We took the girls out for their walk tonight. We just arrived in our park two days ago. We noticed ants on us the other night after we went down to the grassy patch. It rained really hard this evening, so we didn't think about ants being there then. We started back and Butterscotch just sat down and wouldn't move. DH thought she had a sticker in her paw so I went back to help. When I put my flashlight on her foot, she was covered in ants. They do not appear to be fireants, but they bit anyway. We took her directly over to a mud puddle and I put her paws in it and splash it on the ants. We walked quickly home and I stuck her in the bathtub and used a flea/tick shampoo on her and really worked her fur with the sprayer. Sprayed her really good with lukewarm water. . . it had to feel good. When I got her out, I towel dried her and couldn't find any ants left. There were only about 6-7 in the water. But her little tummy is covered in about 20 or so bites. I googled it and I am to watch her closely for 12-24 hours. Suggested a baking soda/water paste for the itching. Or hydrocortizone cream. I have the cream, but she doesn't seem to be bothered right now. I hate to do something that would stress her more.I don't have any benadryl on hand. I could go get some. Any other suggestions?Dale

Butterscotch is resting comfortably. I sent DH to get benadryl in case we need it overnight. I also bathed Duchess who couldn't understand why she had a bath just because her sister got into ants!LOLDale

The primary ingredient in ant venom is formic acid, so baking soda paste should be very effective. I think if she's not fussing with the bites, I'd leave them alone lest you irritate 'em.

Thanks for that information, naturist. I appreciate it. I did give her a half a Benadryl so she would sleep comfortably.Dale

Scottiemom..We took the girls out for their walk tonight. We just arrived in our park two days ago. We noticed ants on us the other night after we went down to the grassy patch. It rained really hard this evening, so we didn't think about ants being there then. We started back and Butterscotch just sat down and wouldn't move. DH thought she had a sticker in her paw so I went back to help. When I put my flashlight on her foot, she was covered in ants. They do not appear to be fireants, but they bit anyway. We took her directly over to a mud puddle and I put her paws in it and splash it on the ants.....hered right now. I hate to do something that would stress her more.I don't have any benadryl on hand. I could go get some.Any other suggestions?Wow, that had to be a bad experience for your dog.Don't know were you are staying but here in Florida they have a small ant that is not a fire ant but gets on dogs and bites like crazy too. Best thing you did was give the Benadryl.I found 'liquid Children's Benadryl' to work the best for bites and stings. Starts working quickly for bad bits and stings.Ask "YOUR" vet how to brake down the dosage for your dog. I give 2.5 ml per 14 lbs.Warning though, do NOT use any generic children's brand only the Children's Benadryl brand. Some of the generic brands contain xylitol which can be deadly to dogs.Kudos, Your fast thinking saved her from having a bad reaction. :C

Thanks, rockhillmanor. . . we are in Mission, Texas, on our lot, which is all desert scape. But there is one lot with grass in the corner which is access to the water treatment stuff. We all use it for our dogs. We've been using it for over 5 years, with our other dogs. We saw ants on us the other night and I got bit. But these ants don't build the big mounds like fire ants nor even little hills like regular ants. So it's impossible to tell where they are at. The grass, while short, is just too dense to tell.The girls need haircuts (which complicated the situation last night), but I have never found anyone here to do it to my satisfaction. My one dog suffers from Scottie cramp and she always can't walk when I bring her back from the groomer. So decided I would try. I can't do it well, but I can get a lot of that ugly hair off of them. It's been hot here too, so they need a trim.Butterscotch slept well all night, no scratching, etc., and just got up and came to me wagging her tail. Guess I'm forgiven for the bath last night. LOLThanks for your comments.Dale

Ants! | Good Sam Community

Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Nov 07, 2015
Ugh - one more thing to watch out for down south. At least the Fire Ants are pretty obvious.
Scottiemom
Nomad
Nov 07, 2015
Thanks, rockhillmanor. . . we are in Mission, Texas, on our lot, which is all desert scape. But there is one lot with grass in the corner which is access to the water treatment stuff. We all use it for our dogs. We've been using it for over 5 years, with our other dogs.

We saw ants on us the other night and I got bit. But these ants don't build the big mounds like fire ants nor even little hills like regular ants. So it's impossible to tell where they are at. The grass, while short, is just too dense to tell.

The girls need haircuts (which complicated the situation last night), but I have never found anyone here to do it to my satisfaction. My one dog suffers from Scottie cramp and she always can't walk when I bring her back from the groomer. So decided I would try. I can't do it well, but I can get a lot of that ugly hair off of them. It's been hot here too, so they need a trim.

Butterscotch slept well all night, no scratching, etc., and just got up and came to me wagging her tail. Guess I'm forgiven for the bath last night. LOL

Thanks for your comments.

Dale
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Nov 07, 2015
Scottiemom..We took the girls out for their walk tonight. We just arrived in our park two days ago. We noticed ants on us the other night after we went down to the grassy patch. It rained really hard this evening, so we didn't think about ants being there then. We started back and Butterscotch just sat down and wouldn't move. DH thought she had a sticker in her paw so I went back to help. When I put my flashlight on her foot, she was covered in ants. They do not appear to be fireants, but they bit anyway. We took her directly over to a mud puddle and I put her paws in it and splash it on the ants.....hered right now. I hate to do something that would stress her more.I don't have any benadryl on hand. I could go get some.Any other suggestions?

Wow, that had to be a bad experience for your dog.

Don't know were you are staying but here in Florida they have a small ant that is not a fire ant but gets on dogs and bites like crazy too.

Best thing you did was give the Benadryl.
I found 'liquid Children's Benadryl' to work the best for bites and stings. Starts working quickly for bad bits and stings.

Ask "YOUR" vet how to brake down the dosage for your dog. I give 2.5 ml per 14 lbs.

Warning though, do NOT use any generic children's brand only the Children's Benadryl brand. Some of the generic brands contain xylitol which can be deadly to dogs.

Kudos, Your fast thinking saved her from having a bad reaction. :C
Scottiemom
Nomad
Nov 07, 2015
Thanks for that information, naturist. I appreciate it. I did give her a half a Benadryl so she would sleep comfortably.

Dale
naturist
Nomad
Nov 07, 2015
The primary ingredient in ant venom is formic acid, so baking soda paste should be very effective. I think if she's not fussing with the bites, I'd leave them alone lest you irritate 'em.
Scottiemom
Nomad
Nov 07, 2015
Butterscotch is resting comfortably. I sent DH to get benadryl in case we need it overnight. I also bathed Duchess who couldn't understand why she had a bath just because her sister got into ants!

LOL

Dale

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