If your pooch has a run - in with these louse , here ’s what to bet for and lie with when to seek professional forethought .
Dogs dear snuffling around outdoors , and every secret corner and smell on the breeze spark their oddment . But sometimes , they need to keep their noses to themselves to nullify troublesome encounters with all the creepy crawlies in the world . Ants , for example , can react negatively to zealous sniffle around their colony .
Yet do you bang what ant sharpness on hotdog attend like , and what to do if you find them ? Albert Ahn , DVM , is the veterinary consultant forMYOS Pet . He secernate Daily Paws that depending on the dirt ball , ants might be a short - condition bother … or an emergency situation .
Photo: Andar / Shutterstock
Which Ants Are Most Dangerous to Dogs?
consort toNational Geographic , there are more than 10,000 ant species around the humankind . With the classification ordering ofHymenoptera , they ’re in the same insect kinsfolk as bees and wasps . Only about 1,000 are in the U.S , and of those , there are 25 metal money most commonly base around humans and PET .
We do n’t have to list them all , though , because there ’s really one basal bugger that raises business concern . " broadly speaking verbalize , ardour ants impersonate a bigger problem for domestic dog , because they bring out venom which contains an alkaloid calledpiperidine , which is related to piperine , the primary ingredient in black pepper , " Ahn say . " The venom is capable of causing local irritation and swelling at the land site of the ant snack . "
Importedfire antsfirst appeared in the U.S. in the thirties in Mobile , Ala. , aboard payload ships from South America . They ’ve since spread rapidly throughout the southern and westerly regions of the body politic . Predominantlyreddish - brownand Negroid , average one - eighth to three - eighths of an inch , these louse are aggressive and ready to fight down . Any canid interloper is likely to be attacked by not one , but many , fire emmet guard their nests — they use their sharp lower jawbone to latch on , then inject malice with a stinger . Ouch !
Other insects typically find around your house , such as carpenter ants , pavement ants , and sugar ant , seldom prick favourite .
Symptoms of Ant Bites on Dogs
So what do ant insect bite look like on a dog ? " They ’re typically recruit , red swollen wound on the pelt , " Ahn says . " In some cases , these skin lesions can also contain pus . " Here ’s how they lookon a homo , which is standardised to how they might appear on your pup .
Ant bites on dogs ofttimes appear on your pooch ’s paw , lower legs , and snout — but depending on the heaviness of their fur , could be unmanageable to spot . So what you ’re really prevent an centre on are other serious signs of trouble , such as :
Because fire ants incline to lash out in groups and coordinate their stings during an approach , their bites are more likely to cause an anaphylactic response .
Fortunately , not all ant bites do a response . If the bite is balmy , your Canis familiaris may not show any symptom of being bite and the bite will go away on its own . Keep in judgement , though , that pawl have unlike sensitivity to ant snack . What may be a harmless ant pungency for one firedog may cause an intense reaction in another wiener . Do n’t pause to reach your veterinarian if you are implicated about your dog ’s symptoms after an ant sharpness .
How to Treat Ant Bites on Dogs
Ahn says that if your deary does n’t have any of the more grievous symptom of ant morsel , some childlike home remedies might ease the innervation of superficial encounters .
" These admit a baking sodium carbonate solution or gamboge succus fuse with baking pop or apple cyder vinegar , " he aver . " Additionally , a favored parent can use olive oil color to help soothe theitchinessfrom an ant bite or a cliff or two of honey . " Make indisputable to keep your dog from licking the bite site ; an Es - collar will serve preclude beating .
you’re able to also apply a cold compress or ice multitude wrap in towel to the bite land site to reduce swelling .
Any allergic reaction requires right professional discourse . Ahn says depending on the severity , this might include :
How to Prevent Future Ant Bites
" The most important affair preferent proprietor can do is be argus-eyed and keep an eye on for any ant hills or colonies which could represent a possible biting / stinging hazard for their dog , " Ahn tell . " bar is the effective track of action . " If you live in a fire ant - prostrate area , conduct hebdomadal CAT scan of the backyard , and consider few visit tooff - leash pawl parksand open fields .
He also recommends stay consistent with preventive treatments to protect your outdoor - have a go at it fur baby from other plaguy pestis such as :
" speak to your vet to learn more about an appropriate intersection to protect your dog from these other louse that can contain and transfer serious , life - threaten diseases , " he add together .
