How to heal wounds with worms in cats
It can happen that you find a cat in the street and observe that you have a wound full of worms, or even your cat could get parasites in any wound from one day to the next. Before this, it is necessary to know what to do, since this type of parasites produce a condition known as myiasis. These are insects with two wings and they and their larvae can appear on wounds and ulcers of the skin, causing damage to the affected animal. These parasites lay their eggs on the infected surface in order to survive and reproduce.
If you notice that your cat has this problem, it will be important to act as soon as possible, because if you let it go by believing that the worms will go away alone, you are very wrong, because they will not go away and cause severe damage to the cat, and even death . If you do not know how to treat wounds with worms in cats, this article is the one you were looking for, because here we give you complete information about myiasis in cats .
What is myiasis, gusasnera, bichera or larvae on the skin
Myiasis in cats, also commonly known as gusanera or bichera, is a disease caused by diptera parasites, such as flies, mosquitoes and mosquitoes, which affect, above all, the surface of open wounds or poorly healed, that is why it is so important to treat in time any illness or injury so that later more serious problems like this do not appear.
This disease attacks dogs, cats, and a variety of animals and even humans. For example, it can appear in injured and weak cats that are or have been in a wet place during warm days. Because there may be the spread of these parasites to humans, you should be especially careful when cleaning the wound or caressing the cat, especially if you have a wound, however small it may be. You can use repellents or insecticides, wear proper hygiene and visit a doctor frequently if your cat suffers myiasis, to avoid a transfer.
These parasites, in their adult stage, deposit their eggs on the surface of tissues as wounds or mucous membranes, leaving the area infested, so that when they are born the larvae can feed on tissue, both dead and alive, and fluids of the animal parasitized . After this, the larvae on the cat's skin grow into pupae and finally into adults, when they leave the host to continue their biological cycle.
It can happen that they parasitize, in addition to ulcers and wounds, bodily orifices such as the ears, nose, eyes, mouth, anal area, etc. In conclusion, they can infest any injured body part or that is a hole with mucous membranes or sensitive skin.
How to know if my cat has myiasis
Depending on the phase in which the disease is found, it will be easier or more difficult to identify it. In primary phases, especially if they are found internally, it is more difficult to identify them than if they are externally, in which case you would simply observe a wound full of worms . You have to be aware of all the symptoms that cause myiasis in cats so, once detected the first ones by us at home, go to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
Symptoms of myiasis in cats
- Worms on the wound surface
- Wounds
- Stings
- Hairless areas
- Ulcers
- Bite
- Discharge in wounds
- Abscesses
- Fever
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Pain when caressing it
- Licking in the infested area
- Constant itching and scratching
- Skin irritation
- Cutaneous edema
- Ulcers
If the parasitization occurs in specific areas, you will be able to observe tears and constant tearing in the case of the eyes, constant sneezing in the case of the nose, or shaking of the head and constant scratching in case the ear or ear has been infested.
Diagnosis of myiasis in cats
If you notice any symptoms mentioned above and suspect that your cat might have myiasis, do not hesitate to go to the veterinarian as soon as possible, since apart from the problem itself, several species of these parasites can cause problems even in the vital organs of the animal.
Once at the veterinarian, the cat will perform a physical examination and if necessary a blood and tissue analysis, especially if the parasites are also found internally and it is difficult to identify them. Once identified the species that is harming the animal, the specialist will indicate the most appropriate treatment to make them disappear.
How to eliminate worms in cat wounds - treatment of myiasis
Only the veterinarian can carry out the most appropriate treatment for cats, since in addition to myiasis, other secondary problems usually appear. The treatment usually varies according to the phase in which the myiasis is found, the place and the type of parasite that is producing it. In general these are the steps that the vet follows to remove worms from wounds in cats :
- Anaesthetize or sedate the cat. In general, it is advisable to administer general anesthesia to the cat due to its aggressiveness when it reaches the veterinarian. Notwithstanding this, if the feline is calm, only the affected part could be anesthetized using local anesthesia.
- Depending on where the affected wound is located, it will be necessary to shave the animal's coat, open the infested area to access the larvae if necessary and use antiseptic products to disinfect the area.
- Extract the worms from the wound one by one with special disinfected tweezers and very carefully.
- If there is necrotic tissue, it will be removed with the help of a scalpel to prevent it from advancing and facilitate muscle and skin regeneration.
- Once the larvae and worms have been eliminated from the wound, disinfecting them again will be required.
- Then apply an antiparasitic known popularly as "matabichera", "curabichera" or "antigusanera", in addition to administer topical local antibiotic for a few days or, in cases that have been serious, oral or injected antibiotic to act in a general way in the body .
- Finally the veterinarian will cover the wound with a bandage, which will have to be changed daily or even several times a day if it is necessary to disinfect and heal the wound.
After this, you will only have to follow the guidelines that the veterinarian tells you to treat your cat at home and prevent this problem from happening again.
Surely you wonder if there are home remedies to cure myiasis in cats . No, the reality is that there is no home remedy capable of eliminating worms, but there are remedies such as garlic, thyme, mint, honey or rosemary that can help disinfect the wound once the veterinarian has eliminated all the worms and larvae. You can even use sugar, aloe vera, rosehip oil or olive oil to help heal the cat's wound and prevent the appearance of a new myiasis. In this other article you can learn more sips How to heal wounds with sugar.
How to prevent myiasis in cats
To prevent your cat from having myiasis or glands, it is essential that you properly disinfect any wound your feline friend may have, however small it may be, as well as the frequent revision of your skin and hair, and it is important that you notice lacrimal orifices, truffle, mouth, ears and the genital and anal area.
You will have to maintain good hygiene and brush your friend's hair with mustaches, although you do not need to bathe unless necessary, they are kept very clean. However, sometimes the cat gets so dirty that it is impossible to remove all the dirt, usually when leaving the house, and it will be necessary to help him.
If you want to prevent the appearance of myiasis, in addition to any type of parasite, you must go to the veterinarian to take the day to deworming your cat.
