Flystrike is one of the most painful conditions affecting sheep. Prompt treatment when strike occurs minimizes suffering, and recovery management supports return to full health.
Flystrike causes extreme suffering. The larvae produce enzymes that digest living tissue, creating expanding wounds as the infestation grows. Struck sheep experience intense pain that is visible in their behavior. A sheep with untreated severe strike may experience days of escalating agony before death. Treatment must be rapid, thorough, and followed by appropriate wound management to ensure recovery rather than prolonged deterioration.