Morrigan_Lady
Well-Known Member
I found some fly/maggot eggs in the melonoma on my mares dock today. I got them all out and cleaned it all with water, but is there anything I can do or put on it to stop this happening again?
Maggots in Melonomas
- Thread starter Morrigan_Lady
- Start date
wonkey_donkey
Well-Known Member
Puke !!
I would clean daily with Hibiscrub and cover with a good fly spray. I wouldn't be using anything like creams or lotions that fly eggs could stick to and make the situation worse.
Disgusting I know but makes you wonder if left whether the maggots would eat away the melanomas and get rid of them ??
I would clean daily with Hibiscrub and cover with a good fly spray. I wouldn't be using anything like creams or lotions that fly eggs could stick to and make the situation worse.
Disgusting I know but makes you wonder if left whether the maggots would eat away the melanomas and get rid of them ??
Morrigan_Lady
Well-Known Member
Well its funny you should say that, because my husband said the same sort of thing!
ofcourseyoucan
Well-Known Member
disgusting! but i would be calling the vet if the melanoma has opened and there are maggots in there. not good really.
suzysparkle
Well-Known Member
I thought that as well!!
Kelpie
Well-Known Member
Sadly I had to deal with this many a time with my now dear departed mare.
Towards the end of her life, she had some quite advanced melanomas around her bum. They used to itch her like crazy so she'd rub her dock and then burst them open and then the flies would get in and lay their eggs there. Many a time I would have planned to pop to the yard and check on her before going out with friends only to have to stop plans, bring her in and get the tweezers out.
Best thing I ever found that worked was "switch". It's designed for sweet itch but also works a treat to kill the maggots. Just poor it in the affected area and you see them initially start wiggling out of the melanomas but then start to die off. You still need to get them out with the tweezers though, I'm afraid there's just no short cut to standing there and picking the little nasties out one by one.
I'd be inclined to stay away from too much hibiscrub as it can affect the healing process if over-used.
I did toy with the idea of leaving them there to see whether there was an medicinal value to letting them eat away the dying flesh but they itched her so much and made her rub so bad when they got in that it just wasn't worth even trying it.
You can get "switch" on-line but if I were you I'd have a quick word with your vet first, just to make sure that it won't have any ill impact on your horse, depending on where the melanomas are.
Best of luck and pm me if you need any further support on this. Sadly I've been there and done that on this topic
Towards the end of her life, she had some quite advanced melanomas around her bum. They used to itch her like crazy so she'd rub her dock and then burst them open and then the flies would get in and lay their eggs there. Many a time I would have planned to pop to the yard and check on her before going out with friends only to have to stop plans, bring her in and get the tweezers out.
Best thing I ever found that worked was "switch". It's designed for sweet itch but also works a treat to kill the maggots. Just poor it in the affected area and you see them initially start wiggling out of the melanomas but then start to die off. You still need to get them out with the tweezers though, I'm afraid there's just no short cut to standing there and picking the little nasties out one by one.
I'd be inclined to stay away from too much hibiscrub as it can affect the healing process if over-used.
I did toy with the idea of leaving them there to see whether there was an medicinal value to letting them eat away the dying flesh but they itched her so much and made her rub so bad when they got in that it just wasn't worth even trying it.
You can get "switch" on-line but if I were you I'd have a quick word with your vet first, just to make sure that it won't have any ill impact on your horse, depending on where the melanomas are.
Best of luck and pm me if you need any further support on this. Sadly I've been there and done that on this topic
Morrigan_Lady
Well-Known Member
Thank you for your advice, I really appreciate it.
Thankfully its not itching her or causing her any discomfort.
I stocked up today on tea tree oil and that yellow cream for fly strike, so fingers crossed.
Thankfully its not itching her or causing her any discomfort.
I stocked up today on tea tree oil and that yellow cream for fly strike, so fingers crossed.
Dogstar
Well-Known Member
I had this with my mare who also has advanced melanomas under her dock, but have totally solved it (touch wood!) with her wearing a fly rug 24/7! I have the Mark Todd one with a deep tail cover and it has kept the flies at bay all this Summer!