Dogs are naturally inquisitive creatures that often let their curiosity get in the way of canine common sense. That can be a bad trait to have when dealing with a bee or wasp nest; if you have one in your garden, make sure you keep your pooch away from it until a professional can remove the problem.
Of course, it might be that your dog sniffs out the nest before you even get wind of its presence. In this case, they might suffer a sting or two. Here are the actions you should take if that happens.
Check for the Number of Stings
If your dog has clearly suffered more than one or two stings, you should contact a vet as soon as possible. However, just a couple of stings will rarely be a health risk. Of course, you need to check how many stings there are before making an assessment. Dogs tend to be stung most often on their face, paws, or inside the mouth, so check these areas first. Next, run your fingers slowly through your dog's fur to check for any red and inflamed spots.
For Bees, Remove the Stinger(s)
When a bee stings any animal, the stinger remains imbedded. Its venom sack will then use small muscles to continue pumping poison into the body, so you need to find the stinger or stingers quickly and remove them in order to lessen your dog's suffering. Popular belief suggests that squeezing the venom sack in any way will push more poison into the host body, but this is a myth. If your dog will stand it, place an ice pack over the area after the stinger has been removed to help numb it and take away some of the pain.
Watch for Negative Reactions
As with humans, a dog that is allergic to bee or wasp stings can respond negatively even after a single sting. After a sting or stings have occurred, keep an eye out for the following signs:
If any of these symptoms present themselves, make sure you contact a vet as quickly as possible. You'll probably need to take them in and have the situation monitored.
Even if your dog didn't have any adverse reactions, other than discomfort, from a bee or wasp sting, remember that you still need to keep them leashed at all times when they pass near the nest until the problem is taken care of. You might not be so lucky the next time.
Share16 September 2016
I've owned dogs for over twenty years and even used my experience to start a dog socialisation group in my local area, as I found I was increasingly encountering poorly socialised dogs when I was out with my own dogs. I started this blog to share my personal tips and experience of looking after dogs, and I write blog posts on a range of topics, such as exercise requirements, stimulation, basic training tips and common doggy health complaints to be on the lookout for. I also post about new products I've tried, such as agility equipment, grooming products and supplements. I hope you enjoy my blog and find my posts interesting.