Ok long story short. We live in a not so fabulous apartment building. We recently discovered that we had bed bugs, due to a lower apartment bringing them in, and then the bugs spreading out over time (I am the fourth apartment effected) My chihuahua, Sally, sleeps in bed with us. We are suffering from amazing amounts of bites, and lack of sleep (its itchy and they come out in the early am).
Initially my dog began to scratch and I noticed it and thought she might have fleas. I first got bit around this time too, at first passing it off for a flea and giving my dog a bath (I found one flea), After washing all the sheets, giving her another bath and finding only one more flea, I was wondering if it wasn’t bed bugs. After finding out other people in the building were having these same issues I was pretty darn sure they were bed bugs, and when my boyfriend caught one, I was positive.
I just got home and was playing with my dog and realized that her right lower cheek and throat are painfully swollen. I’m gonna take a stab and say she must be getting bit by the bugs as well and is haveing a reaction to it? She can still move around, and wants her belly to be rubbed but I can tell its taking a toll on her because she was just sitting there earlier and she looked like she was falling asleep and her head kept bobbing like it was hard to hold up. But when I called her name she turned around and jumped in my lap.
Has anyone had this happen to them? If so what was your dogs reaction to it? Did you go to the vet? Can I put like cortizone on her? Ok…so maybe that wasnt so short but I just want to kind of see where this reaction can go if anyone has any insight it would be greatly appriciated! Thanks!
March 31st, 2010 - 11:49 am
Don’t put anything on her until the vet looks at her.
She might lick the cortisone off and make her sick.
Buy some plastic covers for the matresses and cover them after vacuuming thoroughly.
Vacuum everything in the apt.
Could be a reaction, but probably a small spider bite if it’s that swollen.
Ask the owners just exactly when you can expect the building to be sprayed for bugs so you can stay out of the bldg. for a night with your dog.
Ask your Dr. just what you can use on yourselves.
If you can afford to move in the near future, well….I would.