4 week old - Bot Fly

[Rhapsody]

It will get worse before it gets better....You will be able to see it looking at you and moving its ugly head around in there.

Yeah - I just saw the larva on his back stick its ugly head out of the hole and then it went back in.

[Rhapsody]

I think the botfly on the upper back, maybe getting ready to emerge this weekend.... Prayers Please


Baby Dipper..... (((hugs)))



It has doubled in Size:



YUCK!! --We saw the Larva

[farrelli]

Someone please tell me that bots produce a natural anesthetic and antibiotic like many ticks and leaches!

[Rhapsody]

Someone please tell me that bots produce a natural anesthetic and antibiotic like many ticks and leaches!

Not that I know of...... once the larva has come out a large hole is left behind and its up us (the keeper) to flush out the space, clean it up, then place some Neosporin on it and give antibiotics if an infection develops. I feel for the poor wild life that has to deal with this ailment on their own. (my little baby is already starting to cry a little and it breaks my heart).

[Rhapsody]

Someone please tell me that bots produce a natural anesthetic and antibiotic like many ticks and leaches!

OK wait...... I did find this.

The larva secures itself with two anal hooks, secreting an antibiotic into its burrow, which staves off competing bacteria and fungi.

[farrelli]

I have to think think that it does both, as competition/compromisation from infection of the host would impede its survival, and I think we all know how prone to self-mutilation squirrels are, so if it even itched a bit, squirrels would be digging it out all the time. As it happens, they seem to suffer it without complaint.

[Rhapsody]

I dont know how this botfly exit thing goes...... but Dippers two botflies decided to make an apperance over
the weekend, at the same, and I thought they were emeraging, but after about 20 minutes of coming in and
out of the hole and of me trying to catch one with a pair of tweezers..... they retreated.


WARNING!! - GROSS PICS



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[TubeDriver]

Looks like they will get out on their own in a day or two. And then little Dipper can heal up and go back to being a little cutie!

[SammysMom]

Oh dear God! The idea of sharing skin with one of those hideous creatures makes me want to faint!!! At least it appears they are getting to the end of their cycle...YUCK!!!

[ques96]

I applied light pressure underneath them so that I did not squeeze them as they stuck part way out and it seemed to help them out of the hole. It was like a disgusting birth!

[TubeDriver]

I think the best thing is just to leave the bots alone and let them hatch. Then you can clean and treat the wounds with a topical antibiotic cream. They should heal up really quickly.

[Rhapsody]

We are waiting patiently...... the exit hole seems to have gotten bigger since their 1st appearance was made over the weekend,
and I can see the big booger thats on the back (look @ me) when I am feeding Dipper, so I'm sure its any time now.

[SammysMom]

Oh Rhapsody...you are a brave soul!

[Nancy in New York]

These are such nasty looking creatures.
This poor baby.
And ques96 I'm glad that your little Kona has
gotten rid of his. YUCK!

[lennysmom]

Oh my, I hate the nasty little things! My release Lenny has one I'm pretty sure. Although, since he is in the wild, I doubt I will see it hatch... Geez, I'm getting nauseated thinking about it! Sweet little squirrels should never have to deal with disgusting parasites like that!! Anyhow, the pics you posted confirmed my belief Lenny also has a bot... thanks for sharing. Hope your little one heals quick!!

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

yuck

[MsOakley]

Just another point of view...I pull mine. I believe it's hard on the baby's health to endure these parasites. You have to wait until they're big enough to get a firm grip with a pair of hemostats (much better then tweezers). You open the hemostats and go into the warble with them on both sides of the larvae. Then close them and pull straight out. I then flush with diluted chlorhexidine,an antiseptic that has been more effective then betadine for this purpose. Flush once daily to avoid infection. Try to keep it from scabbing over until it's healed. If it seems infected do a course of septra (antibiotic). I've had great success with this method over the 9 years of rehabbing. I actually pull for other local rehabbers as I have a reputation as the "botfly queen". How's that for something to be proud of...LOL.

[Rhapsody]

I've had great success with this method over the 9 years of rehabbing.
I actually pull for other local rehabbers as I have a reputation as the "botfly queen".
How's that for something to be proud of...LOL.

[Garden71]

There goes my lunch...

[Rhapsody]

Ok - I am getting quit concerned about Dipper...... he's had the bot fly for 3-4 weeks now and while the two bugs have shown
themselves a few times I am not so sure they are ready to come out any time soon and from what I have been reading about
them online it could actually take any where from 5-12 weeks for the warble to emerge in its pupa stage.

The bot fly on Dippers back is starting to look a nasty red and it has a foul smell to it --and when I weighed Dipper tonight he had
actually lost 5 grams, going from 110 grams to 105 grams, all while his cage mate put on weight: going from 85 to 105 grams.

I am thinking I might need to pull these bot fly for Dippers over all health needs..... What do you think?

BTW --no one told me these ugly creatures ate their host inner tissues while inside.


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Botfly Info:
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/...an_bot_fly.htm