Fly Strike: Why Do You Need To Know About It?

Having run a hedgehog rescue for some years, I can honestly say that fly strike was one of the most frustrating conditions to deal with. So many hedgehogs needlessly died from it. Sadly it happens in nature a lot but there is no excuse for us pet parents because there are products we can use to prevent our beloved VIP from being taken down by fly strike. The first key point to begin with is that your pet can get fly strike, no matter if they live outside or inside your house. If flies can get into where they live then they are at risk. That’s why using preventative products is vital whether their inside or outside small pets.

So what is fly strike?

Fly strike is when flies lay their eggs on the fur or skin of an animal. The rate at which the maggots hatch can shockingly in warm summer weather be less than 10 hours. Once hatched they begin to eat into the skin of the pet- Its pretty nasty really. Yet I’m always surprised at how many pet clients don’t seem to know about it and its dangers so I’m sorting that with this blog. Flies tend to like to lay eggs in moist areas so for rabbits and pigs most commonly, that will mean tail and bum area and also eyes and nose area but fly strike can pretty much happen in any area. Any wounds or sores will also attract flies.

It’s really important to follow these steps especially in summer: However I stress that due to our winters getting milder and wetter, fly strike can now occur all year round so always be checking for it on your pet.

-Step one: Check your pet at least once a week for signs of fly strike, especially round tail area. If you’re pet has health problems which can cause them to get soft stools and soft stools stuck to the fur round their tail then be extra careful as they will be at a higher risk. Be sure to clean your pet regularly so that they don’t have matted poo in their fur as this will be a huge red flag for getting fly strike.

-Step two: Make sure your pet is getting the diet and daily living requirements met as this will help to prevent them from getting soft stools in the first place which can attract flies.

-Step three: clean pet homes regularly, especially in warmer weather- make sure you remove any soft stools and wipe clean the area so that the smell does not attract flies.

-Step four: if outside then you may wish to use fly nets however personally from experience- they don’t tend to work very well and flies often can get through the tiniest gap or enter when you are going in or out. Flies can get through fly nets sometimes so it is not fault proof. I find the best method to avoid fly strike without using fiddly fly nets is by using preventative products which deter the fly from laying eggs on your pet in the first place. Therefore get right to the source of the problem.

The one I have used for many years and swear by is fly guard: it has an active ingredient called ivermectin which flies hate! I have used it for years and never had a single case of fly strike. You simply spray a few puffs around the tail area of the pet and brush it in. How much you need to use and how often will depend on your pet, instructions can be followed on the back of box. If you use it regularly enough then it should protect your VIP from fly strike. Just bare in mind that if you’re pet is getting a very soiled tail area then even with using this, they may still get fly strike. It’s very important to visit your vet if your pet is getting a very messy tail and you don’t know why. Old age and other common conditions in pigs and bunnies like arthritis can all lead to them struggling to clean themselves, putting them at higher risk of fly strike. In those cases, you will need to help them and clean the area more often, to avoid situations like fly strike.

So lastly…what does fly strike look like and what do you do? When eggs are laid, they look like a cluster of tiny salt specks. At this stage if you have some training then you can remove the eggs using a tiny mascara brush but I don’t recommend to try if you’ve not done it before as missing a single egg will still mean maggots will hatch. The best thing to do is get in contact with your vet straight away, they may ask for you to send a photo in to confirm it is fly strike. If the eggs have already hatched when you notice them, it can be pretty alarming seeing maggots on your pet. While you might be able to remove some by hand, remember that some may already be in the flesh and it will be causing pain to your pet. If you see maggots then it is a medical emergency and you need to get them to your vet as quickly as possible. Thankfully if caught then the maggots can be removed and area cleaned, antibiotics may be needed depending if they have an infection. If the fly strike is gone deeper then the pet may need to be sedated while area is examined and cleaned. Sadly if fly strike is not caught early enough then the animal may go into shock or if the maggots have eaten too deep then the vet may recommend putting the pet to sleep. We never want any pet to reach that stage so it’s really important that you get into a regular habit of checking your tiny VIP and that when you go away- you leave them under the care of a pet service who is able to check for fly strike and deal with it. But like I said….the best preventative is using fly guard.

On a final note…..lots of us lead busy life’s but it’s really important to find the time to do checks like these for your little fur balls. Missing it could mean the worst and while there are situations where it may be forgivable, a lot of vets if they see fly strike that is severe, will question if the pet is being looked after to the welfare standard they should be.

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