As I was cleaning WaiWai this morning I broke through a ayer of fat and I found maggots growing under the last flap of skin from the deepest wound. This area just refuses to let go of that hard fatty dead scab. And the flies found a way in.
Lovely Saturday discussion isn’t it!
I have been working on and off all morning removing some of the dead stuff and all of the maggots. They are burrowing straight into the good skin and spreading. Maggots will eat rotton skin but when they run out they just keep on going into the good stuff. It must be very painful for him. No wonder he was grumpy.
He is fighting me like a frightened dog, growling and running away and jamming his side into the wall and snapping at my hands. He has not bit me yet but he wants to. So I am taking it slow. Picking every single wriggly out and pouring iodine into each hole. Then dried with a blow drier and on with his creams. He hates me today. 
It is a long process but I cannot give in this time – he has to be fully cleaned up now, all the dead fatty tissue has to be cleaned off. The flies are terrible.
Poor bastard.
Love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
64 responses to “A Set Back”
Talk to your vet about using medical maggots. These maggots ONLY eat dead tissue and will not invade healthy tissue. They are extremely effective at debriding wounds and may prevent further invasion from dangerous maggots. Your vet would have to order them for from a special medical supply company, but I do not think they cost all that much. It would be worth looking into.
Wai and you have come so very far and I know you have no intention of quitting now. You both have so much riding on this. He is so close to being whole. The advice above — penicillin–seems effective. I have no idea if iodine is better than it. I’m sure you know, Cecilia.
OH the poor thing. I was hoping the worst was over. Bless you for taking such care with him!
Hugs for you and Wai — prayers too
Since Wai Wai can’t say it, I will say it for him: Thank you, miss c, and I love you for helping me.
Oh sh*t, was all I could think to say reading through this post today. My like is not a happy one today but rather a show of support and sympathy from afar – for you both. I am really hoping this last spot will be the final hurdle to clear to full and successful recovery for the poor little piggy. Love, love. Laura
If there’s something I can’t stand the sight of, it’s maggots. So good Wai has you and not sissy me. That said, I’m sure for someone I loved I would overcome…You are brilliant.
I am Not making a postcard of them then.
ACK! Fly Strike !! The best treatment I have found is Catron IV spray. It might be less painful than the iodine. I wonder if surgically removing that scab would help? I have no idea. Poor guy! And poor you for having to deal with it! You are a super nurse!!!
Interestingly the maggots crawled right out when I poured iodine in the hole – I imagine they were drowning – you know what it is like – we have no time to wait for a special spray to arrive – i use exactly what I have at hand. Even if it hurts. I picked them out with tweezers then cleaned out the wound. I will keep at it. Fingers crossed.
We are all, as always, right there with you in spirit. Many hugs
You’ve come too far to let flies and their maggots win Miss C. Does Wai like music? Perhaps playing some music, or singing, to/with him will calm him. The pain for him must be awful but I hope that somewhere within he can sense that you are trying to do good and help him. Hang in there, we are all pulling for you both.
Miss C, you’ve come so far, you and Wai the Lucky. You’re both doing your bit towards a most amazing recovery. He hasn’t bitten you (yet) because he’s not stupid, he knows what you’re doing is making him better, but at the same time, it’s got to hurt something fierce, poor boy. Hard for him to take, hard for you to watch. You’re such a champ, you and your wriggler-picking… It’s the last little bit.
I’m sure he only hates the pain. Not you.
Hoping you got all of the maggots out this morning and can keep the flies at bay.
Poor Little fella, I’m sure you will get over this hurdle.
I’ve dealt with human wounds in similar condition. You will win and the healing will proceed. Lot’s of work. Lucky Wai that you are there for him. You are doing a fantastic job and educating us along the way. Thank you.
I love your stamina! Lucky Wai!
A product called ‘SWAT’ will eliminate the flies. Safe for pigs. Wouldn’t hydrogen peroxide work as well as the iodine? It would be much less painful.
Yes – SWAT is one of the creams he is covered in – for quite some time – great stuff – this was in an area that the creams did not reach, literally under a flap of the dead skin. Now that i have been able to cut it open I have covered it in swat after the cleaning. Interesting you say peroxide as I was seconds ago scouring the medicine cabinet for some. I see no more maggots at this point but I clean the areas daily so I will use this next time..
Peroxide bites too ):