Margaret,

I know I am running this into the ground... don't mess with this stuff wothout talking to your Vet first... no matter how much experience or knowledge you may have.

There are terrible possible side-effects to these drugs, as I am sure you realize. (Not to mention the need for a prescription for the injectables.)

Jerry

You are a wealth of information! I've been fighting ticks(2 today) and haven;t even thought about bees and such. I always have some form of benedryl around but no epipen or steroid to inject. Guess I'll stock up now.

Not to belabor this thread, but yes, I would always ask my vet first. :) I love you all and value your opinions and advice tremendously, but the vet's advice is always mandatory.

Just good to know Benadryl is usually the "bug drug" of choice. Ha ha. ;)

Thanks so much, Jerry!

Julia & Grover

Julia,

Again, the liquid form is because I have pups sometimes and always adults. The Vet needs to tell you the dosage, but you can assume that for a 10 pound pup ist is something like 1/5th of the adult dosage. If I had an adult stung, I probably would use the 25 mg pills, again based on my Vet's dosage guidance.

My strong advice is to simply call your Vet on your new phone (sorry, couldn't resist LOL) and follow his or her lead.

Jerry

Heh heh. He laughed. After all, it was just an accident and it's MY money! =)

Seriously, we were outside ten minutes ago, and a bug flew by Grover, which of course freaked him out. So just for a test, the husband made a buzzing sound just now and Grover went berserk, running around as if he were running away from a bug. Running and sitting, snapping at the air.

I think I just have a paranoid maniac on my hands. :) Good to know it's difficult to stifle their curiosity. I'm still going to make every attempt to get him to LIKE bugs and not EAT them.

Also, will get some liquid Benadryl to keep in the first aid kit. Thanks for the tip!

Julia & Grover

Julia,

I'm not sure if the noise your husband made really made GROVER react because he thought it was a bug... but it does make me wonder what your husband said when he found out you had run over the car phone and had to start a new 2-year contract. But moving on....

All of mine are curious about bees and the like. I have had young pups (like 8-12 weeks old) also show an interest. In one case I was there AND saw the yellow-jacket sting the young pup on the muzzle. (Benedryl and a phonecall to Vet... keep pup calm, watch for respiratory distress, if more then "minor" hives, get to Vet ASAP, etc.) Pup was fine after sleeping for a couple of hours... This is what got me into having the liquid Benedryl form available - easy to measure dose, arguably faster acting then pills.

I really don't think you can stifle their curiosity and natural inquisitiveness.

Jerry Sheldon

Yeah, needless to say, that stupid BUG cost me a GREAT deal of money that day. Shot, visit, new cell phone, AND new two year agreement. Had to vigorously clean the underside of the car, too, from the battery acid that shot out!

But alas, it was all worth it for my pooch. Better safe than sorry, right?! :)

Can I ask a related question? I think Grover got in trouble in the first place with that bug because he loves to chase and try to eat bugs. He caught a beetle once and it freaked him out, buzzing inside his mouth. I got it out, thank goodness, but he was paranoid.

I try SOOOOOO hard to get him to stop, but it's almost impossible. He chases them no matter what I do. I'm assuming this is a normal dog behavior... :) but it still worries me. I think one attacked his bottom once, and now he turns spastic when he sees any and all bugs, running and sitting still, listening for them, and protecting his butt.

Do I have a crazy animal? My husband made a buzzing sound the other day imitating something, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Grover freaking out, as if a bug was chasing him.

Any suggestiong on how to get his to stop chasing bugs so that he's not DOUBLING his chances of getting stung? :)

Julia

So, you now have a new Cell Phone? LOL

Jerry

Thanks Jerry for the info. I can rest a little calmer now knowing how to prepare myself just in case he should get stung. Actually I've never been stung by anything myself. I wouldn't even know if I was allergic to them. It pays to be prepared.

You posted your repsonse while I was typing up mine. :) You, of course, answered my question. I wish I could take back mine!

Good to know. Thanks!

Julia & Grover

Ugh... Grover got stung by a bug a few weeks ago. Just hanging out in our kitchen! I nearly had a heart attack when I looked at him and his eyebrow wrinkle were the size of a golfball and we was looking at me like a pirate. He, like a good boy, was completely unphased.

I rushed him off to the vet who calmly gave him a $7 Benadryl shot (much faster acting than a pill) and a $56 visit charge, and sent us on our way. The swelling was gone by the time we got home and he was perfectly fine. My cell phone that accidentally fell out of my pocket and I drove over in my rush was not, however. :)

Anyway, I too would sleep easier if anyone has any good advice should this ever happen again. :)

Julia & Grover

Debbie,

This is a simple thing for you to resolve - it takes a phonecall to your Vet's Office. He or she will likley discuss Benedryl and my Vet has provided me with two syringes of a Prednisone derivative - other Vets might prescribe another drug completely. (Such as Ephinephrine)

I have my liquid and pill form Benedryl, my two pre-dosed syringes, and my Vet's number in speed dial.

Too often I see people posting that their dog was just stung and asking what to do... this is an easy one to handle at very low cost and you can cover such things as what to do if it "after hours" etc.

The cost of my two syringes was $2.45 each. The peace of mind of knowing that I am prepared is invaluable.

Best of luck.

Jerry Sheldon