Josie O, Bite Free for [1] Day(s)!

I don’t know if Josie really got stung by a wasp yesterday or not. She napped most of the day, and when her eensy dose o’ Benadryl wore off, she was as lively as ever, with no limp or sign that anything had happened. I never saw any swelling, so for all I know, she just stepped on something sharp. Regardless, she got a restful day out of it.

When Josie was at her most pitiful, I put Musette down next to her bed, to see if maybe she’d be sympathetic.

Musette (leaning in): Aw… What happened to– (stiffens) No! She is my sworn enemy! (stalks off)

I think Musette wants to try a friendly overture, but isn’t sure she wants the consequences. Come winter, when the outdoors ceases to please, that’s when it’ll happen. “The power of boredom compels you!”

Josie O learns about stinging insects.

Josie and I were outside when she suddenly let out a yip and ran for me and the front door, in that order, whimpering and holding up her left front paw. She’s been interested in the bees and wasps, so I figured she got stung.

Once inside, she got in her bed and licked her paw while I got a Benadryl gelcap and poked it with a pin. Gave her about half a drop, mixed with some honey, and now she’s like Bill Murray when they gave him the truth serum in The Man Who Knew Too Little. (“Are you a member of our Frequent Renter’s club?”)

Don’t know what kind of bug it was, but the first-aid instructions are the same. Good thing it wasn’t her face, or we’d be at the vet right now. So far her paw isn’t swollen very much at all. For all I know, it was an ant.

Will Aspartame kill your dog – and other misinformation.

I’m all for “better safe than sorry,” but in our eagerness to spread information about possibly harmful substances, we often badmouth stuff that doesn’t deserve it. It’s not that I want to give my puppy sugar-free gum (4 out of 5 dentists recommend it, not), I just don’t want to give valuable mental real estate to false facts. Click below for AskAVetAQuestion’s handy-dandy lists of foods that’ll kill yer dog, won’t hurt it at all, or will just make it puke a little.