HOME TREATMENT FOR FLYSTRIKE

Question
HELLO,

MY GUINEA PIG RECENTLY BECAME A VICTIM OF FLY STRIKE.. I FREAKED OUT WHEN I SAW THE MAGGOTS IN HIS BOTTOM.. I WASHED IT AND REMOVED ALL MAGGOTS AND PUT SOME A&D OINTMENT ON HIS BOTTOM TO HELP WITH THE HEALING.. I DID NOT SEE ANY OPEN WOUNDS BUT I NOTICE HE HAS NOT POOPED ALL NIGHT, BUT HE IS EATING.. I REALLY DON'T WANT TO LOOSE HIM .. I HAVE TAKEN HIM TO THE VET IN THE PASS AND SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON HIM FOR DIFFERENT REASONS AND ENDED UP DOING MORE FOR HIM WITH HOME REMEDIES. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN SUGGEST I DO FOR HIS RIGHT NOW AT HOME TO MAKE SURE HE IS OKAY AND PULLS THROUGH?

Answer
This is the second time I've been asked about maggots "in the bottom", although with the last question it was a sow not a boar. It's extremely unusual for maggots to actually get on or in the pig. A sow that has had an incomplete delivery or spontaneous abortion could have flies laying eggs on the dead fetus just inside the opening, but with a boar that's a different situation.

Flies lay eggs where there is a food source. Maggots do not eat fresh clean flesh, they live on decayed flesh. So if you're actually seeing maggots crawling from his rectum there's a serious situation in progress. It's not a simple case of the fly dropped her eggs and just flew off. There's a reason they chose that spot.  

Flies may also lay eggs in wet dirty bedding, thus having maggots hatch beneath the bedding. What you are describing is something far more serious than dirty bedding.  Although I can appreciate the financial issue this is most definitely a time for a vet exam. A & D ointment is not going to solve the problem. You must find the cause and remove it.

Exam him thoroughly, spreading open the rectal area to see if there's a sore or opening that you're not aware of. Wash the area with warm soapy water to cleanse everything you can see. Make sure he's on absolutely clean and dry bedding. Watch carefully for any sign of flies buzzing around his cage. If you've done everything you can to find the cause and still can't see it then you must go to the vet.