 3

      Pluck visible maggots off of the skin and put them in a jar. Use your thumb and forefinger to gently pull the maggots away from the skin. Do not squeeze them.

    • 4

      Flush the wound with warm water. Fill a 10 cc syringe with warm water. Stick the tip of the syringe into the wound and apply steady pressure to the plunger. Pick up any maggots that come out of the wound and put them into the jar. Repeat this step three to five times.

    • 5

      Wash the wound. Saturate a cotton ball with warm water. Rub a small amount of a mild soap onto the cotton ball. Rub the wound with the cotton ball, using a circular motion. Rub clock-wise, starting at the center of the wound and moving outward.

    • 6

      Rinse the wound with warm water.

    • 7

      Pat the wound dry with a soft towel.