He Raises maggots To Heal Equine Wounds

2011 - Volume #35, Issue #5, Page #06

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Several years ago, veterinarian David Harris watched another vet treat a hoof wound on an expensive Kentucky thoroughbred with a vial of maggots purchased from a lab in California.
  Harris was impressed and thought there might be a market for maggots raised closer to the horses in Kentucky. After he retired, he set aside part of his barn and developed a system to hatch the fly eggs and disinfect them to remove bacteria.
  Using maggots to clean out wounds is an old idea that was used on wounded Civil War soldiers and is still used today on some diabetic and burn patients.
  Harris sells larvae to veterinarians in vials: Small (250 to 500 maggots) for $89 and Large (500 to 1,000 maggots) for $130, plus the cost of overnight shipping with a cold pack. A small vial is typically enough to treat a hoof wound.
  The larvae are placed on the wound and covered with a bandage that’s secured with a horseshoe or tape. The bandage is changed daily and by the third day, the maggots have eaten their fill and are disposed of.
  “There is a compound in their saliva that kills bacteria, which helps the infected wound,” Harris says. “More importantly they remove dead tissue to allow in oxygen and blood supply.” The larvae aid in removal of tissue by releasing enzymes that liquefy the dead tissue allowing better drainage from the wound.
  “Maggot therapy is not a standard of care now, but I think it will be one day,” he adds. “At this point many equine podiatrists use it on a regular basis. Some also use it after abdominal surgery.”
  Harris says maggots can also be used to treat fistulous withers, postsurgical abdominal dehiscence, canker and a variety of other problems.
  The larvae are not available to the general public. Horse owners can ask their veterinarians to contact Harris for more info.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Haltere Lab, P.O. Box 11, Paris, Ky. 40361 (ph 859 621-8071; www.halterelab.com).

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He Raises maggots To Heal Equine Wounds LIVESTOCK Horses/Mules Several years ago veterinarian David Harris watched another vet treat a hoof wound on an expensive Kentucky thoroughbred with a vial of maggots purchased from a lab in California Harris was impressed and thought there might be a market for maggots raised closer to the horses in Kentucky After he retired he set aside part of his barn and developed a system to hatch the fly eggs and disinfect them to remove bacteria Using maggots to clean out wounds is an old idea that was used on wounded Civil War soldiers and is still used today on some diabetic and burn patients Harris sells larvae to veterinarians in vials: Small 250 to 500 maggots for $89 and Large 500 to 1 000 maggots for $130 plus the cost of overnight shipping with a cold pack A small vial is typically enough to treat a hoof wound The larvae are placed on the wound and covered with a bandage that’s secured with a horseshoe or tape The bandage is changed daily and by the third day the maggots have eaten their fill and are disposed of “There is a compound in their saliva that kills bacteria which helps the infected wound ” Harris says “More importantly they remove dead tissue to allow in oxygen and blood supply ” The larvae aid in removal of tissue by releasing enzymes that liquefy the dead tissue allowing better drainage from the wound “Maggot therapy is not a standard of care now but I think it will be one day ” he adds “At this point many equine podiatrists use it on a regular basis Some also use it after abdominal surgery ” Harris says maggots can also be used to treat fistulous withers postsurgical abdominal dehiscence canker and a variety of other problems The larvae are not available to the general public Horse owners can ask their veterinarians to contact Harris for more info Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Haltere Lab P O Box 11 Paris Ky 40361 ph 859 621-8071; www halterelab com

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