Here’s What You Can Do When Dog Bee Stings Happen
If you have ever gotten a painful bee sting in the summer, your dog probably has too and it hurts just as much for him as it does for you! Here are some things you can do to alleviate the pain of dog bee stings.
Once summer has arrived, you and your pet will spend time outside and exposure to bees is inevitable. For some reason, dogs seem to enjoy snapping at insects that fly near them, bees included. However, they do not enjoy the sting that causes pain in their mouths.
You’ll be able to detect a sting immediately, because you’ll see your dog pawing and scratching at his muzzle. If your dog is salivating a lot more than usual, it’s probably due to a hornet or bee sting. Seeing your pet foaming at the mouth can be a really horrifying experience, especially when you’re not sure why.
There are several options to help relieve the pain of dog bee stings:
If your dog is stung by a bee or wasp, one option to make your dog more comfortable is to mix baking soda and water. The combination of 1 tablespoon baking soda to 2 pints water should be applied every 10 minutes until pain is gone. If your dog should lick the sting area or swallow the baking soda mixture, do not worry, this solution is not harmful.
Ammoniated quinine can be put directly on the area.
If your dog is acting really agitated, you might try to give him some potassium bromide to calm him down, however, most dogs take a bee sting in stride.
Once your dog has been stung by a bee or wasp and you can see the stinger, gently try removing the stinger with tweezers.
If your dog has been stung and is reacting irregularly, always consult a vet. The vet can administer a drug to stop itching, swelling, and other reactions.
Dog bee stings are just part and parcel of the summer experience, unfortunately. Dogs can get lucky - snapping at bees buzzing by may not necessarily mean your dog will be stung. Once I owned a dog that chased bees every moment he was outside and he was never stung (to my knowledge). But it never hurts to know what to do for your dog, just in case of a painful sting.
Last 5 posts by Lee Dobbins
- The Different Types of Chihuahua Dogs - July 16th, 2008
- Things You Should Do Before Bringing Your Puppy Home - July 16th, 2008
- German Dachshund Facts - July 15th, 2008
- Training A Dog For Children - July 15th, 2008
- Learning How To Stop Dog Jumping Behavior Is Important - July 15th, 2008
