You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Flies can be a serious nuisance and may cause skin sores and transmit diseases

Flies sometimes attack pets and can be a real nuisance. Black flies, mosquitos, stable flies and others cause bites which can be itchy and become infected. Repeated bites can lead to hypersensitivity developing and an allergic reaction to subsequent bites. Flies can also transmit other infectious agents into their victim, including :

• Bacteria
• Protozoa
• Viruses
• Worm parasites (eg heartworm)
• Some flies lay eggs on infected skin, or on the skin of debilitated animals, and the maggots which hatch can cause serious damage to the skin leading to large areas of red raw exposed tissue.

If flies are attacking a pet, owners should look for an underlying cause such as :

• Faecal soiling
• Urine scalding
• Skin infection eg in folds along the margin of the lips
• A strong smell on the breath - halitosis, eg due to dental disease
• Ear infection

If there is evidence of soiling, infection or another underlying cause of attraction for the flies this should be treated appropriately.

Flies can be deterred by using :

• Fly repellent strips in the local environment
• Fly repellent sprays in the environment
• Flea spray (avoid spraying directly up the nose, in the mouth or into the eyes)
• Flea powders

Other measures that can be taken to stop flies worrying pets are :

• Spray any local source of flies with fly spray
• Allow the pet free access to the outside
• Do not confine the pet to an area in which the flies are present
• Remove other materials in the environment which might be attracting the flies eg household refuse, food debris on carpets etc. 

If the fly bites are extensive or cause secondary infection veterinary treatment will be needed.

Updated October 2013