As a dog owner you are probably aware that many dogs and emotional support animals are very playful and inquisitive creature! However, this sort of behavior can unfortunately lead to unwittingly stirring up an angry hive of bees or other insects from time to time.
Symptoms
The chances of a sting are much higher during the spring and summer months due to the larger number of wasps and bees. The following may be early signals of a sting:
- Running in circles
- Whimpering
If you notice both of these signals at the same time, or your dog appears to be in obvious pain, you should immediately check them over for a sting. After the sting takes full effect, you may notice your dog breaking out in hives, swelling or in serious cases difficulty breathing due to a severe allergic reaction. If your dog appears to be struggling to breathe, seek emergency medical attention. The most common sting areas on dogs are around their faces and mouths from investigating a stinging insect a little too closely, though stings are also common inside the mouth. Stings inside the mouth are serious and require urgent veterinary attention as they could cause the airways to swell.
Causes
Stings are often caused by your dog investigating a stinging insect too closely, or even catching one in their mouth (wasp and bee stings in dogs are the most common).
Diagnosis
Scour your dog for any visible stinger, which may be difficult to see. The affected site may become more obvious as swelling begins. It’s possible your dog will be trying to paw at the area where he or she was stung which can also clue you in.
Treatment
Though you should contact your vet immediately, there are steps you can take in the meantime to give immediate treatment to your pet:
- Disinfect the area using warm water and sterile soap
- If you can see the stinger, you can attempt to remove it by scraping it with a blunt object (for example a credit card), avoid using tweezers as squeezing the stinger can force out more of the toxins
- Give it Benadryl – NOTE: Do not use Benadryl (diphenhydramine) if your dog has a known allergy to the drug.