
The solution soothes itchiness and prevents infection from bacteria. Soak a clean cloth in the bath and use it to wipe the areas on the dog that were bit. Pour water into a container, mix oatmeal shampoo with the water to make an oatmeal bath. Hold the dog firmly but gently to stop it from licking or gnawing the bite as this will only increase the pain. While this is ongoing reassure the dog by talking calmly to it. Once the dog is removed from the suspect area, use a dog brush to gently remove any ants stuck in the dog’s fur. This will immediately enable you to take stock of the extent of the bites. The first step to take when your dog has been exposed to fire ants is to stop the attack.
Agitation, this is because as a dog tries to alleviate the fire ant bites by scratching, gnawing and licking,but it only further aggravates the pain.įirst Aid for Fire Ant Bites 1. This is a biological response to a fire ant bite causing the dog’s throat to swell and as a result making breathing problematic. Difficulty in breathing arising from anaphylactic shock. Dogs bitten on the nose will likely scratch their faces. Itchiness arising from fire ant bites will likely cause the dog to lick the area in an attempt to alleviate the discomfort. Mild pain which may cause some dogs to yelp while others will likely bolt. Symptoms of fire ant bites range from mild to severe depending on the nature of the bite, the areas bitten and the amount of time the dog was exposed to the fire ants. The areas the fire ants will likely target are It is this innocent yet likeable character that makes them more susceptible to fire ants. Likely to Be Bit by Fire Ants on Your Dogĭogs are naturally inquisitive. Another good indicator of the existence of fire ants is that they prefer to build in open sunny areas such as lawns and fields. But this is not to mean they cannot occur in buildings. In many cases these mounds are located around tree stumps and in rotting logs. In places where fire ants live, they are normally given away by the mounds they build. They thrive in areas with warm temperatures and always seek uninterrupted sunlight, avoiding shady and dark places. Generally all of them are stinging ants and a majority are light brown in color or reddish hence the name fire ant. So, next time your dog rolls, stamps on, or falls over a fire ant mound, do not panic - treat them.įire ant is the common name for several species of ants in the genus Solenopsis.
Like venturing into fire ant territory and getting bit. But since like us, dogs have a curious nature and sometimes they tend to get themselves in trouble.
For this reason and many others, we generally don’t like seeing our canine friends hurting or sick. Having a dog at home gifts us with a listening ear, a silent or not-so-silent companion, an unconditional friend and a security expert who doesn’t need paying. The relationship between us and our furry friends dates back millennia. Whoever said dogs are a man’s best friend did not lie.