Flies can transmit disease & cause health problems for pets. They feed on blood, saliva, tears, or mucus, spreading bacteria, viruses, & parasites.
Why are there flies around my pet?
Flies may be drawn to your pet if he/she is ill, incontinent or rolls around in droppings.
Be sure to wash off any faecal or urinary matter from your pet's fur.
Flies are attracted to dirty, greasy fur or skin infections.
Some flies are attracted to heat & carbon dioxide released by warm-blooded mammals (like people & dogs).
Do flies bite dogs?
Some flies do bite.
Fly bites can be very irritating to dogs, and often target the thinly haired/ exposed skin (particularly on their bellies).
What kinds of flies are attracted to dogs?
Biting midges/ gnats - biting flies found in mud & marshy areas.
Black flies - biting flies sometimes found in large swarms. They are small & hide in pets' fur.
Eye gnats - don’t bite, but feed off bodily secretions. They cluster around an animal's eyes/ genitals & can be annoying.
Horse/deer flies - large & cause a painful bite.
Mosquitos - frequent cause of disease transmission (especially heartworm in dogs)
Sand flies - Biting flies, primarily nocturnal.
Stable flies - generally feed on horses, but will attack dogs.
Tsetse flies - most found in Africa & can transmit serious diseases.
Bot flies - present where rodents are found. Fly larvae can tunnel under dogs' skin & cause a painful boil-like wound.
Bot flies will lay eggs in wounds of any animal & in matted fur. Larvae (Maggots) may be then be visible in the wound. You should not try to remove maggots yourself; wound cleaning & maggot removal by your veterinarian is required.
Do not apply products like Negasunt powder as they are toxic if ingested by your pet.
How can I prevent flies around my dog?
Walk your dog in a dry, lightly windy & sunny area (not mid-day in T&T as this can be overwhelming: ideally ~6-7am & 4-6pm). Many insects prefer to be out at dawn & dusk.
Avoid tall, grassy areas. Insects lurk in the grass & can bite your dog's belly as they pass.
Avoid wet & marshy areas.
Consult your veterinarian about safe insect repellents for your pets: citronella oil, tea tree oil, garlic are toxic to pets. You may use diluted neem oil, lemongrass oil or peppermint oil instead.
An oatmeal bath will clean & soothe your pet's skin & help to decrease inflammation if they have been bitten.
Keep your yard clean: free of unnecessary piles of rubbish, tall grass & stagnant bodies of water.
Dog kennel areas should be cleaned regularly: diluted bleach (1 part bleach to 30 parts water) helps to kill any bacteria/ parasites on surfaces where dog faecs/ urine contacts.
Be mindful of using pesticides in your yard as they can be toxic to your outdoor pets.
Do not leave your dog's food sitting out for long periods of time (generally no more than 15 minutes) as this would attract flies & rodents. Once your dog has finished eating, remove the bowl & clean.
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