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Originally Posted by KimInMD  Traveling home from Florida, Allie stepped across a small fire ant nest. In literally 2 seconds, they were attacking. My mom (she was walking Allie) swooped Allie up and started brushing then off. Allie wasn't bitten, but mom was bitten badly. Within 5 minutes, mom's arms and hands were swollen to twice their size. She had such a severe allergic reaction. Thank goodness for the iPhone. I was able to locate a local urgent care that was open on Saturday. Mom was given a shot stronger than prednisone, plus prednisone pills, creams and a spray. She is still sick, and very swollen, with nasty fluid filled bumps. She said her arms and hands feel like pins and needles. The doctor said if a little two pound dog was bitten (even once or twice), that the venom very well could have killed her. I always travel with emergency supplies for the pups, but never kept liquid Benadryl in the car. Being uneducated and unprepared could have cost my baby her life. Now I know not to leave home without it. In the 5 minutes it takes to find a pharmacy, it could be too late, especially when traveling, and not knowing where a pharmacy or a vet is located. The doctor said do not use water to get the ants off. It makes them panic and sting even more. Mom is our hero. She really took a big hit for little Allie. I just wanted to make everyone aware of the terrible danger. If anyone else has anything to add, I'd love to learn more about what to do, etc. It was so scary. I like to think I am so vigilant, but danger lurks everywhere! BTW- we finally made it home @ 5 this morning. Thank goodness! |
I always warn my owners to NEVER leave their babies outside in the yard unattended....one did it anyways...."just for a minute, while I went back into the house to pour my coffee and get the newspaper so I could sit out back with her". In the short time it took for her to pour coffee and get the newspaper and get back out to her patio, her little dog was no where to be seen....the owner started calling and running all over her yard....and when she rounded the corner of the house, she saw her baby, laying motionless on top of a fire ant bed, completely COVERED in ants. She snatched her up and started beating the ants off....baby was totally unresponsive, tongue blue, full arrest....she started CPR and grabbed her keys and raced to the ER, doing CPR with baby lying across her left arm.......they saved the little dog, but it started the allergic "cascade", where the entire systems falls like dominoes from the toxins from the ants....and that poor baby has a horrible time with severe allergies now.....something she never would have had if she had not been thrown into a full allergic cirrculatory collapse from the ant stings. She NOW listens when I say never leave them outside unattended for even a second...it only takes a second for them to get into trouble that could cost them their life.....she believes the crazy dog lady now.........