Insect Bite Symptoms for a Dog

Insect bites are very common on our pets, and dogs are no exception. Dogs are curious, which puts them at higher risk of suffering from all types of insect bites. The most common bites on dogs are usually caused from bees, wasps, ants, spiders, fleas, ticks or hornets. Symptoms of these bites can show up within 20 minutes of the bite, and it's important for dog owners to know what symptoms to look for to determine the best course of treatment.

  1. Swelling and Redness

    • Bites from flies, mosquitoes and ticks can cause redness and swelling on a dog's skin. These bites also may itch and sometimes become infected. Other symptoms of insect bites on dogs can include swelling on the eyelids, lips, ear flaps and even the entire face in some cases.

      Hives may also be observed on a dog's skin after an insect bites, and these tend to be itchy and irritable as well.

    Difficulty Breathing

    • Sometimes, insects attack a dog on the nose or the mouth. When this happens, large swelling often occurs, and the dog may have difficulty breathing because of the extreme swelling. Wheezing, a weak pulse, weakness, and in some cases, unconsciousness can occur as symptoms of an insect bite on dogs.

    Other

    • An increased heart rate and fever can be other symptoms of an insect bite in a dog, and these are very serious symptoms, as they can cause the animal to go into shock and possibly even die.

      Other various symptoms of insect bites in dogs include vomiting, diarrhea, trembling, collapsing and cold extremities.