What should I do for my dog's fly bites and how can I prevent them?

Hello. I usually recommend Farnam's Fly-Off Repellent Ointment for wounds & sores like this. It is over the counter & you should be able to find it at any Petco. Just use it on a regular basis to help heal & protect the ears. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Have Chico examined by your veterinarian. He may need antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Place an e-collar (cone) on him to prevent licking or chewing of the areas. You can use a fly repellant such as SWAT around the site to keep flies off. It can be purchased in most home improvement stores or farm supply stores. Use fly strips or traps to catch and kill flies in the area. Remove anything that will attract flies such as trash, standing water or feces.

Poor Coco! I would have her seen by a vet, as that ear looks bad and possibly infected. I think it needs veterinary treatment to heal correctly. I'd make an appointment for her in the morning. After her eat is treated by a vet, there are a few things you can try to help keep the flies off her ears. You can use some petroleum jelly on the outside of the ear (do not get any down the ear canal) to keep them from biting. You can use a spray with the active botanical ingredient Pyrethrum, you may find one at a pet store. Keep your yard cleaned, pick up all the dog feces daily, make sure her food and water bowls are kept clean, and don't let your garbage overflow to cut down on the number of flies in your yard. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Gracie. Yes they do look like black fly bites, but there is no treatment for them. To prevent them, you need to clean up your yard of anything that attracts flies such as dog poop. Pick up all the dog poop, and throw it away in a closed trash can. Keep the trash can closed and locked if possible to prevent flies from coming there. Use a fly spray to kill any flies in the home. I hope this helps!

I don't think lesions like this would be caused by fly bites. I would guess that these lesions are either from trauma or from a bacterial skin infection (often secondary to allergies) although it is difficult to know without being able to examine them in person. Unfortunately I wouldn't recommend any home remedies and I think that ultimately she will need to see the vet for a diagnosis and treatment. You could ask around and see if there is any subsidized veterinary care in your area, or you could also look into Care Credit which could help with payment options.

I would recommend getting Cable to the vet as soon as you are able to. Oftentimes these types of biting flies are attracted to open wounds and so unless his current wounds are treated it will continue to get worse. Once examined, your vet should be able to recommend a specific treatment for the biting insects as well. Cable will likely need some antibiotics to help the wounds clear up. In the meantime, try to keep him inside, away from the insects, if you can. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

You can mix organic, raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar in equal parts with water and spray lightly on the pups. Also, remove any stool, food or anything else that may attract flies to the area. Use a fly trap or "fly bag", purchased from any hardware store or home improvement store, to draw flies away from the area and trap them.