For many people who read this article, you might be wondering, “why would I have to worry about scorpions?
I don’t live anywhere near them!” Others, however, know exactly what the problem is.
If you live in the desert southwest of the United States, places like New Mexico and Arizona, you are all too familiar with this dangerous arachnid!
And yes, a scorpion is not an insect. It’s in the spider family. No wonder I hate them so much! If you live in other desert regions, this is also very important information for you to file away…just in case!
I live in Arizona and in the summer, the scorpions come out to play. I actually try to protect our family and our fur baby from them.
I go out on a nightly basis with a black light and remove them from the yard. I wake up some nights in a cold sweat thinking about them. They are so small, but absolutely deadly!
Once, I was even stung…twice! By the same scorpion! I was putting on sweat pants that I had left on the floor and it stung me in two places before I could get them off fast enough.
SO, you can understand why I worry about our little fur baby getting stung. Our little Jlo n(yes that is her name) is only about 8 pounds and a scorpion sting could literally kill her.
So, what exactly do you do if a scorpion stings your dog? And importantly, how do you know if it has happened? Since your pet, obviously, can’t talk, there are some clear signs and symptoms to look for when she has been stung by a scorpion. Here are even symptoms to look for:
1. If your dog vocalizes that he or she is in pain. If they lick at the wound, favor one of their paws or lift one of the ground, this is one of the most obvious signs that a sting has occurred.
2. Swelling-if local swelling takes place that is a clear indicator, as well. It will start at the entry of the sting and may expand further over time as the poison moves around the system.
3. Dilated pupils-check his eyes and if they have dilated, this could be a problem. Muscle tremors can go along with this as well. These are both indicators that there is an issue with the nervous system.
4. Breathing-if your puppy is having a hard time breathing, this is an indication
5. Tears-look for tears in the eyes. If your dog doesn’t usually get them, they may be trying to deal with the poison and pain this way.
6. Drooling (excessively) is another sign. It isn’t as apparent as others, since many dogs drool. But, if happening in combination with some of these other symptoms, it can be telling.
So, what should you do? Get your dog to a vet ASAP. The smaller they are, the greater the potential risk. If you see a couple of these symptoms or an obvious indication of any of them, don’t delay. Time is of the essence. The good news is that the vet can cure almost all instances of insect stings if found quickly enough.
So, don’t deliberate, start the car and get your fur baby taken care of. If you are not able to do this, then wash the area, try to keep that area raised to heart level and remove the stinger if safe to do. Again, though, my advice is to seek medical help right away. It just isn’t worth the risk.
