Need help with fly strike badly

[Jaxsoy]

Today I discovered maggots in my guinea pigs cage due to a leaking water bottle plus lots of flies flying around and now I’m very worried they have fly strike. I have tried every vet in the area and they are all either closed, booked, or don’t take guinea pigs. What can I do or buy in the meantime to help treat this? I know of course it would be ideal to take them to the vet but unfortunately it doesn’t look like that’s an option right now. I am also giving their cage a deep clean.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Can you see maggots in and around your guinea pigs bottom? That is what flystrike is - when a particular type of fly lays eggs in an animals flesh around his/her bottom. That requires an urgent vet check as flystrike can be fatal.

If there are simply maggots in the cage, then give the cage a good clean

Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike

 

[Wiebke]

Today I discovered maggots in my guinea pigs cage due to a leaking water bottle plus lots of flies flying around and now I’m very worried they have fly strike. I have tried every vet in the area and they are all either closed, booked, or don’t take guinea pigs. What can I do or buy in the meantime to help treat this? I know of course it would be ideal to take them to the vet but unfortunately it doesn’t look like that’s an option right now. I am also giving their cage a deep clean.

Hi!

Please take a deep breath. You are dealing with a fly brood but NOT fly strike. Just deep clean/disinfect the cage. The flies are a nuisance but they won't hurt your piggies. Place a shallow bowl of water near the cage and hopefully a fair number of the flies will drown.

Fly strike is when a very different kind of flies lay their eggs directly into the bodies of animals, usually around a dirty/sore bum for the maggots to grow in and live off the flesh of live animals. Affected are generally neglected piggies living in their own filth all the time or older piggies/piggies with mobility issues that can no longer clean themselves.
You can find more information on proper fly strike in this link here, including how to check for it around the genitalia bum: Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike

 

[PigglePuggle]

Hi! Try not to freak out too soon. First off: a leaking water bottle is not the cause of maggots, flies lay their eggs in poop or rotting food- a leaking bottle doesnt affect this. Secondly, have you closely inspected your piggies bottoms or any sore skin areas and actually seen maggots crawling on the pigs?
Cage hygiene and keeping piggies themselves clean and healthy is usually sufficient to avoid flystrike. It occurs when flies lay eggs on caked on poop/sore skin/open wounds.
If you do have vulnerable or elderly piggies with maggots round their bottom or in wounds or sore skin that is a medical emergency and needs prompt veterinary care.