Attacked by FIRE ANTS!!!
 

Krissie Bella and Sweet Ollie went out to potty after we have had some rain here in Georgia. The rain brings fire ants to the surface. We have a large fenced in back yard. I noticed KB rubbing her head on the ground fiercly and acting panicky. I picked her up and her eyes were swelling and very red around them. There were several ants on her legs, so I popped inside and put her into the kitchen sink rinsing off all of the ants. (About 10 at the most). She did have one ant above her right eye, but the others were on her legs. She started throwing up, her eyes and mouth starting to swell and she starting wheezing... I called the vet and they told me to give her 1/2 tsp of children's benedryl. I couldn't get it in her, she was throwing up horribly. She continued her symptoms. I put her in her cuddle cup and called the vet on my way. I told them to pull my file that Krissy was very sick. She started showing signs of lethargy on the way to the vet and her head would flop over and her eyes would close. I would shake her and talk to her on the way. I was afraid that I could lose her. I was crying... They gave her a benedryl shot and checked her out. (They refused me a valium! JK) It wasn't until the next day that she was feeling better.

My baby son had an anaphalactic (sp?) reaction to tree nuts. Can dogs have those. She really freaked me out. She weighed 4 lbs 10 ounces, but she responded to those ant bites quickly. I feel like I need a Yorkie Epi Pen. Has any one had a similar experience???

How frightening. I do believe that dogs can have anaphylactic reactions- in fact it sounds like your little Krissie Bella was having one. Since those dreaded fire ants are terrible here in Georgia, I would talk to your vet and see if he/she would prescribe one.

I am so very sorry that your son has tree-nut allergies. It can be a real challenge. I worked with a person whose son had peanut allergies - she had to be ever viligent to keep him protected.

Aww poor baby. How is she doing now?

You must have been so scared! What a horribel experience. I'm glad you got her to the vet and she's ok. I've never heard of fire ants, so I don't know anything about them. Can you have someone spray your yard to get rid of them? I'd be nervous letting them outside again :confused: I hope she doesn't run into them again!

We have our yard treated monthly, you can't kill those little devils. They are everywhere. I was most frightened. Especially when she seem to pass out in my arms. She is back to her scary litle self now. Making sure that Ollie's coat doesn't go unmatted!!! We did treat that particular mound. It was huge. It came up in 1 day and that's where the dogs pass to go potty.

Knox go attacked the other night too.
 

I tether him inside the fence when I play tennis if it's cool enough for him. He was a good 15 feet inside the court when I noticed him whining and writhing on the ground. I walked over, and there were thousands of black fire ants on the asphalt, and his feet were covered as if he were wearing ant mittens.

There was a big puddle of water nearby. I ducked him in the water and got them off. Then I rushed him home to the tub. I soaped him up with doggy shampoo and left him soaking for about 15 minutes. The next day he had little knots all over him. Now he has little scabs.

I bet he has 25 or 30 bites. He only weighs 4lbs. I'm glad he isn't apparently allergic.

Yes they can..I had to rush one of my Yorks to the vet after being bitten by a ton of red fire ants in AZ...they got me also and they hurt like HELL!!!! My poor little guy was in pain and having trouble breathing...I wish I could remember what my vet gave me ..

Glad you didn't mess around but went straight to the vet...:thumbup:

Over 'n Out is a good product for controlling fire ants. If you have any visible mounds, you may want to eliminate them with something else, but Over 'n Out will keep them out of your yard and it lasts a long time.

Fire ants are deadly to small dogs! A member on another forum lost her little Maltese when he was attacked by fire ants.

When Fire Ants sting it is rarely only one sting. When Fire Ants attack, they attack in large numbers and when the first ant stings it triggers a reaction that causes all the ants to sting at one time. Unlike bees, ants can sting up to 20 times in succession injecting toxin with each sting.

Johnston County Fire Ant Home Page

Fire Ant Control Methods for Dogs, Cats, Ferrets, and Rabbits

Yes they can. My mini doxie had an anaphylactic reaction to a bee sting. It was a very scary episode. He ended up spending 8 hours in the vet's office getting epinephrine and IV fluids. I always keep benadryl on hand now, just in case.

Oh my goodness, my maltese got attack by ants also but I just rinse them off and that was that.

I hope your lil' girl is feeling much better now, sending energy your way.

Red Imported Fire Ants are much different than black ants. Fire ants are deadly.

I never saw fire ants until I moved to Pinehurst, North Carolina 1.5 years ago. I won't even walk Lady outside anymore. At her age, she could not survive an attack. Within seconds, an entire colony is upon their prey. They are unbelievably aggressive....like killer bees.

I use this product on the mounds I find. Stinks to high heaven, but it works. I buy it at Home Depot.

Amazon.com: Ortho 0282210 12-Ounce Orthene Fire Ant Killer: Patio, Lawn & Garden

Who makes Over 'n Out and their website. Fire ants can be a big problem in FL. I have had a few small mounds in the front yard and I had to steer the pups away from them until the mounds were treated.

Ortho make it. It works really well, but if you have any visible mounds, I would treat them with an ant killer to eliminate them and then use the Over 'n Out. It will keep them gone but is not a fast kill product. I live on the MS Coast and have used it for about 5 years and it does work all season long. I get it at Lowe's.

Over'n Out Fireant Granules, Fipronil, Fire Ants