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The official moniker is Myiasis, but Fly Strike is an appropriate description for the sudden and debilitating onslaught of blow fly larvae.

Fly Strike is a maggot infestation spawned by blow fly eggs that hatch on animal skin. Dogs are most susceptible to Fly Strike, but the disease also affects rabbits and sheep. Any animal with open wounds, incontinence, or weak bowel control is a candidate for the nesting and hatching of blow fly eggs. Blowflies like to leave their eggs on skin contaminated by feces, vomit, or urine. The pungent scent attracts the blowflies.

Blow fly eggs hatch into larvae in approximately twelve hours. The maggots need nourishment, and they immediately begin to eat decayed flesh. Once the maggots consume the dead flesh, they turn their voracious appetites on an animal's healthy skin. Animals become infected with bacteria once the maggots destroy their healthy skin tissue. The bacteria rob an animal of fluid and blood proteins. Untreated Fly Strike can cause a painful death in three to five days.

The key to treatment is scrupulous attention. Summer is the prime time for an assortment of airborne assaults, so pet owners should check their pet's skin after the pet spends time outside. Because the eggs hatch quickly, perfectly normal looking skin can become a city of maggots between sunrise and sundown on the same day. A Veterinarian must immediately remove the maggots. The Vet also replaces lost fluids and administers anti-bacteria treatment.

Fly Strike prevention should be every pet owner's top priority. Fly Strike occurs in the warmer and more humid months of the year.

The five golden rules of Fly Strike prevention:

Moisture is a blowfly's best friend, so limit pet's outdoor activities during the warmer months of the year. Outdoor pets are a prime target for Fly Strike.

Monitor where your pet spends its time outside.

Maintain a regular and thorough cleaning schedule for your pet. Bathing once a week is recommended during the

The most important rule is to pay attention to incontinence or diarrhea, two conditions that can soil the area around the tail. The tail is the most likely launching ground for blow fly larvae.

Fly control spray or insecticide is a good idea to use once a day, preferably in the morning before the heat and humidity of the day provide the fertile environment for blow fly activity.

Older dogs are vulnerable because of incontinence. Spayed dogs with reduced estrogen levels are more likely to become incontinent. Watch for damp or wet spots in an animal's sleeping area. The spots may be a sign of incontinence.

Fly Strike is commonly missed by the human eye before it is too late to intervene. The latent and sudden hatching of larvae gives little time for error in treating the disease. In order to grasp the magnitude of Fly Strike, I recommend that readers either scan the Internet or ask a Veterinarian for photographs that display the effects of the disease. The graphic photographs will make your skin crawl.

Learn more about this author, Keith Bailey.
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