Chris Foggin, [21 Sep 2022 at 19:04:53]: Good Evening. Advice please on effective prophylactic remedies for fly worry on the ears of captive lions. Thank you. Peter Rogers, [21 Sep 2022 at 19:23:27]: Hi there Chris - We used to have terrible fly worry on a captive group of about 100 cheetahs for years and years but since we started using specifically Frontline and even more recently Bravecto, the fly problem has literally disappeared. I don’t think it is coincidental but I also think it is more related to Bravecto. The oral form would obviously be the only way to go but rather try to limit giving it to every 4 to preferably 5 months instead of every 3 months due to potentially serious neurological side effects. I have used it extensively on both cheetahs and lions for a few years now with no side effects. The lions I use Bravecto twice a year whereas we can alternate using a Spot-On on the cheetahs like Frontline so the cheetahs probably only get Bravecto once a year approximately . These are purely subjective observations Chris. I’m sure some of our other colleagues will have other perhaps more scientific solutions Henry Labuschagne, [22 Sep 2022 at 09:34:51]: Hi Chris. Sound advice from Peter. Also NB to keep enclosures clean and put out redtop flycatchers and treat breeding sites of flies. There are very few fly repellents that are safe to use in cats. Speak to Ockert Botha at VetScripts - h e always has lots of plans up his sleeve. I have used Stockholm tar that I applies with a small foam roller on an extension rod to smear the tar on their ears when they stand next to the fence. They do not like anything that is sprayed on them through the fence. Red Top fly trap Peter Rogers, [22 Sep 2022 at 16:04:38]: We tried these extensively Henry but they really only catch the blowflies and not the blood sucking ones on the ears 🤷♂️ Henry Labuschagne, [22 Sep 2022 at 16:18:31]: Mine catches Stomoxys calcitrans ( stable flies ) in numbers. Do you use the correct bait? Hang in direct sun close to camp fence. Mix dissolved bait in bag 3x a week. Not the ultimate solution but an extra tool in the toolbox.
