How to Deal With Your Dog’s Bee or Wasp Sting
With dogs outside constantly for walks, potty breaks, and exercise, they’re always at risk of running into nature. If your dog does end up coming into contact with a bee, don’t worry! It’s more common than you might realize. Most dogs won’t even react beyond a sneeze or two, and you might not even know a sting happened. When you take your dog for a spin in the outside world, it’s best to stay alert. With some attention to detail, a lot of potential problems can be avoided.
Regardless of whether or not your dog has a minuscule or massive reaction to a bee sting, we want our dogs to be comfortable and have good associations with the great outdoors. A dog that doesn’t want to leave the house is a dog that’s going to be very unhappy. If you notice a sting, it’s wisest to follow these steps:
Assess the Situation
As stated above, do not panic. Mild to moderate pain is normal, and severe allergic reactions are rare. Use your best discernment to assess the situation and see how bad it is. Look for symptoms such as difficulty breathing or severe swelling.
Dogs react the way their owners react. It’s part of their insane empathetic tendencies, and it’s a large part of why we humans adore dogs so much. Your dog’s best bet at staying calm is if you stay calm. Take as many steadying breaths as you need before going on to the next step which is to…
Remove the Stinger
There is always a chance that, though the bee is nowhere to be found, the stinger remained embedded in your pup’s paw, nose, or wherever it was that they got stung. The sooner the stinger is removed, the less venom will enter your dog’s system, and the more mild the reaction will be.
Tweezers and an extra pair of hands make this step a lot easier than if you’re on your own. Don’t pinch and pull at it with your fingers, ever. If teazers and a pair of good eyes cannot be acquired, gently scrape the stinger out with a credit card. Simply place the card on your dog’s skin and slide it one way. This will ease the stinger out without the risk of deepening the wound.
Apply a Cold Compress
Once the stinger (if there ever was one) is removed, a cold compress is the best way to reduce pain and swelling. Apply the compress to the affected area for 10-15 minutes or until your dog returns to normal behavior.
It could be that your dog wants nothing to do with a cold compress, and that’s okay. Remember, this is for their comfort. If they’re happy without the compress, they might find more comfort in running a few laps rather than sitting still in an unusual position. We want to put our dog’s needs first, and, sometimes, that means letting them take the lead in non-crucial situations.
Administer Over-the-Counter Medication
If you’re concerned about the injury site, you can always consider consulting your veterinarian about administering over-the-counter medications. Antihistamines such as Benadryl are common, easily accessible options that will help alleviate itching and swelling. Those kinds of medications are also nice to have around the house in case a situation similar to this happens again. The best-case scenario involves your dog being mildly uncomfortable for a few minutes, but if their reaction is slightly more intense, some antihistamines can do a world of good as far as keeping your pup comfortable.
Observe Your Dog Closely
It’s best not to leave your dog alone for a few hours following a bee sting. If you have to go to work, for example, find someone to watch your dog. Even if they’re usually home alone, you don’t want a reaction to take place without someone around to help. If you or the dog sitter notice any signs of a severe reaction such as swelling that doesn’t subside or erratic behavior, immediately contact your veterinarian.
It is uncommon for dogs to react severely to bee stings, but you don’t want to take any unnecessary chances. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and, when it occurs, it requires immediate medical attention, so always keep a close eye on pups who have suffered a sting or two.
Allergic reactions
Most allergic reactions will take place within 20 minutes of the sting, but it’s important to know that they can sometimes be delayed for hours.
Some common, mild allergic reactions to bee stings include vomiting, diarrhea, and sleepiness. Other, more severe reactions could look like facial swelling, constant vomiting, or severe lethargy. If you see these symptoms ramping up, don’t wait. Get your dog to a vet or emergency facility as soon as possible to avoid a deadly progression.
What if the Dog is Stung on the Head, Mouth, or Nose?
If the sting happens around the nose, mouth, or head, breathing becomes a concern. Though most dogs won’t swell enough to cause any concern whatsoever, some will react severely. Bee stings shouldn’t be overlooked ever. Even if you just need to check for a stinger and apply a cold compress, you want your dog to be as comfortable as possible after an injury.
During the hours following a sting on the head, mouth, or nose, watch your dog carefully for several hours to ensure that any swelling doesn’t cause them trouble breathing or swelling. If swelling increases a lot over a short time, get to a veterinarian.
Anaphylactic Bee Reactions in Dogs
It’s uncommon for dogs to have an anaphylactic reaction to bee stings. It happens more often because of an injection of a medication or vaccine that they’re allergic to. Antibodies in the host react to whatever aggressive substance is causing the problem. The reaction drops blood pressure and sends the dog into shock.
Though it is rare, it’s still important to be careful. If your dog has survived a past incident, you might choose to carry an EpiPen just in case. Even if the first occurrence is overcome, the second might not be. If you know your dog reacts a certain way to bees, take all the steps to protect them.
The most common symptoms to keep watch for include collapsing, struggling to breathe, coughing, vomiting, lethargy, and diarrhea. If your dog begins to exhibit those symptoms after a bee sting, call your vet right away. Also, if you know your dog is allergic to bees and you know they’ve been stung, don’t wait to reach out.
If your dog disturbs a hive, the last thing you want to do is hang around. For both you and your dog’s sakes, collect your pet and put some distance between you and the swarm. If your dog got stung once, it’s highly possible they got stung multiple times, in which case you need to go to a vet right away. Treatment for large amounts of stings needs to happen as soon after the incident as possible to give your dog the best chance at avoiding shock and circulatory collapse.
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