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.

Question: Hi. I am the owner of an overweight dog, who is 10 months old. I took him for a checkup with the veterinarian recently, and I was told that my dog is overweight by nearly 10 pounds. What do you think I should do?

You are most certainly correct to be concerned about your dog being overweight at his young age. Something important you should do is check your breed standard to find out what the ideal weight for your dog is. Your veterinarian may already have been informed about this information and told you. 10 pounds overweight is rather excessive and would normally mean that your dog is classified as “obese”.

Your veterinarian should also have suggested a dog weight loss program to put your overweight dog on. This may involve feeding your dog a specific kind of food that is beneficial for weight loss for his breed and body size. You should probably also eliminate treats and any non-prescrivbed foods from his diet.

You should also begin increasing your dog`s exercise volume right away. However, you should avoid increasing the volume too much all at one time, since that could cause injury or unhealthy exhaustion. It is best to gradually increase the exercise volume over a week or two.
One of the biggest causes of obesity in dogs is that the owners fail to take them out for regular walks or other exercise like fetch or frisbee, etc. At minimum you should take your dog for a walk once a day. If you are not already doing this then you should start immediately. You may be surprised at how quickly your dog`s body and health starts to change.