Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 13, 2016

9

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