As a wienerwurst owner , you ’re in all probability well aware of the risks get byfleas , tick , and evenmosquitoes . regrettably , those are n’t the only creepy - crawlies that many of us will come across in our yards . Ant bite on dogs , while usually modest , can also cause problems for our whelp .
What should you do if you find an anthill in your dog ’s favorite recession of the backyard ? In this article , we ’ll encompass danger type of ant , the risks they pose for our dogs , and how you could distinguish and treat ant bites .
What Types of Ants Are Dangerous to Dogs?
Depending on where you be , your dwelling house is in all probability surrounded by large numbers of ants . Fortunately , most ant mintage are whole harmless to you and your pets . However , there are some ant species that are more likely to bite than others , leading to sting wounds that can become painful and inflamed .
Ant coinage to watch out for include :
Fire pismire : Fire ants are an imported mintage that primitively came from South America . They are now find throughout the Southeastern United States and their orbit is gradually expanding . Fire emmet have a reddish - brown to reddish - pitch-black coloring material . They are fast-growing biters when disrupted , leading to frequent conflicts between fire ants and hot dog .
Harvester ants : Red harvester ants are found in the southwesterly United States , including Kansas , Oklahoma , Texas , Utah , Arizona , and Nevada . They are typically red in color and can deliver a sinewy sting . The venom in their stinging is equal to of wipe out small animals , such as rats and mice . While their pang are rarely fatal to dogs , they can be extremely unspeakable .
Leafcutter ant : Leafcutter pismire are primarily recognized as an agrarian threat . They do n’t run to bite hoi polloi or dogs , but they can burn if they are feeling menace . Leafcutter emmet are primarily found in South America , but they occasionally are observed in the southwest United States .
Carpenter ants : Although carpenter emmet are relatively gravid , they will only bite if jeopardise . Carpenter emmet and frankfurter do not tend to rile each other very often , but it is potential . Carpenter ants are found primarily in the northern United States .
Your geographic placement determines which ant species you are likely to play around your family . If ant are a concern , take some fourth dimension to research ants in your orbit and determine which species , if any , place a risk to you and your pets .
10 Signs of Ant Bites on Dogs
In most cases , dogs with ant bites will only experience a mild reaction in the immediate area of the bite . Just like a person have an ant bite , affected dog may develop humble , pus - filled , fretful gibbosity on area where they were burn by pismire .
A local reaction to ant insect bite may admit the following sign :
Although most ant sting response are mild and localized , more terrible response can also occur . In some cases , frank may have an allergic response to ant spitefulness or spittle . This reaction can cause more generalized fervor , regard multiple areas of the body .
signboard of an allergic reaction to ant bites or maliciousness include :
While most ant bite on dog are little more than a nuisance , an hypersensitive response to ant bite is a medical emergency . If you notice signs of an allergic reaction in your dog , seek veterinary treatment right away .
How to Treat Ant Bites on Dogs
If your blackguard stumbles into an anthill and is being bitten , remove them from the area . stress to bump off as many pismire from your dog as possible . Brushing pismire off your dog ( ideally while fall apart baseball glove , to prevent bites to your bridge player ) can scale down the number of bites that your dog receives .
Any signs of an supersensitive chemical reaction warrant intervention by a veterinarian . generalised itchiness , facial hump , urticaria , and respiratory difficulty could argue a potentially life - threatening chemical reaction that expect straightaway tutelage . If your veterinary infirmary is not open and you suspect your dog is have an allergic chemical reaction to ant bites , adjoin a local veterinary pinch hospital . hypersensitive reactions are typically treated with sex hormone and antihistamines , and your click may require hospitalisation .
Mild reactions to ant bites on dogs typically do not require veterinary treatment . A cold compress can aid ease pain in the initial consequence after an ant morsel , if yourdog looks like in pain . Ointments should be avoided – they can cause your dog to work out the touched area , leading to contagion . In fact , you may necessitate an Elizabethan pinch ( due east - choker or retinal cone ) or dog strobilus alternative to block your dog-iron ’s access to the affected area and keep excessive licking after ant bites .
In some cases , Benadrylcan help palliate itching and minimize the jeopardy of reaction . However , Benadryl should only be give under the steering of your veterinarian , who cognise your dog ’s medical chronicle and health status . meet your vet before giving any over - the - counter medications to your firedog .
Can Dogs Eat Ants?
While eating worm may vocalize unappealing to you , andiron do n’t seem to mind ingesting the occasional ant . Unlike some other insects , ants are not typically associated with the paste of infectious disease . Therefore , there ’s no reason to worry if your wienerwurst take in an periodic ant .
If your dog consume an ant hole , however , you may encounter some trouble . Ant poisonous substance is not toxic to dogs , but the sugar and oils that are used to appeal to ants can causediarrhea in frank . to boot , a domestic dog that consume an ant bunker often ingests a pregnant amount of credit card . This credit card can damage the enteral tract orcause an obstruction . Keep ant decoy out of your domestic dog ’s contact to downplay the risk of consumption .
How to Prevent Ant Bites on Dogs
The best way to keep ant bites is to limit the number of emmet in your dog ’s environment . Store dog food and other food inairtight container , to avoid attracting emmet to your home . If your thou has big numbers of ants , mouth to a pest - control professional about dog - dependable ant killer options .
Some companies market pet - secure insect repellant that you’re able to spray directly on your dog . Unfortunately , worm repellants seem to be less effective against ants than they are against mosquito , no - see - ums , and other barbed insects . Therefore , these sprays are unlikely to offer significant benefits for most dogs .
