How Do I Help a Dog Bitten by Fire Ants?

Dogs are naturally inquisitive and will sniff at the most dangerous of animals at times. So it is safe to assume that if your dog spots a mound in the backyard with fire ant activity, it will probably sniff at the mound and ants, perhaps even scratch and dig a little. If the dog is stung it will start itching and the dog's natural reaction will be to lick or scratch, which can lead to even more problems. So you should treat fire ant stings as quickly as possible.

Things You'll Need

  • Kitchen gloves
  • Baking soda
  • Water
  • Towel
  • Ice pack
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Instructions

  1. On the Spot Treatment at Home

    • 1

      Remove the fire ants from the dog. If you are present at the time your dog is being stung by fire ants, the most important thing is to get them off the dog, as fire ants will keep stinging for as long as they can. Fire ants attach themselves very securely to the skin, so water will not remove them but instead cause them to panic and sting more. The best way to remove fire ants it to put on some kitchen or garden gloves and start rubbing the areas covered in fire ants. Rub hard but with a flat hand to make sure you remove them properly without scratching the skin.

    • 2

      Make up a paste of baking soda and water and apply this thickly to the affected areas. This will reduce the burning and prevent the dog from scratching, biting and licking at the sting wounds. There are also a few commercial products that can be used on affected areas to stop burning and further infection.

    • 3

      Wrap an ice pack in cloth or a towel and apply to the affected areas for a minute or two every five minutes. The ice pack will cool the affected areas and reduce the itching and burning.

    • 4

      Keep a close eye on your dog for any further symptoms, such as swelling of the affected area, breathing difficulty, shaking or excessive salivating. If you have even the slightest concern that the dog is suffering from an allergic reaction, call your veterinarian to inform him that you are on your way as your dog has been stung by fire ants.

    Professional Advice

    • 5

      Ask someone else to go to the veterinarian with you. This person can apply the ice pack en route and also make sure that the dog does not lick or scratch while you are not looking.

    • 6

      Inform the veterinarian of the time that the bites occurred and the steps that you have taken up to that moment.

    • 7

      Keep a close eye on your dog for the next few days and immediately report any unusual behavior to your veterinarian. The white swollen areas can take weeks or months to disappear completely.