Help me! there is a hole in my Persian cat's belly!!!

[artiemom]

Good Luck....be safe...

That area looks as if it may be infected...please do not allow your cat to lick it, if possible...

I know, easier said than done.

He does need to see a Vet; especially if he is not eating much or moving....what about peeing and pooping...

Please keep us updated...

((hugs))

 

[SeventhHeaven]

Hope everything works out well for them! 

     

 

[ginny]

I hope everything is ok?

 

[captain pawsome]

Hi, Furry friends!

thanks for all your wishes, Garfield is getting better. the hole is getting smaller, and he is back to his usual self, eating and some playing. I managed to get to a vet in the next town and she cleans the wound and give some medications. Tomorrow I will get him to his vet. 

It's been a whirlwind 2 days but thank god he is okay now. But there is something that is bugging me, the vet that cleans his wound mention something bout botfly, what is that? I've  done some research and it creeps me out! She said something bout the fly probably nesting inside him, and he definitely needs further check up. Has anyone had any experiences dealing with this?  

btw, Garfield said thank you, you are all pawsome!

 

[ginny]

I'm so glad to know Garfield is getting better!!!  Thanks for updating.  I've only heard of botfly a time or two.  I'd ask the petshop where he came from about that too.  And I'd get the vet who saw him to explain what he meant and to outline a treatment plan for him.  The vet, if that's the one you usually go to, should follow up on this.  If he's not, then he should fax the info on this visit to your regular vet.  

 

[catpack]

I wondered if Botflies were present where you live.

Here's some information you can read on them (from the VCA website):

"What are warbles?
Cuterebra is the genus or scientific family name of the North American botfly. Twenty-six species of Cuterebra are known to occur in the U.S. and Canada. They are also found in Mexico and the neo-tropical regions. Cuterebra larvae develop within the tissues of certain animal hosts, and during this phase of their life cycle, they are commonly referred to as 'warbles'.

What is the cuterebra or botfly lifecycle?
The adult botfly deposits its eggs near or in the opening of rodent and rabbit burrows. After hatching, the botfly larvae, which typically infect rodents and rabbits, enters the host's body through an opening such as the nose or mouth or through a skin wound. After several days, they migrate to the tissues beneath the skin where they encyst and continue their development.

Different species of Cuterebra flies have evolved to migrate to specific anatomical locations in different hosts. For example, Cuterebra horripilum tends to seek out the throat region in cottontail rabbits, and C. fontinella commonly selects the abdominal or caudal region in the deer mouse. The larvae encyst beneath the skin of the host and complete their development. Larval development within the host may last from 19 to 38 days in small rodents and from 55 to 60 days in jackrabbits. After leaving the host, the larva develops into a pupa in loose soil, debris or forest duff. The pupation period may be as long as 7 to 11 months or as short as 28 days, depending on the environmental temperature. Adult Cuterebra flies will mate within a few days after emergence and they seldom live more than two weeks.

How did my cat get warbles?
cat_and_mouse_1
"Cats are accidental hosts of Cuterebra larvae."
Cats are accidental hosts of Cuterebra larvae. They are most commonly infected when they are hunting rodents or rabbits and encounter the botfly larvae near the entryway to a rodent's burrow. Most cases of warbles in cats occur around the head and neck.

How do I know if my cat has warbles?
The early stages of Cuterebra infection or warbles are rarely evident from external inspection of the skin. Most cases of warbles do not become noticeable until the larva enlarges and becomes a noticeable swelling that is seen or felt beneath the skin. A small "breathing" hole is often visible in the skin over the warble. The hole enlarges when the warble has fully matured and is about to leave the host. Sometimes, nothing abnormal is noticed until after the larva has left the host and the empty cyst becomes infected or develops into an abscess in the cat's skin.

In many cases, the secondary bacterial infection that develops in the empty cyst causes more damage to the host than the primary attack by the Cuterebra warbles. Most cats will develop a deep abscess or skin infection at the infection site after the warble has left the skin.

How is the condition treated?
Treatment depends on when the condition is discovered. If the condition is diagnosed before the warble leaves the skin, the warble will be removed and the injured tissues will be debrided or surgically removed. Antibiotics are usually prescribed to combat any secondary bacterial infection.

If the condition is noticed after the warble has left the skin, the infected area is cleaned and debrided and antibiotics prescribed.

What is the prognosis for my cat?
When only a few warbles are involved, the prognosis is very good for complete resolution and few, if any, permanent side effects occur. The prognosis is worse if a cat is infected with multiple warbles or if a warble migrates through or develops near a nerve or other sensitive tissue or organ.



How can I prevent my cat from getting warbles?
"Cuterebra is a common fly in North America."
Cuterebra is a common fly in North America. The best prevention is to keep your cat from hunting rodents. When this is impossible and if you live in an area with numerous rodents, rabbits or other small mammals, you should closely inspect your cat regularly for any signs of warbles. The earlier a warble is removed, the less likely the chance of permanent or serious damage to your cat.

This client information sheet is based on material written by: Ernest Ward, DVM"

 

[artiemom]

Wow--a bot fly!!

I have never experienced one, but have seen many cases on this forum...If you are interested, just search 'botfly'/..

I honestly never heard of it until I joined here...

wow....

I am so glad you went to the Vet and got a good diagnosis and treatment plan...

Garfield must be feeling better; and you too....We are also..

Please keep us updated...thanks..

((hugs))

 

[cheesymice]

I had a cat many many years ago who had a botfly in her neck when she was a kitten. She spent her first months out in the country and that's where she picked it up. She recovered just fine and went on to live a long and pampered life. If your kitty does have a botfly your vet should be able to remove it and then treat the area so that it doesn't get infected. I used an antibiotic cream on my kitten's wound and it healed up nicely.

If it is a botfly you should be able to see it moving about in the hole. Gross, I know! But ultimately it's probably more yucky than harmful!

Elizabeth