Treatment of maggot-infested wounds
Wounds are one of the most common problems street dogs get in India. They can result from dog fights, accidents, mistreatment by humans, tick bites or simply from skin disease and prolonged scratching. Flies are abundant in Indian cities due to poor public hygiene. The screwworm fly is the one most dangerous to animals as it lays eggs in fresh wounds. Even a tiny pinhead sized wound could attract flies. The larvae, or maggots, can hatch within a few hours in hot humid weather, and they create severe wounds by feeding on the host's flesh.
This is a step-by-step guide to removing maggots and treating wounds. Please note that A DOG MUST ALWAYS BE MUZZLED AND RESTRAINED BEFORE TREATMENT as it will try to bite due to pain.
The wounded dog I photographed was an old female called "Aunty" and the person treating her was WSD field manager Pooja Mishra. Aunty recovered completely in a few weeks.
Mar 5, 2009
Photos: 12
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