Bites and stings! First one of the season!

[lvstorts]

Hi all,
Bug bite and sting season is here! Attached is a picture of a Redfoot about an hour after she was stung/bit by something. I hope my experience helps other keepers.

She swelled up at the puncture site and was pretty uncomfortable for the first full day until the swelling started to go down. It was against her neck resulting in somewhat labored, not strained, breathing. I kept her isolated, upped the heat and soaked her every 3-5 hours (even during the wee hours of the morning) to help her body process the toxins. During this time she was aware, alert, eating and pooping but not wanting to move.

During the second 24 hours the swelling started to go down, she was more active.

During the third 24 hours she was climbing all over her enclosure and eating everything in site.

She's now fine and running around the yard with the rest of the herd!

 

[mctlong]

Ouch! Any thoughts on what bit or stung her?

 

[ScottishFish]

Bummer! Thats a very swollen neck!
Glad to hear she is better


'Or like the snow falls in the river,
A moment white, then melts forever'
~Robert Burns - Tam O' Shanter

0.0.1 Testudo hermanni boettgeri

 

[mike taylor]

You think fire ants got her poor thing.

 

[lvstorts]

I'm almost certain is was not fire ants. I've never seen those in my yard or close to where I live.

My best guess is either a jumping spider (some call them wolf spiders), hornet, wasp or ground nesting bee.