Clean your guinea pig’s cage on a regular basis.There is no vaccination for flystrike so the most important prevention advice is to keep your guinea pigs and their hutch clean. However, it is also critical that you are watchful and follow all the steps below to protect your guinea pigs against flystrike. This is why it is important to take preventative measures to stop your pet from getting flystrike. The most humane thing to do in these circumstances is to release your pet from the pain. However, this is an extremely nasty condition and if it is left too long, there may be no effective treatment that can help them and your guinea pig will sadly deteriorate and suffer a lot of pain. This is a last resort and something no vet would take lightly. If maggots have penetrated too far into your pet, your vet may recommend your guinea pig is euthanized (or put to sleep). However, sometimes it is just spotted too late. Your guinea pig can recover from flystrike if it’s caught in the early stages and your vet will do all they can to treat this condition. Sunny Pig and Sparkles (in the log house) Will my guinea pig recover from flystrike? Medications they may give you may include antibiotics to fight infections, fluid therapy, anti-inflammatories, anti-parasitic drugs and antiseptic creams. If this is possible, they may also give your guinea pig some medication to kill the maggots that have worked their way in to your guinea pigs flesh. The vet may sedate your guinea pig and trim the fur around the affected area so they can more easily remove the maggots and eggs. Even if you don’t see any symptoms in your other guinea pigs, you should still get them checked over to make sure they are ok. There is a chance that if one has the condition, the others may also have it. You should take all guinea pigs who are with the one who is affected to the vet. It is better to get them to your vet straight away and for them to receive treatment from a skilled professional. The same goes for putting your pet in water to get rid of the maggots – it is NOT ADVISABLE for you to do either of these. It is sometimes suggested that you should remove the maggots with tweezers but this can cause distress leading to toxic shock in your pet. If they don’t get the professional treatment they need, your guinea pigs may not make it. Any reputable vet will give you an emergency appointment if they know your guinea pig has flystrike.ĭiscovering flystrike in its early stages and getting the medical attention they need as quickly as possible can save their lives.ĭon’t wait to see if they get better as it is vital they get immediate treatment to prevent their condition deteriorating. If you think your guinea pig might have flystrike, you should call your vet straight away, explain your concerns and make an appointment as soon as possible. What should I do if my guinea pig has flystrike? If you notice signs of flystrike on your pet, please follow the instructions below. There are lots of flies around in this weather and the hotter it is, the faster the fly eggs will hatch into maggots. The hot summer months is when this condition is at its most prevalent. Guinea pigs will attract flies if they have any of the following: How to keep flies away from guinea pigsįlies thrive on damp, smelly environments.Will my guinea pig recover from flystrike?.What to do if you think your guinea pig has flystrike.In the outdoors, a fly mesh can help protect your guinea pigs to some extent. If you have a fly problem indoors you can use a wall hung fly zapper or a portable racket zapper to help get rid of them. Once this infestation has taken hold, your pet’s condition can deteriorate extremely rapidly, in fact, the fly eggs can hatch within hours in the hot summer months, so it is vital you take immediate action and call your vet who will treat it as an emergency. These maggots then begin to eat away at the flesh of your pet burying deeper and deeper and releasing deadly toxins which can lead to toxic shock and death if not treated immediately by a professional. Flystrike not only affects guinea pigs but can also affect rabbits, sheep, horses as well as other animals and pets who may have an open wound or for some reason can’t clean themselves properly.įlystrike (scientific name “myiasis”) is a painful and dangerous condition whereby flies lay eggs on your guinea pig (usually their bottom) or in their housing which hatch into maggots. You might have heard of flystrike in guinea pigs but you may not realise how much of a threat this can pose to your pet.
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