If you let your dog roam around outside in your big yard or take your dog for walks outdoors, then there is always the chance that he`ll face some insect bites, or bee stings, or depending on your location and climate, maybe even a scorpion sting or snake bite. All of these things happen to dogs fairly regularly, especially insect bites.

In most cases these problems will be minor, especially in the case of insect bites and bee stings. They will pass in a few days. Yet there are times when we as dog owners know that our dog is in more serious pain and possibly danger. It`s important to be aware of the potentially more serious bites and stings that can take place.

If your dog encounters an insect bite or sting

These cases are typically not so serious, and are only an uncomfortable yet temporary annoyance to your dog, just as they are to humans. Normally there will be a red mark plus some swelling, but it`s not the end of the world, and they will typically fade on their own without medical intervention. The cases to be aware of, though, are when you dog experiences an allergic reaction to the bite or sting. If your dog shows symptoms such as joint pain, swelling, diarrhea, fever, and vomiting, he is possibly facing an allergic reaction.

In extreme cases, this allergic reaction could cause respiratory failure. This can result in death very quickly. This situation is called anaphylaxis, a rapidly progressing allergic reaction that could result in death. In such a case you must get your dog to the veterinarian immediately.

What if you dog gets a snake bite?

In most environments snake bites are uncommon. But there are certain environments such as dry desert terrain where snakes abound. And they also live in areas dense with bushes and trees, and sometimes around and in streams, creeks, and rivers. Luckily, most snakes are not poisonous and if your dog is bitten by a non-venomous snake then it will simply endure some pain while the light wound heals. There are, however, venomous snakes which are very dangerous to your dog.

How do you know if the snakes in a particular area or environment are venomous or dangerous? The following criteria apply:

1) In the United States and Canada, most snakes with a solid body color, or stripes running all the way down their bodies, are generally thought to be non-poisonous.

2) Snakes that have colored stripes going around their bodies are considered to be poisonous. So are snakes with a blotchy color pattern. Indeed so is the “diamondback” pattern on a snake thought to indicate a venomous threat. Some of the well-known poisonous snakes in North America are cottonmouths, rattlesnakes, copperheads, and water moccasins.

Many people who have dogs wouldn’t know exactly what to do if their dog was to go into shock. Many people are torn between giving their dog a stimulant like a caffeinated beverage to help them stay conscious. The general guidelines for administering a stimulant is only give it to a dog that is conscious. And, only give a sweetened stimulant to a dog. If the dog is not conscious, make sure that you do not administer anything to them and take them to a veterinarian’s clinic as soon as possible.

Many books that are available today about the subject of treating shock in dogs go against emergency first aid procedures. These books are many times more confusing then helpful because they give no clear cut way to treat your dog for shock in any situation.

There is a big point of controversy surrounding the idea of whether or not emergency first aid procedures should be followed at all. Some people say that emergency first aid takes too much time and could be the difference between a healthy recovery and a slow death. However, other medical officials say that emergency first aid procedures have a greater chance of saving a dog’s life than losing it.

Either way, most people can agree that the biggest controversy of all is over what stimulant should be used to help the dog get out of its state of shock. Many people say that giving a dog in shock an alcoholic beverage does not stimulate the body and does more harm than good. However, the other side argues that alcoholic beverages are only depressants if they are consumed in large amounts.

It would seem logical that so many highly educated veterinarians would have come up with a definite solution to shock in dogs by now, but that is not true. There is still a lot of controversy over the issue and most likely won’t be resolved any time soon.

However veterinarians do agree that it is good to do something, whether it be covering your dog in blankets or giving it a stimulant.

No matter what you choose to do if your dog does happen to go into a state of shock, remember that you should always try and keep the dog as calm as possible. Then, either give the dog a stimulant if the dog is conscious, or take it to the hospital if the dog is not conscious.