Kind of disgusting - botflies?

[jayha]

Anyone dealt with this before in their dogs? I'm utterly grossed out, but also a little bit fascinated. Our poor foster pup was up all night scratching (not unusual because he has sensitive skin to begin with), but last night was particularly bad. I was trying to help him out and give him a full body scratch when I felt a lump under his armpit. I took a closer look and it looked like a scabby bite. But it was weird because it was the first time I had felt/seen it.

Anyway, upon closer examination in better light, it looked like a zit - it had a whitehead and everything. +o( If, of course, gave it a bit of a squeeze and eventually something came out. That something was a tiny white maggot. +o( +o( +o( +o( +o(

A quick trip to Google determined it was a botfly and not all that uncommon. We live in a rural area and the area immediately behind our house is wooded and I'm sure there are lots of rodent/rabbit nests that he likely was trying to investigate.

He's going to the vet this afternoon. Any idea what they can do for him? I don't feel any other lumps, but maybe more will emerge? I'm wondering if they'll give him an anti-parasitic, an antibiotic, or something else?

Anyone else ever deal with this? Sorry for the disgusting nature of this post. My skin has been crawling all day. My poor little maggot-ridden mutt.

[momof2boys]

Are you sure it wasn't a cuterebra? I'd hope for that since thats a one time event typically, not sure about botflies, I work at a vet but have never seen one. We do see a cuterebra maybe once a year. Not often enough that when we see one we think "cool" and not "gross!" But we are weird like that

[jayha]

Bot flies and cuterebra are the same thing. So, yes, it was a cuterebra. Vet visit was uneventful. He just confirmed that there were no other larvae lurking beneath, but warned that it could happen again in a few days. +o( No antibiotics or anything. Just sent us on our way.

Thanks for your response!

[MixedBerryJam]

I can't say I've ever seen a botfly but my cat once had a wound of some kind on his backside and I only became aware of it when I picked him up and a maggot fell on me. I dropped him on the kitchen floor in disgust and about 50 more fell off. I brought him to the vet, hysterical (like, slap me on the face to calm me down hysterical) and when they put him on the table another fistful fell off/out. Oh my stars, that was the most disgusting thing I've ever experienced as a pet or human parent. And human babies are pretty disgusting.

[Amy]

we deal with bot flies on the horses all the time - we use a tool like this
www.prodoggroomingsupplies.com/images/shedding_blade.jpg
to remove them - might brush with something similar (might be too sharp depending on what kind of dog) to make sure he doesn't have any more or just as a precaution

[momof2boys]

Just wanted to say that while I mentioned before its fairly rare for us to see them we saw one today!

[jayha]

Aug 20, 2012 20:16:19 GMT -5 momof2boys said:

Just wanted to say that while I mentioned before its fairly rare for us to see them we saw one today!

Interesting! I wonder if the ridiculously hot summer is causing an increase. My vet said it's not uncommon around here. My pup hasn't had another one, thank goodness.

[Deleted]

Aug 18, 2012 21:22:17 GMT -5 Amy said:

we deal with bot flies on the horses all the time - we use a tool like this
www.prodoggroomingsupplies.com/images/shedding_blade.jpg
to remove them - might brush with something similar (might be too sharp depending on what kind of dog) to make sure he doesn't have any more or just as a precaution

Seconded. Although when my horse got them in college I just used fine sandpaper to get them off. It worked just as well and they've never come back.

[midnightmare81]

Sanding block works great on horses too and sometimes easier to hold! My mare came from auction COVERED in them :-(