13/10/2026
Cases involving maggots have been on the rise this autumn, due to the increased moisture in the air along with the unusually mild weather we’re still having at the moment. Maggots most commonly occur from flystrike in open wounds, softening and shedding frogs or other warm and moist areas such as sheaths (even if they’ve recently been cleaned!). Flies lay eggs in the area and depending on the weather conditions the larvae will hatch within 8-24 hours.
Symptoms of Flystrike
- Visible larvae
- Foul odour
- Unusual discharge
- Distress and discomfort
- Behaviour changes
Or they can present as other conditions. For example maggots in the sheath commonly present as colic, due to them kicking at their belly.
What to do when you find maggots on your horse
- Contact your vet as soon as you can
- Manually remove the maggots if your horse allows
- Clean the area with water only (or another product if your vet instructs otherwise)
- Use fly repellent creams/sprays to prevent further infestation
Maggots can appear very quickly and sometimes happen despite our best efforts.
The above picture is of one of our vets, Charlotte’s, own pony and these were found by her farrier at shoeing time! Charlotte’s pony has her feet picked out twice a day and yet still managed to get maggots in the warm and moist frog so it can happen to anyone!
