If your dog is stung by a bee, it’s essential to know how to react. First, you should check your dog for any signs of an allergic reaction. If your dog has trouble breathing, experiences hives, or cannot walk, they may be having an allergic reaction.
If there are no signs of an allergic reaction and the bee sting is not too severe, you can treat the sting with ice packs and soothing baths. Discover the best treatments for a bee sting and when to call a vet.
First: How to Recognize Signs of a Bee Sting
Bees are so small that they can sting humans, dogs, and other animals without being noticed. They use their stingers to defend themselves from predators and immobilize prey. The venom of a bee’s sting comprises a complex mixture of chemicals that can cause an allergic reaction.
When a bee stings a dog, it releases its venom into the animal’s skin. This causes swelling, redness, and itching, which can last for hours or days. The dog may also experience some breathing difficulties because the venom affects the respiratory system as well as the skin.
There are many symptoms of a bee sting on a dog. The most common ones are swelling, pain, and redness around the sting site. Other symptoms include fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
You Can Treat Commonplace Bee Stings at Home
The first step in treating a bee sting is being familiar with the signs so you can act quickly. If you realize your dog has experienced a sting, promptly search the surrounding environment to see if you can identify the source. Bees aren’t the only creatures who can sting your dog; other animals, such as spiders, could be poisonous, so it’s essential to identify the culprit as soon as possible.
If you know or suspect that the sting originated from a bee, the next step is to look for the stinger. Bees are the only insects that leave their stingers attached; these stingers continue to release venom, which is why it’s vital to remove them as soon as possible.
To remove a sting, use a credit card or your fingernail to scrape it out; avoid things such as tweezers which can squeeze more venom from the stinger. Once you have removed the stinger, you can soothe the bite with a paste made from baking soda and water. If there are multiple stings, an oatmeal bath can be an excellent way to help ease the pain. If there is swelling in the area, you can use an ice pack to reduce it.
While antihistamines can help to prevent allergic reactions, you should only administer these after consulting with a veterinarian. Never administer drugs to your dog without consulting a professional first.
Head, Mouth, or Nose Stings Require Vet Care
A bee sting in the mouth can be very dangerous for a dog. If your dog is stung by a bee, you should rinse their mouth with water and then call your vet. Stings to the mouth are so much more dangerous because the swelling can block a dog’s airway and make breathing difficult. Contact your vet immediately if you notice any breathing difficulties or irregularities following a bee sting.
Common symptoms of a bee sting inside the mouth include:
- Head shaking
- Repetitive lip licking
- Coughing
- Gagging
- Drooling
- Rapid breathing
- Wheezing
- Vomiting or diarrhea
What Is an Anaphylactic Reaction?
Anaphylactic reactions are a type of allergic reaction that can happen when the body’s immune system mistakenly treats a harmless substance as an invader. The immune system protects the body from harmful substances and organisms. When someone has an allergic reaction, their immune system overreacts to a substance it mistakenly identifies as harmful.
This causes symptoms such as redness, itchiness, and skin swelling around the area where contact with the allergen was made. Anaphylactic reactions are more severe than other allergic reactions because they can involve more than one part of the body, such as the skin and airways, leading to anaphylaxis.
A honeybee’s sting is a weapon of self-defense. Bees have evolved to use their stingers to defend themselves against predators. When a honeybee stings, it releases venom-containing compounds that cause an allergic reaction. The venom contains a mix of proteins that are injected into the skin, along with some chemicals called pheromones.
The proteins in the venom cause an allergic reaction by activating cells in the immune system called mast cells, which release histamine and other inflammatory molecules into the bloodstream. These molecules cause blood vessels to leak fluid into tissues and constrict airways, making breathing difficult or impossible.
Common symptoms of an allergic reaction include the following:
- Weakness or lethargy
- Difficulty breathing
- Large amounts of swelling that deviate from the original site of the sting
- Hives (either around the face or anywhere else on the body)
- Collapsing
If you have any reason to suspect your dog is having an allergic reaction, contact your vet immediately. If you know your dog is allergic to bee stings, consult your vet to find the proper antihistamines. The sooner you can administer the drug, the better. Still, never administer any drugs or medications without first consulting your veterinarian.
