Myiasis (maggot wounds)

Overview

Fly larvae infest living tissue. It is a defining problem of the tropical monsoon and of hot humid regions generally, it is largely absent from Western texts, and it is a true emergency: maggots liberate enzymes that digest tissue, so a small neglected wound can become an extensive one within 48 hours, with systemic toxicity and death in advanced cases. Any moist, soiled, or neglected site attracts flies — a wound, a hot spot, a matted coat, faeces-soiled fur, an ear-tip fly-strike lesion, the umbilicus of a newborn puppy. Free-roaming and community dogs, long-coated dogs, and immobile or elderly dogs are most at risk. Do NOT attempt to treat it at home: the wound must be clipped, every larva removed, and the tissue debrided by a vet, with supportive care and an antiparasitic and antimicrobial class of the vet's choosing. Prevention is prompt attention to every wound in fly season, keeping the coat clean and dry, and daily checks of skin folds and hindquarters in monsoon.

What you would notice

• A foul, distinctive, sweetish smell — often noticed before the wound is seen
• Visible maggots in a wound, or a wound that appears to be moving
• A wound that enlarges rapidly over a day or two, with undermined edges
• Matted, damp, discoloured fur over the site
• Dullness, fever, and loss of appetite as toxins are absorbed

Sources

• Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com)
• MSD Veterinary Manual (msdvetmanual.com)

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