Any insect or spider can cause problems if they bite or sting your pet. A bite or sting causes swelling, redness, and itching. Certain stings can cause your pet to "faint" (see section on Fainting) or cause an alarming swelling in the face.

What to do: - If the stinger can be found, pull it out with tweezers by grasping the stinger itself, located below the venom sac. If the sting just happened, don't put pressure on the venom sac, as that would "inject" more of the venom into the pet.

- Apply cool compresses to the area.

- To help neutralize some of the acidic venom, apply a pasty mixture of baking soda and water to the sting area.

What NOT to do: - Do not administer any medications without first contacting your veterinarian. Bear in mind the veterinarian will likely need to examine your pet before recommending medications

Copyright 1994, by Roger W. Gfeller and Michael W. Thomas. All rights reserved.