This did happen to my Yorkie, but it was about 2 years ago. I did post it here because of the poor pup that passed recently, as I felt knowing and understanding always helps owners to be better able to care for their pups.
And even I, a retired vet tech, who has seen a lot of the outsides of animals and too much of the insides of them, almost lost it when I found this thing on my Peek a Boo! Like the opening scene in "Alien". I was gagging, and had to step away for a second, before I could do anything else. Finally, I got my wits about me and was able to help him. If it hadn't been 2 AM, I would have went right to the vet, or if he was in distress, for sure. The only thing he did would be to intermittantly scratch behind his ear. Thank God he didn't hurt the larvae!
Also, after I got home from the vets, I was still freaking out. It wasn't till then that I recalled seeing 40-50 hugh flies all over him, and he's just laying there asleep! I thought he was dead for a minute, bc one always sees flies on dead things. I saw him breathe, and woke him up. I must have called the vet 10 times over the next few days. It's a wonder he had any hair left I was combing him so much!
I don't think these fly larvae get quite that big. The one I found was 1/2 inch or so, and skinny. Maybe 2-3 times the size of a normal house fly maggot. Exactly like the one they had on TV in a human. I have seen larger ones on a wild mouse in my front yard. And yes, they are all totally gross. I think the larger ones are a different species, of what, I don't know. If I figure it out, I'll update this post. |