How To Identify & Treat Bug Bites on Pets

Bugs, insects, and arthropods are all around us. Whether your pet ventures off-trail on hikes or they rarely leave the couch, chances are they will experience a bite or sting at some point. Learn about the different types of bug bites that can affect dogs and cats, what you can do to treat bites and stings at home, and when to seek veterinary care.

Flea Bites on Pets

Fleas are prevalent in all 50 US states. A flea is dark red to black in color and just smaller than a sesame seed. Outdoors, they live in tall grass, and indoors, they can lurk in fabrics, carpets, and along baseboards.

What Do Flea Bites Look Like? Flea bites are tiny, red, itchy bumps. They’re often hidden by fur, though you might notice excessive itching, the appearance of fleas, and flea dirt (flea poop), which looks like coffee grounds in your pet’s coat.

How are Flea Bites Treated? Keep your pet on a flea and tick preventative year-round to prevent a flea infestation. For active infestations, treat both your pet and your home. An itch relief topical treatment can relieve mild skin irritation. Veterinary care may be needed for severe infestations and for complications like flea bite dermatitis, secondary skin infections, and flea bite anemia.

Tick Bites on Pets

Ticks are found in all 50 US states. They’re most active in warmer months but can emerge anytime temperatures rise above 45 degrees. Ticks lurk in tall grasses and underbrush, using their front legs to cling to animals that brush against them. Generally, ticks are not found indoors.

What Do Tick Bites Look Like? A tick bite can look like a small, reddish bump, similar to a mosquito bite. Some, but not all tick bites, take on a bulls-eye appearance. Ticks can remain attached to their host for up to 48 hours. Before feeding, a tick looks like a small spider. After feeding, a tick balloons up to the size of a blueberry and may look yellowish, grayish, or greenish in appearance.

How Are Tick Bites Treated? If the tick is still attached, remove by grasping as close to the skin as possible, taking care not to squeeze the head or leave the mouth-parts embedded in the skin. Ticks can transmit Lyme and other serious infections if not removed within 24 hours of attachment. See your veterinarian if you’re unable to safely remove the tick or if your pet shows signs of Lyme disease, including lethargy, fever, and loss of appetite, which can take weeks to months to develop. Prevent ticks by keeping your pet on a flea and tick preventative year-round. Always check your pet for ticks after exploring grassy or wooded areas.

Black Fly Bites on Pets

Black flies, also known as buffalo flies, are found outdoors in many regions throughout the US. They’re rarely found in homes, but may bite pets that spend time outdoors close to fast-moving bodies of water.

What Do Black Fly Bites Look Like? Black fly bites leave behind itchy, painful, splotchy bites that may or may not have a red outline.

How are Black Fly Bites Treated? Black fly bites rarely cause complications and can usually be treated at home with an itch relief shampoo or topical spray. Veterinary treatment may be needed if your pet has an allergic reaction or if skin irritation persists.

Mosquito Bites on Pets

Mosquitoes are found in all 50 states, and can affect pets year-round, as they can emerge on unseasonably warm days in the winter and may live indoors in humid environments.

What Do Mosquitoes Look Like? Mosquito bites cause raised, itchy bumps that may be hard to detect under your pet’s fur.

How are Mosquito Bites Treated? A mosquito bite typically causes just a few hours of itching, which can be relieved at home with pet itch relief products. However, mosquitoes are known to transmit life-threatening heartworm infections to dogs and cats. All pets should be on a heartworm preventative year-round.

Fire Ant Bites on Pets

Fire ants are found in many regions across the United States, particularly in the Southeast. They prefer humid environments and create nests that look like a mound of dirt. Fire ants typically attack pets that disrupt their nests, swarming and biting their target.

What Do Fire Ant Bites Look Like? Fire ants leave pets with clusters of small, red, painful, itchy bumps.

How are Fire Ant Bites Treated? Fire ants actually sting, similar to a bee or wasp, rather than bite. Pets can usually be treated at home with a cool compress and itch relieving products, if needed. Some pets can experience a life-threatening allergic reaction. Seek veterinary care if your pet experiences excessive swelling, trouble breathing, or if skin irritation persists.

Insect Stings on Pets

Bees, wasps, and hornets are found in all 50 US states. Some are more aggressive than others, attacking pets that inadvertently disrupt their nests. An insect may sting on its own, or the hive may attack as a swarm.

What Do Insect Stings Look Like? Bees, wasps, and hornets leave their target with one or more large, swollen, painful bumps. Most insects can sting more than once. Only honey bees leave their stinger behind and die shortly after stinging.

How are Insect Stings Treated? A single insect sting can usually be treated at home without complications. If a stinger is present, gently scrape with a flat tool like a credit card. Use a cool compress to control swelling and give pet pain relief as needed. If your pet is stung multiple times, or experiences facial swelling or trouble breathing, seek emergency veterinary care.

Spider Bites on Pets

The majority of spiders in the United States are relatively harmless. Only two species can cause a serious, potentially life-threatening reaction in pets: the black widow and the brown recluse.

What Do Spider Bites Look Like? Most spider bites leave behind a small pink or red bump that may be itchy or painful. Only a bite from a large species will leave behind two fang marks. A toxic bite from a black widow or brown recluse may cause severe pain at the site, limping, paralysis, and fever. The skin tissue surrounding the bite can die, causing a dark-colored blister or ulcer.

How Are Spider Bites Treated? Most spider bites to pets only cause mild pain or itching that can be treated at home with a cool compress and pet itch relief products. However, a bite from a black widow spider can easily kill a small dog or cat, and cause serious neurological issues in larger pets. A brown recluse bite is less toxic, though may cause severe pain and infection. If your pet may have been bitten by a brown recluse or black widow spider, seek emergency veterinary treatment.

VISION

Every pet deserves to live a long, happy, healthy life.