A maggot infestation, or myiasis, on your dog is mainly caused by the larva of the blowfly. These little insects lay their eggs on necrotic, inflamed, or infected tissue of your pet. During warm weather the eggs will hatch within 24 hours and the maggots will remain on their host for five to seven days, at which time they will make their way into the earth. There are treatments you can perform on your dog to eradicate them.
Things You'll Need
- Razor
- Shaving cream
- Gloves
- Plastic bags
- Mild insecticide
Instructions
Shave the area of infestation. This will give you a better view of the maggot population as they have a tendency to hide beneath the dog's coat.
Remove the maggots from the affected area manually. With gloved hands, pick out as many maggots as possible and discard of them in a plastic bag. The maggots could potentially number in the hundreds and may take several hours to completely remove.
Briefly place a mild insecticide on the shaved area and rinse it off to ensure the already wounded animal is not harmed any further.
Give the injury proper time to heal. There may be a great amount of damage to a particular area which will lead to dead skin that should be removed. In the worst cases, your dog may require a skin graft.
To avoid a maggot infestation, treat your dog's injury immediately. Wash away any feces or urine that might come in contact with the wound. Sick and severely injured dogs should be kept inside and monitored closely.