UPDATED serious flystrike

[anomala]

Yes, I have some syringes someplace I will try that when I do a saline flush soon. Fortunately I don't believe the under skin hole (at least the opening to it) is nearly big enough for a turkey baster. Earlier I had filled the open area with vetermycin and tilted her so it ran into the under skin opening, and some of it drained in but not all so I'm really hoping it may not go as far as I fear. Also tho could be a trapped air bubble or soak water so not sure how much of a tell that is. Very cautiously optimistic we can still win flushing out the maggots, I do think the long soaks are helping drive out even the deep ones based on how long it takes for them to appear. My biggest concern is her body's ability to heal a dirty, under skin wound. The open area is about 1.5"x1.5", and the swelling is about the length and width of an egg.

 

[coach723]

If you have not already done so, trimming back the feathers around the area can help, both to let you see what you are doing, and to help keep it cleaner. A small oral syringe may work best for flushing out the wound, I use them a lot for that. If you can get some clear pictures of the area you are referring to, where it runs under the skin, it might be helpful. You are doing great, and everything you can. Fingers crossed.

 

[anomala]

I really appreciate everyone's advice and support. I considered trimming feathers earlier, but a lot of the ones in the immediate area are pin feathers and newer looking feathers in different stages. I know I shouldn't cut the pin feathers but is there a way to know when they are mature enough to be safe to cut? A lot of the shafts look dark and plump still so I started second guessing.

I should have taken more photos on the last soak when it was easiest to see, I was feeling guilty about documenting the gory details that could be the end, but I know that's not helpful to her. I will take more tomorrow in the morning when I soak her next.

I believe the larvae are blowfly, which only have a 4.5 day larval cycle. Yikes. I've removed 3 sizes, the largest of which were not quite 17mm full size 3rd instar (got the majority of those in the first soak round yesterday), so maybe 4 days old. I don't know if its possible for them to have done this much damage in 4 days, I'm assuming there may have been another round that have dropped out to pupate already. But either way it is horrifying. I'm making sure to destroy every one I remove, in case they are old enough to pupate.

She wasn't super hungry this morning and wouldn't eat the egg I made and just a little feed, but chowed down on a good amount of feed, and a piece of pineapple I hand fed, later in the day.