Insectbites

Insect Bites

by Nancy Korman

Now that summer is upon us, it is inevitable that we will at some time come across an insect intent on injecting us or our animal companions with their venom. They really don’t mean us harm, but are only protecting their area and what they perceive to be their safety. Our pets can be very inquisitive about little bugs and it sometimes gets them into trouble.

If you should see a bee, wasp or other insect flying about your pet, the best thing to do is let it go about its business. Well, except for those aggravating mosquitoes….they need to be squashed right away! Otherwise, try to let the bug that is hovering just do its business and fly away. If you and your animal friend are minding your own business and not antagonizing any insect colonies, chances are, you’ll be OK. But occasionally, no matter what you do, the insects wind up stinging us. There are several things you can do if this happens.

Of course, for mosquitoes, the first line of defense is a good repellant spray. Unfortunately, the common commercial sprays for people are full of harmful and irritating chemicals. In the interest of our furkids, and ourselves we might be better off considering some alternatives. Among the most effective are essential oils diluted and sprayed on our pets and us. Citronella, eucalyptus, cedar and pennyroyal are among many oils that have shown to be helpful in the fight to repel insects. These oils should always be diluted and never used neat on any animal. Mix a few drops of your choice in a sprayer bottle with water. You’ll need to shake the mix often while spritzing your pet.

Once an animal gets bitten you must first be sure to rule out an allergic reaction. Signs of a serious reaction can include shock, chilled body, unconsciousness, obvious pain, difficulty breathing, and extensive hives over the body or a swollen tongue. If you suspect an allergic reaction, hurry to the nearest veterinary hospital. This is nothing to attempt to treat at home.

If a bee should sting your animal friend, try to determine if the stinger is still attached to the bite area. If it is, pull it out with tweezers or scrape it out with a fingernail or card. Try not to squeeze the area, which will put more venom into the animal.

Once the stinger is removed, or in the case of mosquito or fly bites, you’ll want to put something on the bite if it itches or swells. A dab of ammonia on a cotton ball will often quell the pain. Also, you could make a paste of baking soda and water and apply that to the bite. This will relieve the itching. Sometimes a cool compress or ice wrapped in a cloth will assist in relieving swelling and discomfort.

There are a couple of herbs that can be applied topically to relieve symptoms. Aloe vera gel is one thing to try. It is very soothing to the skin. A poultice or wash of mashed plantain will help.

Homeopathically, there are several remedies to choose from. All remedies should be given in potencies lower than 30C and can be given initially every half and hour for several doses and then a couple of times a day until the condition is better. One of the most commonly used remedies is Apis mellifica and is made from the honeybee. It should be given when an animal is stung by a bee or the bite area resembles a bee sting: red, swollen, hard, worse with heat or touch. Another useful remedy is Ledum palustre or marsh-tea. It is used for bites that are cool to the touch or are puncture-like. Some people alternate ledum and apis for many types of bites. If there is burning heat and swelling and intense itching, you may want to try Urtica urens, the stinging nettle. Lachesis is made from the bushmaster and is used for bites that have dark colorations to them and are cold.

Let’s hope the little critters don’t bother you and your fur friends this summer season, but if they do, at least there are many things we can do to relieve the itching and pain of the bites.