Dogs are curious creatures that sniff anything they show interest in. Dogs are often interested in even insects, they explore them, sniff them and, of course, get a quick response! Therefore, many insect bites occur on the nose of dogs.
Insects sting body parts such as eyes, ears and legs. When a dog walks through an anthill or disturbs a wasp nest or beehive, a swarm of insects can attack his entire body. But even the bite of single insects such as spiders can be very nasty.
Bee, wasp, hornet, spider and ant stings can be a problem for any curious dog. The venom of these insects causes problems ranging from mild irritation to severe anaphylactic shock. Observant pet owners can minimize reactions by taking prompt action. However, keep in mind that severe cases require immediate medical attention.
What to do if your dog is bitten by an insect?
- It is important to quickly determine whether a dog has been bitten or stung. If a dog suddenly begins to scratch its face, chew its legs, or any part of its body begins to swell, then it can be considered that it has been bitten by an insect.
- Identify the insect. Look around, there may be a lot of flying or crawling insects around.
- For bee stings, look at the sting. Bees are the only insects that leave their stings in their victims. These stingers that are left behind continue to release venom, so removing them reduces the maximum amount of venom the dog can receive. You can remove the sting with a simple credit card by simply running the tip over your pet's fur a few times. Do not use tweezers as this may cause you to squeeze out more venom. Fortunately, other flying insects (wasps and hornets) do not leave their stings at the site of the bite.
- Soothe the bite area. Make a thick paste from baking soda and water and apply it to the bite.
- Minimize swelling. Apply ice to the bite site for 10 minutes to reduce swelling. For large bites, a cold, damp towel is best.
- Prevent an allergic reaction. Give your dog a small dose of an antihistamine (such as diphenhydramine) to minimize the reaction and reduce itching. Consult your veterinarian about the appropriate dosage for your pet.
- Reduce the trauma of scratching. If the dog continues to lick or scratch the bite site, use a special cone collar. Constant scratching will delay healing and increase the chance of infection.
- Maintain your dog's water and food intake. Give your dog fresh water. Dogs who have been stung in the mouth often have difficulty eating dry food, so it can be softened with warm water.
When is an insect bite a serious danger?
Like some people, many dogs suffer from allergies (hypersensitivity) to insect bites. The level of reaction depends on immune system dog and insect species. The allergic reaction usually occurs within 20 minutes of the bite, but can sometimes take several hours to occur, so careful monitoring of the dog is often critical.
Severe reactions (anaphylaxis) can be fatal, so acting quickly is again critical.
Your dog will need emergency veterinary care at the first sign of:
- Severe swelling head and neck, which may make breathing difficult. Swelling of these areas can occur even if the bite was elsewhere.
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some dogs may pant more than usual because the tumor is in respiratory tract. Do not try to find out the cause; take your dog to the vet immediately.
- Excessive drooling. If the swelling is in the throat, the dog may have difficulty swallowing saliva and lets it out.
- Excessive excitement. Some dogs become restless due to severe itching and difficulty breathing. In addition, insect venom can affect their nervous system.
- Vomiting or diarrhea. Even moderate vomiting and soft chair may indicate serious problems.
- Dizziness or disorientation. If your dog stumbles or exhibits unusual behavior, this could be a sign of an anaphylactic reaction.
- Cramps. Don't hesitate and call your doctor.
Drug treatment can save your dog's life, it is aimed at reducing allergic reactions and preventing shock. In addition to antihistamines, your veterinarian may give your dog corticosteroids or epinephrine. The dog may need to be hospitalized and put on an IV, as well as blood and urine tests. The length of your hospital stay depends on your dog's response to therapy, but typically requires at least 1-2 days.
“The mosquito is a small animal, but you can’t get rid of it.”
Proverb
You need to know them by sight
Mosquitoes, midges, midges, moose flies, burn flies, horseflies
Insects of the order Diptera, where only females suck blood. They use blood proteins to form eggs. All types of blood-sucking insects are called in general terms"vile". Most of the “gnat” occurs in spring and the first half of summer. "Gnus" loves damp places with tall grass. The greatest concentration of midges will be near water bodies and wet meadows. The largest blood-sucking insects are horseflies. Their bite is the most painful. Mosquitoes, midges, midges are most active in the morning and evening time. Horseflies and burner flies, on the contrary, prefer hot afternoons. Moose flies, small flying insects with a wide flat body, with widely spaced legs and two wings, appear in late August-September. Elkweeds are active in warm weather. When an insect lands on the “victim’s” body, it sheds its wings and crawls for a long time before biting. Without wings, a moose fly can be mistaken for a tick. All blood-sucking insects are movement-oriented. That is, they actively pursue a moving object.
Ticks
Bees, wasps, hornets
Flying insects with a sting containing poison. The sting is located on the back of the abdomen. Insects are brightly colored; they have yellow or orange with black stripes. Insects use their stings in rare cases and only for protection. They don't attack themselves. These insects often bite overly curious dogs who try to poke their nose into their nest or try to catch the striped buzzer. The hornet has the most painful bite and the most powerful poison.
Ants
Red forest ants bite the most painfully and noticeably. They are larger than their counterparts, actively move and build large anthills. Ant bites in the area of the paws and muzzle are received by those dogs that try to dig out an anthill.
First aid for insect bites
Short-haired (or cropped) dogs, hairless breeds, puppies and animals with white fur are especially susceptible to insect bites. Due to their small size, dwarf dogs are more sensitive to bites than their larger counterparts. There is a high likelihood of allergies to bites in dogs and cats prone to food allergies.
When bitten, a blood-sucking insect injects saliva into the skin, which causes irritation, swelling of surrounding tissues and itching. An extreme allergic reaction is anaphylactic shock and Quincke's edema. These life threatening conditions can develop in allergic animals with a large number of bites. But sometimes one hornet bite is enough if the insect has bitten the animal in the head area. The animal's muzzle, neck area, paws swell very quickly, just within a few minutes, breathing becomes frequent, first deep, then superficial. The animal is worried, the dog whines, and the cat constantly meows. In this case, urgent veterinary attention is required. As first aid for increasing swelling, it is necessary to inject Suprastin (or Tavegil) 0.5 ml for a dog up to 7 kg and 1.0 - 1.5 ml for a dog from 10 to 30 kg. and take the animal to the clinic. Suprastin will slightly slow down the development of an allergic reaction, but will not stop its development. Subsequent treatments include diuretics, heart medications, and corticosteroids. The dosage and frequency of administration is determined by the doctor!
For white dogs with delicate skin and puppies, the mass emergence of midges is especially dangerous. A large number of bites causes simuliotoxicosis– a disease caused by poisoning by insect toxins that enter the dog’s body through a bite. The dog becomes lethargic, indifferent to what is happening, vomiting appears, loose stool. In severe cases, seizures and death may occur. Small midges annoy animals not only with their bites. When these small flies fly out en masse, dogs begin to sneeze and cough because the insects get into their nose, mouth and eyes.
Bees, wasps and hornets most often sting the nose, lips and cheeks. The dog squeals in pain, tries to rub its muzzle on the grass and objects, and rubs the bite site with its paw. The bite site swells and becomes painful to the touch. Small dogs may vomit and become lethargic. Sometimes it goes up general temperature bodies.
Processing
The animal tries to scratch and lick the itchy places. This should not be allowed, since with constant licking and scratching, the bite sites turn into an ulcer that does not heal for a long time. Put it on protective collar on the animal's neck or blanket.
Near the bite sites, the hair should be carefully trimmed. The bite sites themselves can be washed with a weak decoction of chamomile or oak bark. Repeated gentle wiping with the solution baking soda, help relieve itching and reduce tissue swelling. Fenistil gel relieves itching well. Applying something cold (such as a water bottle) will help reduce itching and swelling.
For anxiety and severe skin reactions to bites, Suprastin 1/4 tablets for a dog (or cat) weighing up to 10 kg 2 times a day and 1 tablet 2 times a day for a dog weighing more than 15 kg will help. If the animal is lethargic and does not eat well, or bleeding ulcers appear on the skin, then be sure to show your pet to a veterinarian.
Animal repellents
Aboriginal sled breeds and hunting dogs They are used to living in places with a lot of midges. Their body is more resistant to the toxins of insect saliva; they have a dense undercoat, through which it is difficult for insects to reach the skin. Dogs know that there are fewer mosquitoes in the smoke of a fire or in a person’s hut. Dogs also hide from mosquitoes by burying themselves in wet moss.
Pets have long lost these skills and are completely dependent on humans. Once in an environment that is already hostile to them - the forest, they become quick prey for blood-sucking insects and suffer greatly from this. And only a caring owner can help them. Animals need to be treated with repellents - substances that repel insects.
Many "human" repellents are very toxic to animals. Cats are especially sensitive to such chemicals. Even a small contact of these substances on their skin can cause serious poisoning. In most cases, they are not suitable for processing animals. You should also use fumigators with caution in a house where a cat lives. Volatile drugs may cause poisoning if inhaled.
Special aerosols are made for animals based on natural ingredients. For example, the aerosol “From mosquitoes and midges” from Agrobioprom and “Smart spray” from Api-San contain essential oils lavender, carnations, citronella, geranium, fir. “Smart spray” contains amylosubtilin, which neutralizes animal odor. Suitable for cats too. It is possible that if you are in mosquito-infested areas, you will need to use it quite often. Since essential oils disappear quite quickly.
Many manufacturers of aerosols, collars and flea drops promise protection against blood-sucking and stinging insects. Aerosols containing fipronil have proven themselves to be effective. This is the well-known “Frontline”, Rolf Club spray for cats.
An insectoacaricidal and repellent drug from the group of synthetic pyrethroids, which includes cyfluthrin “Sanofly” (Api-San) promises protection not only against fleas and ticks, but also against mosquitoes and midges. For small insect infestations, flea collars can be effective. But for dogs that need to work in the forest (for example, hunting or tracking dogs), collars will be ineffective. When processing animals, you should carefully study the instructions, choose the drug strictly in accordance with the type of animal and its weight, and avoid contact with the mouth, nose and eyes during processing.
With the onset of a warm period of time (especially in summer and autumn) in everyday life Dog owners benefit from more than just long walks in nature. Insects, especially active at these times of the year, can cause quite a lot of trouble for both pets and their owners.
Insects to watch out for
Dogs bite different types insects The bites of each of them are dangerous.
Every dog owner should know the most common types of insects:
Periods of greatest insect activity
All insects are especially active at different times of the day. So, in hot sunny weather you can easily find horseflies. Mosquitoes are capable of sucking blood around the clock. Bumblebees can attack starting in May, and wasps and bees - with the onset of the summer months. Midges are active throughout the daylight hours.
The presence of certain insects also depends on the area. For example, horseflies live almost everywhere. There are many of them in forest areas, near water bodies and in marshy areas. Ordinary mosquitoes are found almost everywhere. Midges are most often found in river valleys, near fast-flowing water, in the taiga, etc.
Places prone to insect attack
The severity of the consequences depends on the location of the bite:
- Skin. The easiest of the options. Usually it all ends with the appearance of itching, redness or a small tumor.
- Mucous membrane oral cavity. Bites in the sublingual area are especially dangerous.
- Bites often occur in the pet's eye area. The eye may rapidly swell or close completely. The pet will feel a burning sensation, itching, the bite site will become painful, and the eye will turn red. You can often hear the question of what to do if midges bite your pet in the eye? In fact, the treatment process is not very different from helping an animal bite any other part of the body. Experts recommend the use of tetracycline eye ointment.
How and with what do I treat my dog against ticks?
Algorithm of urgent actions
Experienced dog breeders know what to do if a dog is bitten by a midge.
There are cases where the strongest allergic reactions after midge bites. The occurrence of certain symptoms should be of particular concern. Immediate assistance required veterinary care if your pet’s breathing becomes difficult and shortness of breath appears; present copious discharge saliva; the animal is overly excited; diarrhea or vomiting appeared; disorientation in space, as well as convulsions.
A dog that has been bitten by a midge may need medicines different groups:
- Cardiac drugs (for example, cordiamine).
- Antihistamines that need to be taken as intramuscular injections or give in tablet form - suprastin, tavegil, diphenhydramine.
- Diuretic injections – Lasix and others.
- Ointments that soothe itching - lorinden for midge attacks, dermazin or celestoderm. Tetracycline ointment is used for the eyes.
The dosage of all medications depends on the size of the pets.
This is how even a small midge can threaten the lives of pets. Drug treatment helps to minimize allergic manifestations and shock in the animal. Sometimes there is a need to hospitalize the dog and connect it to an IV. Doctors may take blood and urine tests. Treatment in a hospital setting can take two days or more.
Preventive measures against mosquito bites
To protect your pets from insect bites, it is recommended to take some preventive measures.
First, you should purchase an insect repellent collar from a specialized store. In addition, there are countless special means, produced in various forms(sprays, gels, drops, etc.). Some people prefer not to use chemicals. In this case, you can wipe your pet’s fur with vanilla, previously dissolved in water. Processing sea buckthorn oil can also protect your pet from midge attacks. If your dog doesn't lick its fur, you can even use human-made bug sprays. Insects are also not attracted to fatty, thick and astringent substances.
If bites still cannot be avoided, you can wash the affected areas with chlorhexidine and apply levomekol. The juice of wormwood and plantain leaves promote a speedy recovery. In general you can find huge amount funds by contacting flora around us. This can be bird cherry, wild rowan, tansy, heads of garlic, parsley and other representatives of the flora.
When going on vacation or a long walk, every dog owner should think through and prepare all the means to protect his pet from annoying insects. You always need to be prepared for various consequences active recreation. And if they occur, act with lightning speed. And then the time spent with your pet will no longer be overshadowed by anything!
Video: How to easily remove a tick
Summer has come. Which means it's time for picnics fresh air, hiking, long walks in parks and... mosquitoes. It would seem that what could be dangerous about an insect bite? But if we are still trying to protect ourselves and our loved ones in some way, for example by purchasing a special spray or ointment, then the idea that a mosquito could threaten a beloved dog will not occur to many people. However, there is a disease called dirofilariasis, and if the necessary measures are not taken in time, the animal may die. Dirofilariasis is damage to the blood vessels of the lungs and heart by worms that enter the animal’s bloodstream through a mosquito bite. Often the disease is incompatible with life. Unfortunately, in most cases, owners find out about their pet’s illness when it is too late.
When a mosquito bites, it infects the animal with helminth larvae, but they do not settle in gastrointestinal tract, where they are easy to detect, but in the heart and blood vessels. And so, growing, the helminth leads to blockage of blood vessels, and then the animal dies. Adult helminths can only be removed surgically or using dangerous drugs, which in both cases poses a serious danger to the animal. Therefore, in solving the problem, prevention comes to the fore. But, as often happens, pet owners don’t always think about it.
Don* (15 years old)
...A dog named Don was admitted to the Le Murre clinic. Age - 15 years old, toy terrier mix. The owners complained about the animal's shortness of breath and cough, which arose without physical activity. Upon examination, veterinarians determined that the animal’s condition was extremely serious and unstable. Severe shortness of breath and heart murmurs were diagnosed.
The dog was taken to intensive care, but the animal died anyway. After research, it turned out that Don died due to heart failure, which was caused by damage to large vessels by heartworms. According to the clinic’s veterinarian Olga Kostenko, timely preventive treatment could prevent the death of the animal. Also consultation with veterinarian could detect the disease early stages and prevent consequences.
Rick* (7 years old)
...To the clinic" Big Dipper"the owners of a 7-year-old German Shepherd Nicknamed Rick. The dog lived in the courtyard of a private house, several months ago he began to cough, began to get tired quickly, refused to play, ate poorly, lost weight, but his stomach, on the contrary, increased in size. The owners tried to treat the animal themselves, but to no avail.
These animals (*names have been changed for ethical reasons - editor's note) could live if their owners received timely information about heartworms and the danger they pose. According to experts, every third dog is infected with heartworms and absolutely all dogs Krasnodar region- at risk of infection.
Remember, we are responsible for those we have tamed.
*There are contraindications. Before use, you should consult a specialist.
