My dog was bitten by fire ants. Does he need to go to the vet now?

Hello and thank you for your post! Looking at your photos, the first picture is the one I am concerned about the most. It is always difficult to tell from the pictures 100% what is going on but Krunch's face and muzzle sure look swollen! I would seek veterinary care as so o as possible in case he is having a severe allergic reaction. Fire ants can certainly trigger an allergic reaction. I would go ahead and give him 1/4 tablet of Benadyl 25mg and get him to your vet for further treatmemt. If left untreated, allergic reactions can turn into anaphylaxis and can be fatal. I hope Krunch gets better!

The bites may cause some inflammation and itchiness. If it is only mild irritation you may want to consider giving a dose of benedryl (1mg per pound of body weight) to her to help make her more comfortable. If the bites are severe however, she may need something more effective like steroids. If this is the case you will need to take Pecora to the vet to be checked out. I hope this helps. Best of luck. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Benadryl is an antihistamine that is useful in managing allergic reactions, which in dogs, could include facial swelling, hives or difficulty swallowing and breathing. If Shasta experiences facial swelling or has difficulty breathing or swallowing, she should be taken to an emergency veterinarian immediately, as she likely would require steroids in addition to an antihistamine. However, if she seems perfectly normal after eating the bee, there is no need to give her medication. Just continue to monitor her closely over the next few hours for any changes, as most serious allergic reactions occur shortly after exposure to the allergen. I hope that all goes well for Shasta!

While Benadryl can be given to dogs in specific circumstances, by law it is illegal for the experts at PetCoach to recommend using any drug, including OTC drugs, without seeing the animal in person first. That's because doing so requires a veterinary client patient relationship which cannot be achieved via an internet forum. In addition, the experts cannot say for certain if a specific drug is safe for your dog. I would give your vet a call to see if it's safe to give Dustin Benadryl, and the vet can give you the correct dose for it. I would also wash him in warm water and Dawn dish soap to get rid of the ants, and you can make a home soothing salve to help with the bites from the ants if he has them using baking soda and water. To make this salve, mix one tablespoon of baking soda and add enough water to form a spreadable paste. You will have to keep him from licking it off, so put an Ecollar on him, which you can make at home: http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html

This is probably an allergic reaction due to an insect bite or a plant outside. those reactions tend to resolve within 48 hours without treatment. if the swelling becomes too large or if your dog becomes lethargic, take him to the vet in order to get an antihistamine/steroid injection. from your description at this moment i think he is probably fine, but this can change so monitor him closely.

If you have a cream at home containing steroids (prednisolone, hydrocortisone) it can help reduce the symptoms of ant bites, you will need to apply it 2-3 times a day and make sure Barry does not lick it right away (best to apply it before you take him for a walk).

You can give her an antihistamine tablet. This is probably an allergic reaction due to an insect bite or a plant outside. those reactions tend to resolve within 48 hours without treatment. if the swelling becomes too large or if Arturo is lethargic, take her to the vet in order to get an antihistamine injection.