06/13/2026
For the first time in 60 years, the New World screwworm has been confirmed in Texas.
Most of the coverage has been about cattle. Here is the part the livestock headlines are leaving out: this parasite does not care whether your animal has hooves or paws. It lays its eggs in the open wounds of living animals, and the larvae feed on living tissue as they burrow deeper. Dogs are susceptible. So are cats.
Any open wound is a doorway. A scrape from a fence post. A cut pad from the trail. A tick bite that broke the skin. The fly moves fast, and eggs can hatch within 12 to 24 hours.
If you have an outdoor dog in Texas or anywhere in the South, check their wounds daily. Not weekly. Daily.
Swipe through for what to watch for, then read the full breakdown on the blog. Link in bio.
Share this with one dog owner you know in the South. The more people watching closely, the faster a problem gets caught.
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