Bart's Inury or Bot Fly Problem--most recent pic. Need to be sure not infection.

[sheryljane]

I would appreciate it if you would look at the current picture of Bart's wound site. I have been advised that he has a bot fly. Please take a look at the picture and reassure me that this is absolutely a bot fly warble. I have been reading about bot flies and looking at as many pictures I can find. I haven't seen any bot fly pictures that look exactly like what Bart has. As I explained in a previous post, Bart sustained a number of injuries in a squirrel fight a few weeks ago. The worst tear was behind his left shoulder, where the swelling and oozing is now occurring. He also had a small puncture mid chest. I notice today that this is also beginning to swell. Thanks, Sheryl

[Rhapsody]

Yes, this is a bot fly..... I just recently went through this with one of my babies "Dipper" and while it took all of four weeks for the
warble to mature to its full size I couldnt wait for the warble to emerge on its own as my little boy started to loose weight and the
site of the warble started to ooze and smell real bad..... so I pulled the two warbles my self.

You can read about the experience here and see pics:
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?42166-4-week-old-Bot-Fly

Yours looks as though its has a week or two left --I advice to leave it alone and let it come out when the warble is ready and then
smash the bug so it does not morph into a bot fly. You might want to apply a small amount of Neosporin to the site if you feel it is
becoming infected (i did).

[farrelli]

Is he on antibiotics for the other injuries?

[sheryljane]

Is he on antibiotics for the other injuries?

I am going to see our vet tomorrow and had planned to ask him for Baytril, which I understand is good for secondary infections. I have been applying neosporin cream and not the ointment so that I don't stop up the exit. I was able to examine Bart more closely today and it appears that another warble is forming on his chest where he had another open wound. The pungent smell is quite unpleasant but it does remind me of something "insect." I assume such a nasty odor is caused by the warble and fluid exuding from the open end. I am going to do my best to educate myself. I will continue my reading at the site to determine if there is anything I can do to help avoid bots in the future. My poor boy. Thank you for helping me with this issue. Many thanks, Sheryl

[sheryljane]

Yes, this is a bot fly..... I just recently went through this with one of my babies "Dipper" and while it took all of four weeks for the
warble to mature to its full size I couldnt wait for the warble to emerge on its own as my little boy started to loose weight and the
site of the warble started to ooze and smell real bad..... so I pulled the two warbles my self.

You can read about the experience here and see pics:
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?42166-4-week-old-Bot-Fly

Yours looks as though its has a week or two left --I advice to leave it alone and let it come out when the warble is ready and then
smash the bug so it does not morph into a bot fly. You might want to apply a small amount of Neosporin to the site if you feel it is
becoming infected (i did).

I am reassured. I have very gently pushed on the site at the backend but only fluids emerge. I don't want to do anything to cause the warble to die still attached to Bart, which I know is toxic. Bart is getting a second one at the site of another injury. This one is midchest. I hope this will be all there is. I have much reading to do. Thanks for taking a look. Sheryl

[kastillo]

Where are you at on the panhandle? I live just the other side of the state line, we have bot flies here something fierce.
One of my releases, the friendliest one, she's had her first litter, and 7 bot fly sites on top of that, caused her to lose weight bad. But she's still coming to me for food, etc....