Maggotted Wound.......

coolsaurabh04 · 01-20-2009, 12:39 AM

I have a german shepherd about 4yrs old. I got injured a few ddays earlier and now he has maggots in his wound. What should I do? Its really hurting my dog.

Pepper · 01-20-2009, 12:40 AM

Take him to the vet.

That's the one and only answer to your question.

Moonshadow · 01-20-2009, 12:35 PM

Yes....get him to a vet as soon as possible!

But....if you don't have easy access to a vet (you're in India right?) you need to get the maggots off of your dog right away and clean the wound. The maggots don't hurt (supposedly they don't) but the wound must. Use clean water.....bottled if possible given your water there and rinse the wound off along with the maggots. You may have to pick some off of the dog depending on how many there are and if you can't just rinse them off. They are gross little things but they will not attack you....use a tweezer or a pair of plyers to gently remove them and not hurt the dog. If you can, clip the hair in that area. Removing the hair would help to dry the wound up a bit so it doesn't remain moist which is going to attract the flies.

Not knowing what kind of wound you are dealing with and what kind if any vet care you can get for the dog the only thing I can tell you is to remove the maggots, clean the wound as well as you can and try to keep it as dry as possible so it's not as appealing to flies. Once you get them off and it cleaned up watch for signs of them again. You will be able to see tiny little white lines (not sure how to discribe them) in small bunches....that is the "baby maggot"....keep close eye on the wound for that and keep removing them. Ideally keep the dog inside away from flies as best as you can and keep it clean to try to prevent it from getting infected if it isn't already.

Before anyone jumps all over this person remember...maggots only take about 24 hours to become an issue and while I've not been to this country myself I do have a few close friends that are from India. One just got back from a visit.....it's not like it is here. The conditions are nothing like we are all used to so I think helping this situation is what's needed.

cshellenberger · 01-20-2009, 12:42 PM

I'm well aware of what it's like, my former Vet was from there and is now practicing back in his home country. It truly depends on where you are in the country what kind of access is available.

The best bet is to get he dog to a vet, or any other doctor that will see him. Try to keep the wound as clean as possible and get the maggots out.

Moonshadow · 01-20-2009, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cshellenberger

I'm well aware of what it's like, my former Vet was from there and is now practicing back in his home country. It truly depends on where you are in the country what kind of access is available.

The best bet is to get he dog to a vet, or any other doctor that will see him. Try to keep the wound as clean as possible and get the maggots out.

Yeah, it all depends on what area you are in. I'm really shocked your old vet went back to practice there....good for him.

GeorgeGlass · 01-20-2009, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonshadow

Yeah, it all depends on what area you are in. I'm really shocked your old vet went back to practice there....good for him.

Why? India is a beautiful country with a rich history and you can live a great life there.

To stay on topic, definitely clean the wound and get to a vet/medic who will see him.

cshellenberger · 01-20-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonshadow

Yeah, it all depends on what area you are in. I'm really shocked your old vet went back to practice there....good for him.

Well, his father was sick and needed care anyhow so he returned. He had retired, then got wiped out by Katrina. Started over in India.

Moonshadow · 01-20-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cshellenberger

Well, his father was sick and needed care anyhow so he returned. He had retired, then got wiped out by Katrina. Started over in India.

Oh, that's sad. But perhaps he can make a difference in the care over there.

dansamy · 01-20-2009, 03:03 PM

Maggots are useful for debriding dead tissue in the wound bed. But if the wound bed is pink, then cleaning out the maggots would be beneficial. Use the cleanest water available to you. If that's bottled, then so be it. If you have tweezers, use them to remove any clingy maggots. If you have any bandaging supplies, it would be good to cover the wound to prevent a reinfestation. I realize that may not be possible. Other than that, keep the wound clean and dry. If/when it scabs over, leave the scab alone and keep the dog from licking/chewing it off. Wound beds typically fill in by a process called granulation, which is basically scar tissue. The newest tissue will be the most fragile and it's important not to tear it when changing dressings or cleaning the wound. That just delays the healing.