My dog has maggots on her lower back. Is there a home remedy?

Hi. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Shadow really needs to be seen by a vet ASAP. If there are maggots then there is a significant wound/lesion that needs attention. He may need to have it surgically debrided and likely needs pain medication and antibiotics. Some flea control products such as Capstar can help to kill maggots but the wound still needs to be thoroughly flushed and cleaned. In the case of maggots around the back end sometimes they can be in the rectum which can lead to sepsis or severe complications. Please get Shadow to a veterinarian today. He will also need to be kept indoors until the wound is completely healed or this may happen again.

Capstar will kill maggots, but the maggots will continue to come back since they are caused by flies laying eggs in a necrotic wound. The maggots are not the issue here, the wound is the problem, and it should be addressed first with a vet.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! From this picture at least it almost looks like maggots or some kind of worm. This type of infestation can be seen with necrotic wounds or an underlying infection of some sort. It may be something else like a growth but it is hard to tell just based on a picture. An examination would help tremendously in being able to tell these apart. Maggots will actively move while a growth would not. I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. If these are maggots, your veterinarian will likely choose to clean that area further and get rid of them. Good luck!

These maggot wounds are treatable, but turpentine and Betadine won't kill them all and will actually make the wound worse. They are best killed with camphor powder, but the maggots need to be pulled out from in the wound, or they will cause a severe infection. In order to pull them out, the dog often needs to be sedated. For this and other wound treatment, I highly recommend you take him to a vet doctor. For now, you should flush the wound using a syringe or other dispensing device with normal, clean, warm water for five minutes. This may not be easy, because dogs tend to hate this and will try to run away. I recommend having someone help you with this and holding Brando to make sure the wound gets flushed well. Infection is the biggest concern with these wounds; so after flushing, it's best to apply an antibacterial cream to the wound and a bandage. In order to keep the wound clean, it's best to flush the wound 1-2 times a day and gently wipe away any big crusts - make sure not to scrub the wound, because this can make it worse. Apply the antibacterial cream after each flushing. I hope that helps and Brando gets better soon.

I'm so sorry to hear that! I am very concerned that the tissue under the skin (connective tissue, muscle, etc) is becoming "necrotic" meaning that tissue is dying. I am also concerned there may still be a maggot issue, as the area is spreading (you said there is a new wound forming). She needs to be evaluated by a vet, and it will probably be necessary to have surgery to debride (cut away/remove) the unhealthy tissue. She will need antibiotics as well. Please take her to a vet who can care for her. Unfortunately there really is not a home solution that is going to be effective. Best of luck with her, I'm sorry I can't recommend a way for you to treat this at home.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Baby! You can continue to clean the area and apply the ointment through the weekend. It will take several days for the bump to go down. If there is no significant decrease in swelling or redness in 3 days he should be seen for oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. Keep him indoors until healed and keep flies off him. Good luck!

Unfortunately I don't know based on your description alone - this would really require an in person veterinary visit. I'm thinking infection is a possibility, and further treatment for the maggots might be required - often sedation and surgical flushing and debridement of a wound is needed for maggots. I'd recommend seeing a veterinarian as soon as you are able.