Preventing Mango Worms in Dogs

From roundworms and heartworms to tapeworms and ringworms, a lot of worms affect cats. But have you ever heard of mango worms in dogs?

If the answer is no, you have come to the right place. In this article, I, Ivana Crnec, DVM, will explain everything you need to know about mango worms in dogs.

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Content:

1. What Are Mango Worms in Dogs
2. How Do Dogs Get Mango Worms
3. Mango Worm Life Cycle
4. Mango Worm Prevention
5. Removing Mango Worms from Dogs
6. Conclusion

What Are Mango Worms in Dogs

Mango worms are a developmental stage of mango flies, which are tropical blowflies found in certain subtropical and tropical regions, primarily in Africa.

Mango worms or larvae are between 5 and 15 mm long and covered with small, dark spines. Worms spend their entire time in burrowed holes in the dog’s skin.

Studies say that “puppies (<6 months) appeared more affected” by mango worms compared to adult dogs.

Itchy and swollen red bumps that are 1-2 cm in diameter and have central openings (breathing holes) are hallmark signs of mango worms. Loss of appetite, inability to sleep, and restlessness are common, too. You can use the Petcube Pet Camera to monitor your dog’s behavior.

How Do Dogs Get Mango Worms

Dogs get mango worms from “digging, laying, or rolling in soil that is contaminated with mango worm eggs,” explains Catherine Barnette, DVM, in an article for Great Pet Care.

Dogs cannot get mango worms from infected animals, even after close contact, because mango fly eggs must spend time in the environment to mature.

Mango Worm Life Cycle

Mango flies lay eggs in soil, sand, or fabric. Matured eggs hatch, producing mango fly larvae or mango worms.

The worms burrow holes into the dog’s skin, creating a living space. Fully matured worms exit the skin as maggots, which then grow into adult mango flies and repeat the cycle.

Mango Worm Prevention

If traveling to risky locations, use broad-spectrum antiparasitic preventatives and keep the dog away from potentially contaminated surfaces. Use the GPS tracker to keep an eye on your dog’s movement.

Removing Mango Worms from Dogs

The treatment of mango worms in dogs has three key components:

• Physical Parasite Removal: Cover the lesions’ openings with petroleum jelly. Studies explain that this will force the parasites to “leave the hole in search of oxygen,” and then they “can be removed easily by applying light pressure to the edge of the lesion.”
• Antiparasitics: Broad-spectrum antiparasitics are given to kill mango worms in lesions that are not easily visible. The most common choice for an antiparasitic is ivermectin.
• Antibiotics: “Because the maggots both feed and excrete in the holes they create, the probability of infection is high,” warns a Reddit user. Veterinarians prescribe oral and/or topical antibiotics to manage infections.

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Conclusion

Mango worms are a relatively rare problem, especially in North America and Europe. However, they should be considered a differential diagnosis in dogs with cutaneous lesions, especially if they have a history of traveling to subtropical or tropical regions.