Every dog gets bitten by a bug or stung by a bee at some point in their lives. Though most dog bug bites are not very serious, it can be quite irritating and painful. Your pets will be infinitely grateful if you can offer some relief for their pain and suffering. It’s in the best interest of your dog that you become familiar with the symptoms and treatment for dog bug bites to provide the care that they richly deserve.
Symptoms
Dog symptoms for bug bites are varied and depend on the type of bug or insect that was responsible. Well, you will not be able to tell exactly which bugger bit your dog as it’s highly unlikely that you will ever witness the actual event. Your only clue will be the symptoms. For instance, if your pet is being bitten by fleas and ticks then persistent scratching at different parts of the body will give you a clue to your pet’s problem. Ticks can be deadly to both humans and pets once they are dead. You can also spot these critters with your naked eye by combing or doing a thorough search of your pet’s coat.
On the other hand, mosquito bites usually occur at one or two isolated spots and symptoms include swelling, itching and reddening of the site of bite. While symptoms for stings from wasps, bees and hornets are similar they can be a bit more severe, accompanied by intense pain in the affected areas. Spider bites and multiple bites might result in vomiting and shivering. If any of these symptoms persists and becomes more severe then you should consult your vet immediately.
Diagnosis
Your vet will study the affected area carefully to identify the type of bug by the symptoms exhibited by your pet. If the exact bug is identified then specific and effective treatment is possible. Otherwise, your vet might prescribe medications to address the symptoms.
Treatment
While most bug bites on dog can be treated with similar medications, some will require specific treatment methods. For instance, treating flea bites will involve exterminating adult fleas as well as hundreds of flea eggs, larvae and pupae on the dog and its environment with specific flea control medications.
It is possible to effectively treat many dog bug bites and stings at home, but severe cases needs to be treated by a veterinarian. There are numerous home remedies to treat the effects of dog bug bites. Applying a mixture of water and baking soda on the affected area several times a day can help to relieve the itchiness. Cold compress applied for five minutes at a time will help to relieve the swelling and pain. Make sure that the cold compress is actually helping and not making it worse for your pet.
Homeopathic medications that contain antibacterial and antimicrobial ingredients like aloe vera, tea tree oil, Echinacea and red alder have been known to treat the symptoms of dog bug bites effectively and also help to heal the damaged tissues and prevent any further infection. In case of a bee stings, treatment has to be done after removing the sting, if it is left behind.
Severe cases of dog bug bites might need emergency medical attention and medications like epinephrine and corticosteroids.
