Treating Doggie Bug Bites and Bee Stings
If
you have a curious pooch that loves to snoop around, then it’s very
likely that you will face bug bites and bee stings. Although most cases
are rarely dangerous, it’s still crucial that you understand how some
insect bites and stings can also lead to serious canine allergies, even
death.
To avoid pain and serious symptoms of irritation, you
should know what kinds of insect bites and stings can hurt your dog and
what steps to take to provide relief to Fido.
Symptoms of Insect Bites
Signs of insect bites generally depend on the type of pest that stung your dog.
- For mosquito bites, the affected area
often becomes red and inflamed. Itching and swelling are also
noticeable. With mosquito bites in particular, you’ll want to provide
your dog with itch relief, as his constant scratching or chewing can
lead to hot spots or infection.
- Tick bites can result not just in
swelling but infection as well. In addition to soothing your dog’s
painful wound, tick bites should be monitored as they can lead to Lyme
disease and other serious dog health complications.
- With flea bites, constant itchiness is
common. Small swollen bumps on Fido’s skin surrounded by a reddened halo
are also in plain sight. This kind can set off allergies that trigger
itching, red rashes, swelling, and skin thickening. It’s important to
control fleas in your home and on your dog. A flea infestation can lead
to life threatening anemia.
- Bee stings can result in large bumps,
sores, redness, swelling, and intense pain. While a single bee sting
will likely not do too much damage, multiple bee stings can be lethal.
- Spider bites, in addition to leaving a
large, swollen and itchy bump on the skin may lead to shivering and even
vomiting. If your dog starts to show any of these serious symptoms,
alert your vet immediately.
What You Can Do at Home
· Baking soda. To help your pooch get
relief from itchiness brought about by the acidic bites of insects, just
mix baking soda with water, and then rub the paste on the bug bite a
few times each day. The alkaline nature of the powder will help to
alleviate the discomfort.
· Aloe Vera. Skin irritation can also be
reduced by taking advantage of the cooling action found in the Aloe Vera
plant. Simply slice off a portion of the plant and then apply it
directly on the infected skin of your dog. Allow the soothing juice soak
in. Alternatively, you may purchase Aloe Vera gels and lotions
available in the market – just make sure they’re pet safe!
· Get rid of the stinger. In case of bee
stings, remove the stinger from your pooch’s skin with a pair of
tweezers. This way, you can prevent any more venom from being circulated
into his body. Never try to scrape the stinger using only your
fingernails as you might just drive it even deeper into your pet’s skin.
After this, wash the wound with mild soap, and then use cold compress
to lessen the swelling.
· Antihistamines. To control intense
itching and reduce symptoms associated with bug bites and bee stings, an
antihistamine, such as Benadryl, can work wonders. The typical dose is
.5 to 1mg per pound of your dog’s weight (Please check with your vet
before giving your pet any OTC medication.)
An antihistamine, given immediately and at the right
dosage, can save a dog’s life. Many times, a bug bite or bee sting,
particularly around the dog’s face and mouth, can cause extreme
swelling, even cutting off air supply. Every dog owner should have
dog-safe antihistamines in their first aid kit. For information about antihistamines and which ones are appropriate for dogs, click here.
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