When Gabby and her brother, Bandit, first arrived at Woodland Veterinary Clinic on July 30^th for their new pet exams, their owners knew immediately that something was not right with Gabby.  The two friendly kittens were obtained from a farm owned by a family friend.  Gabby and Bandit had spent most of their lives outdoors until adopted by the Roberts.

The night before Gabby’s first visit to Woodland Veterinary Clinic, she started to become lethargic and had a decreased appetite.  Upon arrival to WVC, she was depressed and had some difficulty breathing.  Dr. Christine West did a thorough exam and she discovered a small scab in front of the right ear.  When she removed the scab a small cuterebra was exposed.  Gabby also had a large amount of swelling around the laryngeal area.

The Cuterebra is also known as Rodent Bot Fly.  It is a fly that lays its eggs in the soil or on the fur of a passing animal.  Gabby was probably exposed to the cuterebra during her early farm excursions.  After the eggs hatch, the larvae penetrate the skin of the host, developing into large, black spiny grubs.  The larvae grow for about 3-4 weeks and can become up to 25mm in length.  The larvae can live up to 4-5 months before it leaves the body.  Depending on the location of the larvae, some clinical signs may include: A physical lump or cyst is apparent just above the larvae.  If in the brain, larvae will cause neurological symptoms consistent with the area of the brain in which it is located.  If in the trachea, the larvae may block the air supply, which happened in Gabby’s case.  Another name for this symptom is laryngeal edema.  Gabby’s condition was very severe due to the mucous buildup and swelling present in her esophagus.  This caused the decrease in appetite and her inability to keep any food down.

So, how is cuterebra infestation treated?  Gabby was anesthetized and the opening to the cuterebra was further exposed so the entire cuterebra could be removed.  It is very important to remove all parts of the larvae so an allergic reaction or skin irritation is not produced.  Gabby’s wound was then thoroughly flushed out with a povidone solution.  Gabby was then treated with an antibiotic to help fight infections and reduce swelling in the esophagus.  Treating the infection caused by this parasite can be very slow, so to help with Gabby’s recovery, she was also put on steroids.

We are now happy to report that Gabby is doing well and was recently in to visit us for her declaw and ovariohysterectomy.  Bandit and her parents are happy to have Gabby’s condition resolved!

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