Dear Puffy: It sounds like a bee stung your puppy. During the late summer yellow jackets can get really mean and aggressive and more prone to stinging. We all know what it’s like when we have the last of our outdoor picnics and the yellow jackets swarm all over the food and buzz around our heads.

To confirm a bee sting, try to look over the area where the swelling is the greatest. Look beneath the fur for a red area or bump, which might be the bee sting. If you can’t find any noticeable bite, perhaps the dog chased the bee and got stung in the mouth. Puppies are notorious for chasing things that fly, from insects to butterflies and unfortunately bees. She may have bitten or even swallowed the bee, which caused her swelling.

The swelling is caused by a release of histamine to the bite area, thus the puffy look of her head and eyes. Once you notice the swelling the best course of action is a quick response to prevent further swelling.

What I do – and what has been recommended to me by my vet – is to give the dog some Benadryl©. I keep a box in my dog room for such emergencies. When I notice a sting or allergic reactions to an insect or spider bite, I pop one adult dose of 25 mg to my approximately 40 pound dog. This anti-histamine will reduce the swelling and the itching within an hour. Make sure to check with your vet about proper dosages for your dog’s weight.

Sometimes if the bite is severe enough, you may need to take the dog to the vet for an injection and a higher dose. Monitoring the situation is your best bet to see if the over-the-counter medication for humans is working. A word of caution, don’t start to self-prescribe human medicines for your dog because some can be very harmful and even fatal like some anti-pain or anti-inflammatory medications.

Work with your vet to be prepared before the next bite occurs. Put together a first aid kit with the help of your vet and you will be prepared for the next home emergency. And in the meantime, you may want to limit your dog’s outside time alone in the yard until the yellow jackets have given up their fight for the season.        

            

Lisa’s Pick of the Litter

The American Kennel Club (AKC) and United Airlines are offering discounted fares for fanciers and their dogs traveling to AKC events. Discounts will be available to anyone traveling to or from an AKC event with a two-night minimum stay.

Depending on class of service and how far in advance of the travel date tickets are purchased, United will offer 5% to 15% off published fares. Fanciers may obtain the discount by contacting United’s Special Reservations at 800-521-4041 and using the code “515SP.” The airline will maintain a database of the dates and locations of AKC events and the code will be provided to AKC Superintendents for inclusion in their Premium Lists.

For dogs, certificates for 50 percent discounted travel will be available through AKC parent clubs for any dog flying as “checked baggage” in medium to large crates (300 through 700 Vari-Kennel Sizes) on United domestic flights. Passengers holding the certificates and with dogs in crates within these sizes will pay $100 each way (vs. $200 for non-AKC United customers) for the dog’s travel within the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands on United, United Express and Ted. The agreement runs through July 15, 2005.

Lisa Peterson, a breeder and exhibitor of Norwegian Elkhounds, is a Delegate to the American Kennel Club. Reach her at ask@lisa-peterson.com  or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470.