Stable Fly In Dogs: Treatment
The stable fly or wild fly ( Stomoxys calcitrans ) is a type of blood-sucking insect with parasitic habits. As its name suggests, it lives mostly in the fields, farms, and rural areas.
These insects usually parasitize animals that live in or around stables. Although they prefer to parasitize cows and horses, they also affect dogs with some frequency. Next, we will inform you about the stable fly in dogs and how to prevent their bites.
What is the stable fly?
Stable flies belong to the same family of house flies that we always see in big cities. However, they are included in the genus Stomoxys , where we find about 20 ‘biting’ flies.
The most characteristic feature of these species is the proboscis, also known as the ‘biting face’. When the insect uses it to bite, we see that its position is inclined with respect to the surface. It is an anthropophilic species, that is, whose survival and habits are associated with human beings.
These flies generally choose to bite their ‘victims’ in their most defenseless or hard-to-reach regions. In dogs, the ears, muzzle and legs are the areas where we most commonly find their bites. Although rare, they can also bite humans and wild animals.
How does the stable fly affect dogs?
In principle, the bite of the stable fly causes unpleasant pain to the dog. The areas affected by these insects tend to become inflamed, bleed and generate a scab. In addition, they are more vulnerable to developing a secondary infection.
Another risk is that wild flies act as a vector for various pathogens. In this way, its bite is capable of transmitting a series of diseases to the stung animal. They can also cause severe anemia and malnutrition.
However, the greatest danger of these parasitic insects is that they tend to bite in a massive way, which generates an infestation in the dog’s body. Upon sensing a bite, female flies in the region quickly approach to bite and lay their eggs.
To develop properly, stable fly larvae need to feed on organic matter. When they are born inside the body of the dog, these worms begin to feed on its tissues.
Due to the risks that will be generated, it is essential to treat a stable fly bite quickly to avoid severe or irreversible damage to the animal’s health.
What to do if your dog is bitten by a stable fly?
If a stable fly bites your dog, the first step will be to quickly wash the bitten area and the wound with plenty of clean water and neutral or antibacterial soap. Afterwards, it is advisable to immediately take your dog to the vet to identify if there are other bites and establish an appropriate treatment.
At the clinic, the vet can perform a physical examination and request some studies to verify the health of your dog. He may also prescribe an antibiotic cream to prevent the wounds from becoming infected. In the event that an infectious process is diagnosed, antibiotics will likely be administered orally or venously.
A key point will be to observe the evolution of our friend’s health picture. If new symptoms appear, such as fever, inflammation, wounds or scabs on the skin, unpleasant odor, loss of appetite, presence of larvae or lethargy, the animal should be taken to the veterinarian immediately.
How to avoid stable fly bites?
To take care of your pet’s health and avoid stable fly bites, prevention is the key word. In the first place, we must offer adequate preventive medicine to our dogs throughout their lives.
Complete and balanced nutrition, physical and mental stimulation, vaccines and deworming will help strengthen our dog’s immune system. In addition, regular visits to the vet will be key to guaranteeing their optimal development and health.
The repellants will also help us to drive away the stable fly and other harmful insects. In pet stores we can find repellent sprays or creams, as well as collars impregnated with insecticides.
In summer and during trips to more rural areas it is important to be especially attentive to the presence of these insects to avoid bites.
