Both of my dogs have been bitten by an unknown insect almost one month apart (indoors). Anyone else seeing an increase?

[u/nmrtsta]

EVERYONE IS FINE!

I was so scared but luckily I have an emergency vet and know to administer benadryl asap, but wasn't able to get my chi to take it which was the scariest because she was clearly having trouble breathing. I just kept begging her to keep breathing the entire drive to the vet. She's very tough!!

Both incidents happened indoors, in my bedroom. Yes, I keep my home clean, regularly vacuuming, washing bedding (including dog beds and blankets). Bugs don't really freak me out so if I see one or two here and there, I just leave them alone - we certainly don't have an infestation. I've scheduled for pest control to come this week though, to be on the safe side.

I've had my dogs for 12 and 8 years and this has never happened to us, but two bites/stings within a month? I'm wondering if anyone is experiencing anything similar?

[u/Toripilot]

This happened to my dog when we first moved into our house and I concluded that it may have been a scorpion or a bee but it hasn't happened again, so she either learned not to mess with whatever got her or our pest control was effective.

[u/nmrtsta → u/Toripilot]

Was this recent?

[u/Toripilot → u/nmrtsta]

They have been in every home I've lived in, I'm a Chandler native. Get a black light and scan your house and outdoor area - they will light up super bright at night time with that light. This happened about 5 years ago for us, and pip was fine other than swollen mouth like yours.

[u/nmrtsta → u/Toripilot]

My bf said I should get one, I'm resistant because I will compulsively check multiple times per day but it might be time.

[u/nmrtsta → u/Toripilot]

Well, I got one.

[u/AnotherStupidHipster → u/nmrtsta]

Good. Compulsive checking will never harm you. Scorpions will.

[u/nmrtsta → u/AnotherStupidHipster]

This is a good point

[u/nmrtsta → u/Toripilot]

I've lived in Arizona for 9 years and I've never seen a live scorpion, believe it or not! But I know they exist.

[u/GRF999999999 → u/nmrtsta]

Been here 13 years and finally saw one at a house I was delivering to on Alma School/McKellips.

[u/CanisSonorae → u/nmrtsta]

Scorpions seem to have territories. If you see a few, you're probably in their territory. I've only lived in 1 place where I only saw 1 or 2, everywhere else it was very all or nothing. I didn't even see my first one until I was in my early 30's.

[u/lrevv]

My Chi was stung by a bee and looked just like your sweet pup in the first pic. Now, he is TERRIFIED of any flying insect. I hope yours is more brave!

[u/nmrtsta → u/lrevv]

Joey (chi) was stung before I adopted her 12 years ago and she had to get CPR. Both of the girls seem to be very offended by bees, but Sasha will chase and catch other flying insects like grasshoppers, moths, june bugs and cicadas 🥲

[u/PrairieDesertFlower]

Dermatology for animals in Scottsdale can test for a bee allergy. If confirmed, they offer venom desensitization treatment. I think my pup was the first in the area to receive it. So far so good

[u/Somewho_10]

Scorpion, get pest control.

[u/RealSG5]

Sometimes activity can increase if a neighbor has any landscaping and/or if any construction near your house has occurred because it unsettles the earth.

[u/nmrtsta → u/RealSG5]

Interesting! Thank you for sharing this.

[u/RealSG5 → u/nmrtsta]

Another thing you might want to do is get those fold-up box glue traps and put them on each side of the door to the garage (just outside the door, close to the wall). It's an extra measure I take (on my exterminator's recommendation) to protect my senior pup who likes to sleep near the door(s). +Check your weatherstripping for gaps.

[u/sexysexymelvin]

Probably not what you want to hear, but my mixed breed Yorkie looked like that after he got stung by a scorpion.

[u/nmrtsta → u/sexysexymelvin]

Lol. Thank you for sharing nonetheless.

[u/NEEDSOSUSA]

If it was spiders you’d see webs.. if you want to see scorpions get a black light. You will see them all over the place at night… it’s really creepy

[u/i305_bros → u/NEEDSOSUSA]

In or outside the house?

[u/Overall_Risk2313]

Probably scorpion bite. My dog would start barking nonstop after seeing one. My guess he got bitten and learned his lesson. Cats on the other hand just eat them.

[u/Stoney_McTitsForDays]

One of my dogs was stung/bit for the first time (outside). First incident in 10 years with an insect vs. dog so I have been fortunate. Thinking it may have been a bee sting but it’s scary! Glad you got everyone to the vet ok!

[u/nmrtsta → u/Stoney_McTitsForDays]

We had a follow up today with our primary vet today and she said we've been lucky to not have any incidents in the last 12 years! I'm wondering if there is an uptick in a certain insect in the area.

[u/skitch23]

My senior dog got bit by a scorpion or stung by a bee in March. I was in the yard with him when it would have happened and he didn’t yelp or anything, but I had seen a bunch of bees in my yard the day before. I just happened to notice as I was leaving the house that his face maybe looked a little puffy. Got home about 30 mins later and it was definitely puffy so back to the store I went for some Benadryl. He was mostly back to normal later that evening.

[u/Emotional-Mongoose85]

I would buy a black light, turn all the lights off, and go searching all around the house at night for scorpions