For the second time in my life, I have had to remove a screw worm. Some reports say the Screw worm was eradicated in the US in 1982, dont believe it.
In around 1989 - 1990, I saw my first screw worm in the shoulder of a cat. The cat was turned on its side, motor oil was poured into the air hole. When the worm stuck its head out to breath, it was grabbed by a pair of tweesers and removed.
Today, when my wife and I were at home for lunch, my wife noticed our kitten had an infected eye. Upon inspection I saw the tale-tale marking of a screw worm - the air hole; which was in the cats cheek, just below the eye lid. My wife retrieved the first aid kit from my back pack. I keep a pair of fine tweesers in the kit for tick removal. To prevent the spread of infection, I put on a surgical glove to the hand that was going to be in contact with the wound. The hole was very small, about 1/8 inch across. Every time the worm would come to the top of the hole, when my wife went to grab it, the worm would go back down into its hole. After trying for almost 30 minutes, I was faced with a couple of options, lance the hole, or bring the kitten to a vet. I whipped out my trusty sharp pocket knife, at which point my wife left saying "she could not watch." The breathing hole was lanced open by about a 1/4 inch. After a couple of tries, the worm was removed.
Antibiotic cream was applied to the wound and the cat was released.
Sorry guys and gals, no pictures this time, it was too gross - lots of blood and puss.
In around 1989 - 1990, I saw my first screw worm in the shoulder of a cat. The cat was turned on its side, motor oil was poured into the air hole. When the worm stuck its head out to breath, it was grabbed by a pair of tweesers and removed.
Today, when my wife and I were at home for lunch, my wife noticed our kitten had an infected eye. Upon inspection I saw the tale-tale marking of a screw worm - the air hole; which was in the cats cheek, just below the eye lid. My wife retrieved the first aid kit from my back pack. I keep a pair of fine tweesers in the kit for tick removal. To prevent the spread of infection, I put on a surgical glove to the hand that was going to be in contact with the wound. The hole was very small, about 1/8 inch across. Every time the worm would come to the top of the hole, when my wife went to grab it, the worm would go back down into its hole. After trying for almost 30 minutes, I was faced with a couple of options, lance the hole, or bring the kitten to a vet. I whipped out my trusty sharp pocket knife, at which point my wife left saying "she could not watch." The breathing hole was lanced open by about a 1/4 inch. After a couple of tries, the worm was removed.
Antibiotic cream was applied to the wound and the cat was released.
Sorry guys and gals, no pictures this time, it was too gross - lots of blood and puss.