HOW TO TREAT A DOG FOR BEE OR WASP STINGS
Long days and warm weather mean more time spent frolicking in the great outdoors for our pups, and they love to soak up the sun and chase anything buzzing around.
Most of the time, an insect sting for a dog will be just an irritating and painful sensation, but should he be stung several times, especially in the throat or mouth area can be very dangerous, and this needs an urgent trip to the Vet’s surgery.
Observe your dog for any signs of anaphylactic shock
The most common signs may occur within seconds to minutes. Look out for:
excessive drooling
drowsiness
vomiting
pale gums
If your dog is having a severe reaction, you need to immediately take the dog to a vet.
Quickly identify the affected area.
Look for raised or reddish area. Observe your dog’s behaviour - Your dog may chew on his paw or lick the affected part of his body.
Remove the stinger
This applies only to bees as wasps stingers remain intact after stung, thus enabling them to sting several times.
If you can pick the stinger out right away, your dog will likely experience less pain and swelling. This is because the stinger continues to inject toxins into the area long after the sting has occurred. The best is to scrape the stinger with a credit card or remove it gently with tweezers.
Reduce swelling and discomfort
Apply cold water or ice pack compress in addition to neutralizing the wound with vinegar (wasp sting) or baking soda (bee sting).
Prevent scratching
Use a head cone if your dog continues to lick or scratch at the bite wound. Constant scratching will delay healing and may cause infection.
Hydrate
Give your dog fresh water to drink. Dogs that are stung in the mouth may find it difficult to eat, so feed them moist food.
