It sounds like something straight out of a science fiction novel… you notice a bump on your pet, you take a closer look and you see a small hole with something moving inside. A big, juicy maggot emerges from your pet’s skin and plummets to the floor. This is Cuterebra.
As horrifying as it sounds, Cuterebra are quite common. What is a Cuterebra? Cuterebra fly species are also known as bot flies, and they are opportunistic in that they use small mammals (dogs, cats, rabbits, squirrels, etc.) to complete their life cycle.
It is very important NOT to squeeze the skin in hopes of getting the larva out. This can cause the larva to break apart, and cause the host animal to have a chronic infection or perhaps an anaphylactic reaction. Contact your veterinarian for proper and safe removal.
Treatment depends on when the condition is discovered. If the condition is diagnosed before the maggot leaves the skin, the maggot will be removed and the injured tissues will be debrided or surgically removed. Antibiotics are usually prescribed to combat any secondary bacterial infection.
If the condition is noticed after the maggot has left the skin, the infected area is cleaned and debrided and antibiotics prescribed.
By: CCR Kylie
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