My JRT was "studying" a scorpion.

    • Bronze

    My JRT was "studying" a scorpion.

    Today I saw my 6 months old JRT, Luna, curiously studying something on the floor. At first I thought she found a bug, but not a second later I noticed how cautious she was. It was a scorpion. I killed it and checked if Luna was ok. She was. I guess being stung by a scorpion must be death for a dog if unattended, but I wonder what are the chances of a dog being stung if it is aware of the scorpion. I guess age must be a factor (a young puppy would jump and bite right at the scorpion, I guess). I don't know for how long Luna was "studying" the scorpion before I noticed. Before rushing to the vet, is there some kind first aid one can give to a dog in the meantime in case of a scorpion sting? [I'm sorry, I don't know why my paragraphs won't separate.]
    • Bronze

    I do not live in an area with scorpions, so I'm no help. I'd call your vet and ask for what the signs of a scorpion sting are in a dog, and at the first sign of that, rush her to the e-vet. For a smaller dog like that, a scorpion sting may have more consequences for a larger human...

    • Bronze
    Tenna, thanks for your prompt reply. Yes, a rush to the vet would be the first thing to do. Anyway, I found this info, in case anyone's interested (and I hope never goes from interest to need-it): http://www.petplace.com/dogs/scorpion-stings-in-dogs/page1.aspx
    • Gold Top Dog

    When we first moved to Texas my 20 pound, 12 yr. old cairn terrier was stung by a scorpion.  We were walking at night, went under a street light, and the next thing I know my cairn yelps.  I looked down and saw an aggressive scorpion.  My dog had stepped on it.  At that time I did not know scorpions liked to be under street light areas to catch insects attracted by the light.  My dog was in great pain (and he generally was quite pain tolerant).  I carried him home and put his paw in ice water for a while, then kept icing it with a icy, wet washcloth.  It helped some.  He limped for one day and after that seemed fine. 

    He passed away at age 14,  and we got another cairn pup.  When he was about 5 months old,  one evening he started barking at somwething in the hallway.  I had never heard this kind of bark from him before and ran immediately to him.  A scorpion with his stinger curled over poised to attack was inches from his nose as he tried to sniff it, bark at it, and get as close as possible without getting too close to it.  I scooped him up and grabbed a flyswatter, then smacked the scorpion several times to kill it.  I think he instictively knew this was something dangerous. 

    • Gold Top Dog

     I'm not in a scorpion area either, but found this: http://www.petplace.com/dogs/what-to-do-if-a-scorpion-stings-your-pet/page1.aspx

    Looks like prompt vet attention is what they suggest.