Condition

The environment itself is dwelled by numerous animals. Our homes are no different than that of the ecology; it is shared not only by pets as well as insects. While we adopt our pets into our homes, there are uninvited animals that come by such as various insects, snakes, and spiders. While others gaze in amazement at these creatures, most people see them as a nuisance or just plain and simple creepy. However, it is undeniable that these unwelcome creatures are sometimes venomous. Pet owners therefore, have every right to abate these nuisances away from their beloved animals.

Pet bite or wounds are often caused by animals themselves engaged in aggressive play or fighting. It is when two adults are joined together for the first time when animal fights arise. In the jungles or even in the urban areas, animals fight to survive, exert dominance and hierarchy. An average of 10-15 cases of bite wounds are related to animal fights.

On the other hand, other cases of pet bites come from the most common venomous animals such as black widow spiders, wasps, bees, coral snakes, vipers, and scorpions. These bites often cause illnesses and serious or fatal health conditions for your pets.

Tick Bites

In very rare cases, dogs can acquire tick bite paralysis. This occurs following a tick bite. The tick attaches to the dog and starts to engorge itself with the pet’s blood and secretes a toxin in its final stage of the bite. Although medical professionals have not clearly understood, this toxin obstructs the functioning of the nerves to the muscles resulting to weakness. The said toxin is commonly found in female ticks.

Black Widow Spiders

Unfortunately when pets invade a spider’s nest out of curiosity, it is the black widow spiders which avenge their territory. While both the male and female spiders are considered poisonous, it is only the female which is large enough to inflict the venom into the pet.

Poisonous Snakes

There are 15,000 dogs in the United States that are bitten by poisonous snakes each year. A pet bite from a snake is often associated to that of a “pit viper” family member. This family of snakes includes water moccasin, rattlesnakes, and copperhead moccasin. When you see snakes having triangular heads, prominent curving fangs, elliptical pupils, and a deep fit found between the eye and the nostril, this snake is definitely a “pit viper”.

Symptoms

During summer months, this is when insects like mosquitoes, bees, and wasps get out in the open. The most common characteristic of a bite or sting in animals is the allergic reaction it causes. Usually, it takes more than one exposure before an allergic reaction occurs. The severity of the allergies may range from mild to severe at different instances.

• Mild – Characteristics of mild responses include loss of appetite, fever, and sluggishness. Immune reactions from vaccinations may also result to mild reactions. Usually, these reactions disappear in time treatment.

• Moderate - Urticaria is a temperate vascular response of the skin characterized by wheals or hives and quick redness and swelling around the eyes, of the lips, and in the neck region. More often than not it is tremendously itchy. Urticaria may develop into anaphylaxis and is regarded as life-threatening.

• Severe – Anaphylaxis is the term for the most severe reaction. It is an abrupt allergic reaction that leads to difficulties in breathing, collapse and probable death. It takes only minutes before symptoms usually occur after an insect sting or bite and advance quickly. Characteristics of anaphylaxis include diarrhea, rapid drop in blood pressure, staggering, swelling of the larynx, sudden onset of vomiting, esophagus obstruction, seizures and heart collapse or possible death.

The above mentioned reactions are caused by the response of the immune system based on the amount of insect venom. Inflammatory cells such as basophils and mast cells are triggered by the antibodies to secrete substances that results to the allergic responses.

Diagnosis

Tick Bites

Determining tick bite paralysis can be complicated. Until now, the toxin released by ticks is not fully recognized by health experts; therefore it is difficult to proceed with any test to properly diagnose tick bites. Muscle electrical activity is required to determine the depth of tick bite paralysis from botulism or other disease of the nerve. It is important to prevent several diseases that may arise from paralysis and severe weakness. Extensive external and physical exam is needed to find engorged ticks which can properly diagnose tick bite paralysis.

Black Widow Spider Bites

Unfortunately, blood test is not yet available to determine any black widow spider venom present in your pet’s system. However, veterinarians conduct physical exam to correspond pet’s reaction through breathing difficulties, muscle rigidity and spasms.

Poisonous Lizards

In diagnosing bites from poisonous lizards, it will not only require physical examination but also electrocardiograms to determine blood pressure and arrhythmias. But according to medical reports, the best way to diagnose is to witness the lizard biting the pet.

Snake Bites

Physical examination searching for the snake bite is the basic procedure in diagnosing venomous snake bites. Blood tests may be conducted to assess the pet’s blood on the period before it coagulates. The longer the period of coagulation means that there is the presence of venom.

Treatment

Just like humans, pets getting bitten by the common household insects can be very annoying. Worse if these bites or stings come from hornets, bees, and wasps. These are the most common of pet bites you might encounter in your daily lives. However, if you suspect symptoms other than mild reactions, be sure to seek immediate veterinarian help to prevent further complications.

In the meantime, for mild pet bites, these are some of the first-aid treatment which you can administer to your pets to alleviate their symptoms:

1. Baking Soda Application – Rub a paste of baking soda mixed with water on the bitten area as an effective way to alleviate the discomfort brought by the pet bite. It is the alkalinity in the baking soda that relieves the itch.

2. Meat Tenderizer Treatment – Due to the enzymes present in meat tenderizers, this helps in severing the poison in insect bites or stings. This further minimizes the skin irritation on your pets. Mixed the tenderizer with water and immediately apply the paste over the affected area. Do this repeatedly as needed.

3. Aloe Vera Leaf Relief – Aside from its moisturizer, aloe vera grants relief for minor irritation of the skin. The gel from this plant not only relieves the irritation but also soothes the discomfort. There are available aloe vera treatments in pharmacies.

4. Look for the Enemy – Bee stings usually leave behind the stinger in the skin or coat of your dog. Do not leave it in the pet’s fur; clear his hair to have a clear view of it. Then, slowly remove the stinger using your hand or with tweezers. Sometimes the stinger is in the open, so all you have to do is to scrape it out with your fingernail. This is important to avoid any further venom from entering the bite or sting.

5. Milk of Magnesia Aid – Magnesium hydroxide medication can alleviate the itchiness and irritation. A thin coat applied to your dog for several times a day would do the trick.

6. Cooling Effect – Cool compresses also work well with pets. It has an effect of reducing the pain and the swelling of the affected area. Apply cooling in the affected area for about 5 minutes, enough to relieve your pet from the discomfort.

7. Over-The-Counter (OTC) Medications – OTC treatments, particularly hydrocortisone cream, are highly recommended to cure sore spots.