FAQs

How to tell if your dog got stung by a bee?

Our pet friends are super curious about nature. They enjoy running, chasing, and exploring the outdoors with passion. However, their nosy nature and seeking for fun land them in trouble, like being stung by a bee, hornet, or wasp. 

This can be real trouble if your dog is allergic to being stung. The insects can also land in their mouths. 

You mostly experience jeopardy in spring, summer, and early autumn. The blooming flowers and warm weather increase the risk of bee stings. Our buzzing friends mainly target the closer body parts such as the muzzle, face, ears, eyes, and paws. 

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How to tell if your dog got stung by a bee?

If your dog is stung by a bee, here are the symptoms that they are likely to display

• Sudden yelling
• Holding up its paw
• Scratching or biting the bite area
• Swelling and redness in a particular area
• Whining and restlessness
• Limping

What Happens When Your Dog is Stung?

A bee sting releases venom into the body of your dog, which causes swelling and discomfort. Like people, animals also react differently to bees’ venom. The location of the sting may also affect other areas. For an instant, a sting in the mouth or nose may cause blockage or difficulty in swallowing airways if it results in severe swelling. After a bee sting, your dog will suffer mild to severe allergic reactions

Are bee stings threatening?

In many cases, a bee sting is just painful and irritating to our fur friends. However, they can trigger allergic reactions that can turn out to be fatal due to the venom injected into their system. A bee possesses a barbed stinger; therefore, it remains stuck on the dog’s skin. 

The venom sac remains attached to the stinger; hence it continues to discharge poison into the dog’s body. Another cause of the alarm is multiple stings. More stings mean more venom. If no immediate action is taken due to multiple stings, it results in death. 

Mild reactions to Bee Stings

In most cases, your dog will end up with a swollen face or paw and localized pain, swelling, and irritation. Here are other mild symptoms that your pet friend may experience. 

• Whining
• Holding up the stung area(a paw)
• Drooling
• limping
• Sudden onset of yelping
• Painful when touched
• Swelling of eyes, necks, muzzle
• Redness
• Licking or chewing the bite site
• Visible sting
• Pawing at the affected site
• Thickened ear flaps

In addition, if a dog is stung in the mouth, it may shake its head and repeatedly bite its lips. 

Severe Reactions

The allergic reaction to bee stings on your dog usually manifests in a 10 minutes window. However, they can still delay for hours (9 to 24 hours). If not treated on time, it causes a severe allergic reaction or death. Urgently seek professional help. 

• Diarrhea
• Rapid breathing
• Swelling that extends beyond the bite zone
• Significant drooling
• Vomiting
• Hives
• Loss of consciousness
• Difficulty breathing
• Collapse
• seizures
• Severe swelling
• Disorientation
• Pale gums
• Sudden aggression
• Cold extremities
• A pounding heart
• Cardiac arrest

An anaphylactic shock may also affect the lungs and liver. 

What to Do if Your Dog is Stung

If your pet friend is stung, there are several things you can do to reduce swelling, irritation, pain, and the risk of allergic reactions. When you do first aid to your dog swiftly, the discomfort can be handled at home.

For your dog’s safety, examine the symptoms and seek the vet immediately if the reactions worsen. 

Assess the Symptoms 

After a bee sting, check for any allergic reactions.

 In most cases, multiple stings cause allergic reactions. If the bite site is located in a sensitive area such as the mouth, nose, or neck and has swollen significantly, check whether the dog is breathing well. If it is gasping for air, take the dog to an emergency vet. 

The usual signs of anaphylaxis are vomiting within 10 minutes and pale gums. These signs should bring you to the vet speedily for IV administration of life-saving drugs. 

Remove the Stinger

Once you have assessed your dog, and are sure there is no cause for alarm, work to ease the pain and make it comfortable. The highest percentage of bee stings will result in mild reactions localized in the stung zone. 

Remove the sting carefully with a blunt-edged object such as a credit card. Do this by scraping the card in the direction of the fur. You should remove a stinger promptly because it continues to release venom in the dog’s body. 

Ensure you don’t scrape below the venom sac or squeeze it to prevent its rapture. Depending on where the stinger is located, you may be unable to remove it. In such a case, talk to your vet.  

Clean the Area

Wash the affected area with warm water and mild soap to remove venom residues. Clean it gently since it is sensitive and painful. Avoid scrubbing.  

Ease the Pain and Swelling

There are various ways you can use to ease swelling, pain, and irritation. These include applying an ice pack indirectly on the affected area, aloe vera gel, milk of magnesia, or using a baking soda paste. 

Another fast and effective way is by running cold water on a piece of cloth or towel and placing it on the affected area. 

Stop Your Dog from Licking or Chewing the Stung Area

Continuous licking or chewing of the stung area can delay the healing process and cause an infection. You may need socks or an Elizabethan collar on your dog’s paw to prevent it from chewing. 

Give Medication if Necessary

It is advisable to consult your vet on the medication and the correct dosage. Depending on the symptoms, they may direct you to give an antihistamine such as Benadryl. 

Take Care of the Dog

The painful bee sting will leave them upset and agitated. Try to keep your dog calm through lots of positive attention. In most cases, your dog will be okay within a couple of hours after a bee sting incident and recover fully in two to three days. 

Continue to Monitor

It is advisable to keep a close check on your dog since allergic reactions can occur hours later. Unfortunately, you can’t predict an allergic reaction in your fur friend. A previous bee sting may have caused just a mild reaction, but the next one may be fatal to your amazement. Keep a close check up to 24 hours. 

Home Remedies to Help Your Dog Recover from a Bee Sting

Ice Pack

After identifying the stung site, wrap an ice pack with a towel or cloth and place it there. Putting it directly on the skin can harm it. Let the ice remain on the affected area for 10 minutes and then remove for another 10 minutes. Repeat the process for an hour or two. 

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apply the vinegar to a cotton swab and place it directly on the affected area. It helps to neutralize the bee poison. Repeat the process severally until the swelling reduce. 

Baking Soda

Prepare a baking soda paste using three parts of soda and one part of water. Apply the paste to the stung site every two hours until the swelling subsides. 

Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe Vera will help soothe the stung area. It is advisable to use pure aloe vera gel and take care not to get to your pet’s eyes. 

Milk of Magnesia

Apply a coat of milk of magnesia on the stung zone several times a day to ease irritation and itchiness. 

What to Do if the Dog is stung in the Mouth, Head, or Nose

The main concern here is to ensure that the subsequent swelling does not interfere with the ability to swallow food or breath. Continue to monitor for hours to ensure the swelling doesn’t increase with time in these areas. 

Slight swelling is expected and should be brought down by applying an ice pack or cold towel. If you realize dramatic swelling or notice signs of difficulty breathing after this procedure, seek help from your vet immediately. 

How Vets Treat Allergic Reactions

Depending on the extent of the reaction, your vet may administer medications such as steroids, antihistamines, epinephrine, or any other supportive treatment. Intravenous fluids or injections may be given if the dog is experiencing difficulty in breathing. The vet may give fluid therapy or adrenaline( epinephrine) for anaphylaxis. Adrenaline works fast to relax muscles in the lungs to enhance breathing, reduce swelling, and stimulate the heart-beat. 

Your dog may also be admitted if in a severe condition for further treatment in the veterinary hospital. 

How to Prevent Bee Stings on Dogs

  • Restrict your dog to areas that bees love in your yard
  • Teach your dog to respond when called. If you see it snapping with a bee or in a place of danger, you will easily divert its attention. 
  • Keep your dog away from flower beds.
  • Any bee nest or swarm should be relocated by a professional 
  • You can consider an outfox field guard when your pet is outdoors. It will allow the dog to enjoy the outside while preventing it from eating bees and other flying insects. 
  • If your dog suffered a severe reaction in the past from bee stings, it is likely to experience the same in the future. You can arm yourself with bee allergy shots or an EpiPen ( an automatic epinephrine injector) to save the life of your pet if such incidents happen. While dealing with anaphylactic reactions, time is crucial. A quick shot of epinephrine can save your dog’s life. However, the EpiPen must be correctly dosed. Consult your vet for guidance on the different options. 
  • After a bee sting treatment, do allow your fur friend right back into the yard. Repeated stings have a higher probability of turning out to be a fatal reaction. 

When to Seek Help From Vet

  • If your pet was suffered from multiple stings
  • If it displays allergic reactions
  • When swellings have lasted for several days
  • If they had suffered from allergic reactions previously

What to Do if the Dog Shows Allergic Reactions.

If allergic reactions or anaphylaxis manifest from a bee sting, promptly take them to the vet. But while seeking professional help, here are ways you can help the dog.

  • Keep the animal as calm as possible.
  • The dog will keep licking or scratching the affected area; do your best to stop them. 
  • Place a cold towel on the bite site to ease the pain and reduce inflammation.

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FAQs

When is a bee sting dangerous to dogs?

A bee sting is dangerous to your dog if it is on the mouth or nose. It is also a concern when it leads to an allergic reaction or multiple stings. 

Signs that your dog has an allergic reaction?

Drooling, difficult breathing, diarrhea, vomiting, swelling on other body parts and collapsing. 

How can l stop my dog from being stung?

You can prevent a bee sting incidence on your dog by restricting their movement outdoors or on flower beds. You can also put a field guard on your pet.

Where is my dog likely to be stung by bees?

The common places that a dog is stung on the face, nose, mouth, and paws. It can also be stung in the throat if it swallows a bee. 

How can l know my dog has been stung?

If a dog is stung by a bee, it will yelp, bite or scratch the stung zone, drool, or hold up its paw. If your dog is allergic, you may find symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, or collapse. 

Can a bee sting cause anaphylactic Shock in my dog?

Yes, bee stings cause reactions that range from mild to anaphylaxis.

How should I remove a sting from the dog’s skin?

If you identify a sting on your dog’s skin, scrap it with a dull-edged object like a credit card. Avoid pinching the sting out. 

Can a dog be stung by a bee inside the mouth?

Yes, a dog may suffer a bee sting in the mouth, tongue, or throat as it tries to eat the insects.

Can l give my dog Antihistamines?

To reduce the swelling you may consider an antihistamine for the dog, however, seek counsel from your vet on the right one and dosage.

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