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Flystrike warning: Pet owners urged to 'check every day' for condition - 'can be fatal'

The hot weather poses several risks to household pets but it's not just heat stroke and exhaustion that you need to look out for. As temperatures push 40C in parts of the UK, the RSPCA has warned owners to check their pets for flystrike on a daily basis. This potentially fatal disease is not only life-threatening but can also be incredibly painful for your pet. So what exactly should you be looking out for on your rabbits, cats, dogs, and guinea pigs during the heatwave? Here's your guide to spotting and treating flystrike in your pets.

What is flystrike?

Flystrike, also known as myiasis, is a serious condition caused by flies laying eggs on the body of animals.

These hatch into maggots which feed on the flesh of their 'hosts', and can leave animals feeling very unwell.

While even clean, well-kept pets can get flystrike, those with dirty rear ends or generally dirty fur are most at risk, according to the RSPCA.

Preventing this painful condition from affecting your pets is hard to do when an influx of flies appear in the hot weather, though it can be treated quickly if you know what to look out for.

What are the symptoms of flystrike?

Cats and dogs are not the only pets you need to check on in the heat. In fact, rabbits are at an even higher risk of overheating or getting flystrike in the summer.

Dr Samantha Butler-Davies, Veterinary Clinical Services Manager at Vets4Pets, told Express.co.uk: "Simply put, the hot weather poses a genuine risk of death for rabbits.

"The temperature of their homes can increase rapidly in warm weather and a hot garden with no shelter can soon turn into a death trap if your rabbits don't have access to cool areas.

"Keeping your rabbits and their house clean and dry is the main way to prevent them from developing flystrike."

 GETTYDog licking itself

Looking for the physical signs of flystrike is also crucial to stop it from causing irreparable damage to your pets' skin, but what should you keep an eye out for?

Live maggots

If you notice a cluster of live maggots in your pet's fur, there's a good chance you're dealing with flystrike.

The RSPCA recommended doing daily health checks to look for signs of illness, injury, and abnormal behaviour.

This can also be incredibly helpful to spot maggots as soon as they appear.

The charity said: "In warm weather, check your pet all over their body, especially around their rear end and tail area, at least twice a day."

 GETTYCat being stroked

Sores on the skin

In most cases, larvae and maggots are not easily visible - especially in larger animals like cats and dogs.

According to FirstVet, the Initial clinical signs of myiasis in dogs and cats are more likely to include red, raised, sores on the skin often filled with pus-like discharge.

Open wounds that are painful when touched may also be present in pets that are affected by flystrike.

Matted hair

Infected animals may also have unusually matted hair which is occasionally damp or moist.

General signs of illness

It's not just how your pet looks that can indicate flystrike. The way they behave is also one of the hallmark symptoms that owners should know when it comes to spotting this dangerous condition.

General signs of illness include lethargy, decreased appetite, and reluctance to move. These are especially prominent in cats and dogs.

Rabbits, guinea pigs, and other small animals can become quiet or tired when infected with flystrike.

Uncomfortable behaviour

Excessive biting at the skin and shaking of the head can also be seen in animals with myiasis because of the extreme discomfort the skin condition brings, according to FirstVet.

In cats, "excessive vocalisation" could also indicate a problem.

A 'foul smell'

Raw flesh can leave an unpleasant smell, so paying attention to any unusual fragrances lingering around your pets is important.

This "foul smell", as put by FirstVet, comes from purulent and swollen sores commonly seen in cats, dogs, and rabbits with maggots feeding on their skin.

Dirt around your pet's back end

If your pet's back end is dirty, you should clean it immediately with warm water and ensure the area is dried thoroughly.

While you may not be dealing with flystrike, it is the best way to help prevent it from making your pet unwell.

The RSPCA said: "You may need to clip their fur, but ask a specialist if you're not sure how to do this."

Uncomfortable behaviour

Excessive biting at the skin and shaking of the head can also be seen in animals with myiasis because of the extreme discomfort the skin condition brings, according to FirstVet.

In cats, "excessive vocalisation" could also indicate a problem.

A 'foul smell'

Raw flesh can leave an unpleasant smell, so paying attention to any unusual fragrances lingering around your pets is important.

This "foul smell", as put by FirstVet, comes from purulent and swollen sores commonly seen in cats, dogs, and rabbits with maggots feeding on their skin.

Dirt around your pet's back end

If your pet's back end is dirty, you should clean it immediately with warm water and ensure the area is dried thoroughly.

While you may not be dealing with flystrike, it is the best way to help prevent it from making your pet unwell.

The RSPCA said: "You may need to clip their fur, but ask a specialist if you're not sure how to do this."

Reference: Daily Express: Phoebe Cornish -

Monkeys terrorise Japanese city, attacking 58 people in just three weeks

Monkeys are on the rampage in a southwestern Japanese city, attacking at least 58 people in just three weeks.

People in Yamaguchi city have been terrorised by the violent primates, with reports alleging that Japanese macaques – also known as snow monkeys – are snatching babies, biting and clawing at flesh, and sneaking into nursery schools.

Authorities in the region are hiring a special unit to hunt the animals with tranquiliser guns after attempts to capture the monkeys with traps failed. Traps haven’t worked as the monkeys are reportedly not interested in food.

Injuries range from bites on the neck or stomach to scratches on hands and legs. No serious injuries have been reported so far.

Officials say the monkeys have often specifically targeted children or the elderly. “They are so smart, and they tend to sneak up and attack from behind, often grabbing at your legs,” Masato Saito, an official from the Yamaguchi city hall, said on Wednesday.

“Recently, we’ve heard of cases where the monkey has clung onto a person’s leg and once that person tries to get them off, they get bitten – or they’ve gotten sprung on from behind.”

“I have never seen anything like this my entire life.”

In one attack, a woman who was hanging her clothes to dry on her verandah was assaulted by a monkey.

 Provided by The IndependentA macaque monkey bathes in a hot spring at the Jigokudani Yaen-koen wild Macaque monkey park in Yamanouchi, Japan (Getty Images)

Another victim showed bandaged toes and recalled being taken aback by how big and fat the monkeys were. 

The police were successful in catching a monkey with a tranquiliser gun on Tuesday. The male monkey was 1.6ft tall and weighed 7kg.

Authorities put it to death after concluding that it was one of the attacking monkeys based on several pieces of evidence. However, the attacks continued.

Officials say that when confronted by a monkey, a person should not not look them in the eye. “Make yourself look as big as possible, such as by spreading open your coat, then back away as quietly as possible without making sudden moves,” said Mr Saito.

 Provided by The IndependentThe wild Japanese macaques are also known as snow monkeys and are often seen peacefully bathing in hot springs (Getty Images)

Japanese macaques are common across large parts of the country as a fair portion of land in the archipelago is mountains and forests even though the country is industrialised and urban.

Wildlife experts say that these monkeys have coexisted alongside humans since the Edo period, between early 1600s and 1867. Such violent attacks by monkeys are unusual in cities as the Japanese macaques are usually pictured peacefully bathing in hot springs.

While authorities are still trying to zero in on the reason for the increasing human-monkey conflict, experts say a resurgence in macaque populations and decline in their natural habitats could be a factor.

They were once on the list of vulnerable species but the population of Japanese macaques has recently increased. They are now a species of “least concern“ on the list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Warning to dog owners over toxic algae that can ‘kill in 15 minutes’

Dog owners are being warned over a toxic bacteria that lives in freshwater during hot weather which can have fatal effects.

Blue-green algae is often found on the edge of lakes or ponds and contains extremely harmful toxins that can stop a dog’s liver from functioning correctly

As the weather is forecast to heat up over the weekend, owners are urged to be aware of the symptoms of blue-green algae poisoning if their dog has been swimming or paddling in open water, such as rivers and lakes.

What is blue-green algae?

Blue-green algae is a term that describes a group of bacteria called cyanobacteria, and it is found in freshwater bodies such as lakes, ponds, canals, rivers and reservoirs.

The chemicals produced from the bacteria are highly toxic to dogs and are also dangerous to other animals, including cats, horses, birds and cows, and can even be harmful to humans when ingested in small quantities.

Not all blue-green algae is poisonous, but bodies containing algal blooms should be avoided.

The algae appear as a green or greenish-brown scum on the surface of the water and dogs can swallow it by drinking water from an affected body of water, or while licking their fur after going for a swim.

Dogs can even come into contact with the bacteria even if they don’t go into the water as toxic blooms can be blown to the edges of bodies of water.

What are the symptoms of blue-green algae poisoning?

The types and effects of blue-green algae vary, but common symptoms include:

- dribbling

tiredness

- vomiting

- diarrhoea

- convulsions

- problems breathing

- organ failure

Signs often start within the hour but can occur within a few minutes or even be delayed by a few days.

Some types of blue-green algae can have fatal effects and can kill a dog in as little as 15 minutes to an hour after drinking contaminated waters

If caught early enough, a vet will attempt to make your dog vomit to try flush the toxins out of the body. There is no antidote, but if medical intervention occurs early this gives your dog the best chance at survival.

Sadly, blue-green algae poisoning often eventually causes fatal liver failure, so it is important owners are vigilant.

How you can I protect my dog?

Dog experts Kennel Store has issued advice to dog owners on how to keep their pets out of harms way. Top tips include: 

Reference; Edinburgh News: Hiyah Zaidi