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Answer about bot fly maggots in dog

Posted By Peggy (Delbarton, Wv Usa) on 08/07/2014

About two weeks ago our outside cat had a sore on her that appeared to be the size of an eye slit. She had a large knot on the side. I used a pain medication cream for cats and dogs on it, was to prevent them from licking, but it didn't stop her. Soon after the slit split open and the knot went down. After doing some research I believe she had gotten into either maggots around the trash can, or from drinking from infested mosquito water, my husband keeps a barrel for watering plants that she was seen drinking out of and I've seen the things swimming in it!!

My question is, is she contagious? I have a mini border collie that I catch licking her sores...she has them on both sides of her body. I discovered a new one a few minutes ago. She won't let you catch her to examine her closely. Please let me know if this will make my dog sick or cause him to become infected. The research we have done it appears it's bot fly maggots, I've used diatomaceous earth in her food, again a few minutes ago. Will she ever get better?

REPLY

Replied by Theresa

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(Mpls., Mn) on 08/07/2014

Theresa

The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.

About Theresa

Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.

Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.

Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.

-----------------------------

How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation

If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.

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Hey Peggy!

Your cat is not contagious from drinking mosquito larvae; you might do yourself a favor and change out the water since the existing larvae if allowed to remain will hatch out into adult mosquitoes!

What you describe on your cat *sounds to me* as if she got scratched and the scratch became infected and formed an abcess, and then the abcess ruptured.

Your BC on the other hand, sounds like something else. It well may be bot fly maggots. If it IS a bot fly larvae, you will be able to see the larvae, especially if you shave the hair around the area - there will be a circular opening and the larvae will pop out now and again. If you do find a bot fly larvae, some people do nothing and the thing falls out eventually - however there can be serious conditions involved with a bot fly larvae infestation and they can be life threatening and require veterinary assistance as I am sure you have read. Without being able to handle your dog, your best be may be your vet who will have technicians who are able to properly restrain her for a proper diagnosis and with prescribed treatment is very likely to get better.

REPLY

Replied by Peggy (Patrick) on 08/08/2014

I am almost certain that she came in contact with maggots near the garbage cans. I have since treated the grounds and cans. I am in no way filthy, but there they were when my husband pulled out the large bag. I had one cat years ago pass away when this same thing happened except around it's ear. This one is on both sides of the cat. I have medicine for pain, a cream, that I put on her. She has licked all the hair away from now 3 sores. The one on the left side has healed. While petting her, I noticed a large swollen area and then the open slits appeared later. Research on this matches bot fly. She ate quite a bit last night with diatomaceous earth on her wet food and seems to be feeling better. The mosquito water barrel was not meant for her, I just caught her drinking from it. It was for watering flowers/garden. We've now covered that. She, as do her four sibling dogs lol have access to clean drinking water. When I treat her, I entice her with food, have the medicine on my hand and while she eats I quickly rub it on her sores. She is not a happy camper and runs away. When I first noticed the one on her left side and tried to pick her up, she meowed in pain. She's never done that before. My son gets upset when he catches our border collie licking these sores and wants her quarantined. Is there any danger to him if he licked out one of the larvae? Those two are big buddies and do not like being apart. The BC does not have any illness at this time, he is kept in doors, but at night they like to lie together on the front porch, while he protects the property. :) Just until bedtime, we are just concerned about him licking her sores if it is bot fly larvae coming out of her, the cat that is. Thanks for your response. If the DE doesn't do the trick, I'll will get her to a vet, somehow. I had her fixed when she was first dropped off. All my animals are rescues.
Pp

REPLY

Replied by Peggy (Patrick) on 08/08/2014

Just for clarification, the cat is the one that seems to be infected with bot fly sores, the dog is licking these sores. We try to keep them apart but they are big buddies. I fear for my dog. Is this a dangerous practice for him? Will he digest the larvae and become sick himself? The cat has lost hair around these sores, either from licking or falling out. I had noticed about three weeks ago that she was shedding more than usual. Will these things kill my cat?

REPLY

Replied by Om (Hope, Bc Canada) on 08/08/2014

When rescuing, I had one heart wrenching experience like that.

Today, I would definitely consult a vet or, before that research the 'net. Then I would be cautious with the allopathic meds. So. have a quick look on the 'net. I also remember that during the war, soldiers placed these larvae on wounds to clean them. Surely, country folk must have good remedies. However, this not forth coming, see the vet and determine if he talks sense.

Keep us informed of the progress.

Namaste, Om

REPLY

Replied by Peggy (Patrick) on 08/08/2014

This is why this hill folk came to Earth Clinic, not everyone from WV is a backwoods healer. ;) That is why we have doctors and not shaman. I wondered if anyone else here on EC had any idea what was wrong with my cat. She was dropped off here nearly just over 3 years ago. She has seen a vet and has been spayed. She is an outdoor animal, open to the elements. My border collie is a pampered indoor animal and I didn't want him to get sick from this if ingested. Yes, my father has spoken of having to eat many disgusting things during the war, 3rd Marines and having to take care of himself, but that was a very long time ago. We have evolved.

REPLY

Replied by Peggy (Patrick) on 08/09/2014

The diatomaceous "food grade" earth seems to be doing the trick. She is rolling around, playing and has a healthy appetite. It sounds more like a gross problem during late summer for cats, dogs and various other animals. The grub larvae appears to match closer than the bot fly larvae. She just took her antibiotic and I am hoping to see even more improvement in the a.m. Apologies for my outburst earlier but to call me 'hill people with remedies" was a bit rude. I have used Ted's remedies for my pets for several years. I cured my dog of demodectic mange, and was allowed to post his photo. Around page 7 or 8 under Mange if you wish to see. He had been to a vet, which sold me the 'dip', but he would cry every time I had to put this on him. I had no problems with the hydrogen peroxide, borax and H2O. Thanks and I'll continue the up dates. My border collie is my baby and I certainly didn't want him getting sick. Harley is his porch buddy and I'm glad they are friends, but sharing a sickness was making me sick. Pp

REPLY

Replied by Theresa

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(Mpls., Mn) on 08/09/2014

Theresa

The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.

About Theresa

Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.

Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.

Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.

-----------------------------

How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation

If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.

http://www.piperslegacy.org/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Bobo-home/1409993732632080?sk=timeline&ref=page_internal

http://ted.earthclinic.com

Close

Hey Peggy from Patrick!

I may have missed something, but I don't see an outburst from you, nor do I see a slam against hill folk posted; from my perspective as a city person being called a hill folk would be a huge compliment, as they are the heart of our healing lore in the US ;-)

When I offer my opinion and/or advise, it is always with a grain of salt and the caveat to go with YOUR gut - not mine, as you are there real time relying on what your eyes are actually seeing: I can only read and interpret the written words and advise from my interpretations, and so much can be lost in the translation. So I apologize if I have offended!

Now, you may well be dealing with bot fly larvae, however they do not spread by drinking up wriggling mosquito larvae in a pool of water, nor do the larvae spread by crawling onto the host; they are spread by the adult fly actually landing on the host and laying the eggs on the host: the heat from the animals body triggers their hatching and from that point they burrow into the skin and start growing into the ugly bumps. I have seen bot fly eggs on a horse's leg in person; they are an obvious yellow - but in a cat's deep fur or a dog's long coat I am sure they could easily be missed.

I can see no direct correlation to your cat ingesting DE to prevent or cure a bot fly infection, however ingesting DE may help kill and dislodge any intestinal parasites and that has to feel good for kitty. I do think DE applied topically and worked down to the skin would help with external parasites as well.

The best way IMHO to prevent bot fly infection is to use some of the topical sprays suggested on EC - the essential oil sprays that would repel a fly from landing on your pet in the first place to avoid eggs being deposited on the pet's coat.

Please keep us posted on your kitty and BC Harley!

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