What Are Wolf Worms?

Appearance

• Wolf worms are whitish or cream in color. They are very small, only about 15 mm in length and 3 mm in diameter. The worms usually have dark bands on each of their body segments, giving them the appearance of a screw, which is how they earned their nickname of "screw worms."

Reproduction

• Adult female flies lay their eggs on or near mucous membranes of animals. They can also lay their eggs directly in an existing animal wound such as a flea or tick bite. Once the larvae hatch, they can sense body heat and enter the host animal through its nose, mouth or wound. Once the larvae has entered the host animal, it forms a small hole in the animal's skin and feeds on the animal from within. This causes the hole to become larger and sometimes become infected.

Symptoms

• Wolf worms create small breathing holes in their host's skin, which are easily seen. Though these worms can be removed, worms inside the host's body usually cannot be seen. The infested wounds on the animal often have discharge and a foul odor. The worms can cause disease to the internal organs, even the brain, which can lead to nerve damage or even death. Wolf worms can also lead to anemia and intestinal distress. Animals infected with wolf worms often appear dizzy and tired. They can also have labored breathing.

Treatment

• Wolf worm infestations can lead to death in as little as 10 days if left untreated. It is important not to remove the wolf worm from a lesion yourself. The wolf worm can burst during removal and cause a severe allergic reaction in some animals. By placing a cold compress over the lesion, sometimes the worm will crawl out of the hole itself, but you should not try to remove it with force. Veterinarians often remove the wolf worms with a scalpel or surgical scissors. The lesions will then be disinfected and flushed out. Often, animals are given antibiotics to prevent infection.

Prevention

• The only way to prevent wolf worms is to watch over your animals closely and not let them outdoors unsupervised. If they are outdoors for long periods of time, it is important to inspect their coats for lesions, especially around their head and neck.