Most of us know that when the warmer weather approaches, it means contending with fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. We have a lot of options to help protect our pets from these critters, but there are other things that bite and sting to be aware of.
In our area, this mainly refers to wasps, bees, ants, and flies. Pets who encounter these insects may develop a swollen face, swollen eyes, and hives after a sting. You may or may not witness the sting – many times we don’t realize anything is wrong until our dog comes up to us with a puffy face! Flies and ants can cause red spots to appear on the skin, which sometimes can cause the pets to be itchy. We mostly notice this on their bellies and inside of their legs as those locations are where they bite and where the fur is thin.
Many times, antihistamines are enough to resolve the issue and provide comfort. If your pet is in discomfort, there are other medication options to consider. If you can locate a stinger, gently remove it and use a baking soda paste as long as the pet cannot lick the area. Your veterinarian can help you find the best treatment course. Most pets will be back to normal within 2 days.
The Northeast does not see many venomous spiders, snakes, or ants, but they do exist in different geographic areas of our country. Fire ants are mainly in the warmer climates and can be extremely aggressive. Their bites can cause red bumps that can turn into pustules. If your pet encounters fire ants, gently brush the ants off (wearing gloves) and use a cool compress to soothe the affected area. Call your veterinarian to discuss the appropriate treatments as these bites can be very painful and become infected. Out of the 17 species of snakes in New York, only 3 are venomous and are relatively uncommon. While venomous snake bites will require immediate veterinary attention, bites from most of the snakes in our area will only cause local irritation and infection. However, it is always good to check with your veterinarian. Thankfully, most snakes will try to avoid us and our pets and only bite as the last resort. Similarly, the spiders our pets encounter will typically only cause local inflammation and nothing more serious.
Just as with people, there are rare occasions when a more severe reaction or even anaphylactic reaction can occur. If you notice any vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, or trouble breathing, please seek immediate veterinary care. Most of the time this will occur quickly after the bite or sting.
While most bites and stings our pets encounter will cause minimal inconvenience, it is good to know how to approach these situations and when to seek veterinary care.