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JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS
Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 13, 2016
LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND?
WHEN THE
BEE STINGS
Happy Tails
by Chris Leclerc
Who wants to be your special valentine? Krissy
is a 2-year-old Chihuahua – Miniature Pinscher
mix who came to the shelter as a stray with no
identification. She has a short coat of tan fur, very
easy to care for, and she weighs about 13 pounds.
Krissy has a happy spirit, full of youthful energy
and enthusiasm. You will find her at the gate to
her kennel, wagging her tail and jumping for joy
at seeing new people walk by. Krissy loves people
and is excited to spend time with her human
friends, always ready to meet new ones as well.
She enjoys attention in the form of pets, cuddles
and massages, and will return the affection with
gentle kisses.
Krissy enjoys going for walks, although her
enthusiasm sometimes overwhelms her ability
to focus on the leash. She needs a home where
she gets regular exercise and a yard where she can
burn off some of that excess energy. Krissy seems
to be a smart girl who is treat motivated, so she
should be easy to train.
Krissy was hit by a car before she arrived at
the shelter, so she is nervous around vehicles and
street noise. She just needs a little reassurance
that she is okay and will not be hurt again. She has
fully recovered from her prior injuries physically,
but it may take longer to become comfortable
walking near traffic. Once she is away from street
activity, her happy energy returns and she is
ready to romp, play, and explore the world.
Krissy needs an active family to give her a loving
home where she gets the training and exercise she
needs. She is an affectionate, playful dog who will
brighten the lives she touches. Come in to meet
this sweet silly girl to see if she is the valentine you
are looking for.
Her adoption fee is $130 and includes spay
surgery, vaccinations, microchip and a free
wellness exam at a participating veterinarian.
Feel free to call us at (626) 286-1159 for more
information on Krissy. She currently resides at
the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society located
at 851 E. Grand Avenue in San Gabriel. We are
located off San Gabriel Blvd., north of Mission
and south of Las Tunas. To arrange a ‘Meet and
Greet’ with Krissy, please stop by any time from
10:30am to 4:30pm Tuesday thru Sunday.
If you are interested in meeting Krissy or any
of the other wonderful pets at the shelter, visit
the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society at 851 E.
Grand Ave., San Gabriel, Calif., 91776, Tuesday
through Sunday from 10:30am to 4:30pm. See our
website at www.sgvhumane.org for information
and photos of all our wonderful pets.
2016 calendars are available at the shelter for a
$10 donation. The photos were selected among
hundreds submitted by shelter supporters. If you
would like to order a 2016 calendar on line, you
can stop by the shelter or do so through PayPal.
Go to the shelter website at sgvhumane.org for
more information.
As a pet sitter, I enjoy spending time with a variety of
different dogs on any give day, and I am on a constant
quest to learn more about my canine companions.
Most importantly, I endeavor to educate myself on
various canine health topics, and I try to be prepared
for whatever emergency might occur on my watch. I
am vigilant in paying attention to what my curious little
clients are poking their noses into when they sniff about
in the grass, and I pull them away from anything that
might be harmful or unhealthy, such as a dead bird or
droppings left behind by a previous passer-by.
I also watch out for wildlife whenever I am walking
dogs in our hillside village. It is not unusual to sight a
deer, a coyote or a bear roaming the streets in Sierra
Madre, and some dogs tend to react radically, causing a
potential confrontation which is totally up to me to avoid.
Then there are the small creatures that we either don’t
see or are so used to seeing, we take them for granted.
Birds and butterflies always add an aesthetically pleasing
and interesting dimension to the outdoor experience,
but some creatures can cause serious injury to our pets.
Clearly, our elusive friend the snake is one we should
always steer far clear of. And there are also other types
of creatures that can pose a threat to our pets during an
otherwise pleasant stroll through the neighborhood.
During a local walk around the block with my Molly,
she suddenly put the breaks on, sat down on the road
and began licking fiercely at the underside of her front
paw. Assuming she had stepped on some sort of prickly
sticker, I lifted her foot up to take a look and I saw a bee
fall to the asphalt. I immediately turned her around and
we ran back to the house to get a pair of tweezers so I
could remove the stinger. Having read an article on the
subject, I knew it was important to get that stinger out
as soon as possible, then apply baking soda and water to
the affected area. If the stinger is left in place, it is sure
to cause further swelling and discomfort, followed by
infection.
Before I had a chance to settle Molly down enough to
look for the stinger, her gut began to heave and out came
her breakfast in a messy pile on the floor. She continued
to vomit until the full contents of her stomach had been
purged. That’s when I ran to the phone and called my
veterinarian. I told her I was on my way with Molly,
who’d sustained a single bee sting and was apparently
having an allergic reaction. She told me to come quickly
and they took Molly back to the treatment room the
moment I arrived. The vet promptly gave her injections
of a steroid and an antihistamine, to
counteract the venom in her bloodstream
and stabilize her system. They kept Molly
for the rest of the day, to observe her and
make sure her allergic reaction was under
control.
Fortunately, Molly pulled through
the ordeal and experienced no further
symptoms of concern. The vet told me to
give her 50 milligrams of Benadryl every
12 hours, for the next couple of days while
the venom continued to work it’s way out
of her system. She told me how pleased
she was that I had gotten her there in such
short order, because had I waited much
longer it could have been fatal! Who
knew a single bee bite could be so devastating to a dog? I
was relieved that I had acted in a timely enough manner
to avoid the untimely death of my precious dog. While
most dogs don’t react so intensely to a single bee bite,
there are other symptoms that indicate allergic reaction,
such as swelling and disorientation. These signs should
be observed and treated promptly to prevent serious
injury.
That experience with Molly served as a blatant
reminder of how important it is for me to be aware and
prepared in case of an emergency when I am out and
about with my animals. Had I not been paying close
attention, and had I not investigated right away, Molly
may not have gotten to the vet in time. I thought later,
about how horrible it would have been if I hadn’t had my
car to take her to the vet, or if I’d been aloof and allowed
too much time to pass. The outcome would have been
heart-wrenching.
This situation is only one of many potential
circumstances that can arise when I am taking care of my
clients’ pets, which is why I consider it so very important
to be aware and be prepared. I know of one other dog
walker in our area who does not own a car, only a bike
and I can’t help wondering what would happen if one
of his canine clients were to have a similar experience.
Sometimes we don’t think of these things until it is too
late. I, personally will do whatever it takes to save the life
of a furry four-legged friend and would never put them
at risk by being less than prepared.
I hope my experience helps others to be aware of
what can happen when a dog is stung by a bee. From
what I understand, few dogs react the way my Molly
did, so I don’t want to put fear in the hearts of my
fellow pet owners. However, I do want to emphasize the
importance of paying close attention to what your dog is
up to while you are strolling down the street. And, in the
case of a bee sting or stings, you definitely want to look
for signs of an allergic reaction, in which case you should
transport your pet to the vet as quickly as possible. Even
if your dog shows no apparent signs of reaction, you still
need to remove the stinger and apply baking soda and
water to the affected area right away. Whether there is a
reaction or not, it is still a good idea to contact your vet
for advice on whether you should administer Benadryl,
and if so, the proper frequency and dosage.
Enjoy the great outdoors with your beloved animals.
Don’t be fearful of the amazing creatures with which we
share our natural spaces, just be aware and prepared!
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com
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