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Last Updated on June 30, 2023 by Thee Puppypreneur
DOGS BEE STINGS AND WHAT TO DO IF YOUR DOG GETS STUNG BY A BEE
Was your dog stung by a bee? First of all, dog bee stings might not seem like a big deal, but the pain is so real! I personally know it hurts for a few hours, as me and my little fur kid both got nailed the other day walking through a patch of clovers in the backyard. (I was barefoot, ouch!)
Did you know that when a bee stings you it actually releases other chemicals that help attract more bees.1How bees use pheromones – PerfectBee Yikes!
DOG BEE STINGS AND ALLERGIC REACTIONS
Also, dogs are capable of having a severe allergic reaction to bee stings just like humans and this is called anaphylaxis. If you know your dog is allergic to bees, can you give them your EpiPen®? The short answer is no. BUT! You would need to ask your veterinarian as your personal EpiPen® is for you and the dose of epinephrine is regulated for your body size. Depending on your dog’s size they would adjust the dose according to the dog’s weight and a smaller dog could possibly need EpiPen Jr. ®.2Epinephrine 1:1000 for Animal Use – Drugs.com 3Soaring EpiPen prices hit pet owners in the pocketbook, too | Fierce Pharma 4Epinephrine in Veterinary Medicine – Facts and Information | PetCoach
DOG BEE STING SYMPTOMS
Symptoms will vary depending on your furbaby and their reaction. They could range from mild to severe, including some of the following;
- Limping (if paws, as is painful)
- Whimpering
- Licking at area of sting
- Redness
- Swelling
- Anaphylactic shock (in extreme cases)
You will want to watch after the bee sting incident to see if there are any breathing issues, abnormal behavior, vomiting or if there is any abnormal swelling as this could signify a medical emergency and you should bring your furbaby to the vet asap. You will want to monitor the site as well for a few hours to a few days after the bee sting.
DOG BEE STING TREATMENT
So, how do you treat a dog bee sting? Well, that will depend on where your dog was stung and if there are any adverse reactions.
Firstly, if you see it happen this makes things much easier but if you see symptoms listed above it might not necessarily be a bee. It could be a spider bite or something else entirely such as a foxtail.
You will want to assess the area that is giving your furbaby the issue. In my case, I saw my little girl limping and we had about 100 bees on the grass so it was pretty obvious what had happened as she walked through that same area several times but only got stung once.
So, I saw her stop walking, hold her paw up and then start limping. I immediately brought her inside and grabbed a headlamp after I laid her down to inspect the paw that she was so wildly licking now. I actually got lucky and saw the little stinger wedged in the skin between the pads of her paw and through all of her hair.
Now they say you are not supposed to use tweezers to remove the stinger as this will release more toxins into the skin. You are actually supposed to scratch it out like you would a splinter.
I also gave my little girl some Benadryl®, but you will want to consult with a veterinarian before you give your furbaby anything as there are different kinds of Benadryl and not all types can be given to dogs as some ingredients can be toxic, plus you need to know the proper dose to give.
There is a dog version however, with the same active ingredient as Benadryl® which is, Diphenhydramine HCI.
Amazon.com : PetArmor Antihistamine Allergy Relief for Dogs, 100 Tablets : Pet Supplies
ALL NATURAL AND ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES FOR DOG BEE STINGS
My dog bee sting treatment is actually one that I use on myself as well. As I have always used baking soda for any bee stings I have gotten, and this is also acceptable for your furbaby as long as you don’t let them lick the area.
You can make a paste of water and baking soda and apply it to the area for 15-20 minutes to soothe the pain and inflammation. Make sure they don’t lick it and use an e-collar like this cute one
as these new trendy U-shaped half donut collars don’t work as well as you think, and pets absolutely can lick their paws while wearing them. And then after 15 minutes or so you can rinse the baking soda off.
Another, dog bee sting treatment option is
and I like this because the ingredients are the same that I make at home for soothing bug bites and bee stings. This contains chickweed, plantain, allantoin, beeswax (ironic) and olive oil. Now chickweed is helpful for rashes, itching and swelling. Plantain is antibacterial and supports healing and bug bites and minor abrasions. Now allantoin is a naturally occurring chemical compound that is found in several types of plants such as plantain and is helpful at reducing the irritation.
Our last all-natural dog bee sting treatment option is
Aloe vera is good for soothing skin irritations and I personally use this one because it is organic and because it contains no aloin and comes in an easy-to-use spray bottle, eliminating the need to cover with gel and watch to make sure it soaks in and stays on. Now, the reason I make sure there is no aloin in the products that I use is because aloin can cause digestive upset among other things if they accidentally lick this.
So, what have we learned about dog bee stings;
- The above remedies are to be applied topically, not internally and not near the eyes, nose or mouth.
- Figure out if it is a bee sting or something else
- Don’t use tweezers and make sure to scratch it out
- Monitor your furbaby for 1-2 days after
- Take furbaby to veterinarian immediately if you notice anything abnormal
- Soothe the affected area with your choice product
- Give lots of kisses and cuddles to furbaby <3
Check out our other articles for more information on topics like;
NEOSPORIN FOR DOGS. IS IT SAFE AND WHAT ALTERNATIVES ARE THERE
