Since the stinger gets stuck after a bee sting, unlike a hornet or wasp sting, you still need to remove it. Otherwise the puncture site may become inflamed.
Signs your dog has been stung by a bee
If your dog is stung by a bee, it will usually let you know by howling loudly. This is at least helpful if you are close to your four-legged friend during the bee sting.
In addition, the swelling caused by the sting can usually be felt easily and the stinger and venom gland remain stuck in the dog’s skin. Unless your dog is allergic to the bee’s venom, external stings will not cause any other symptoms.
The whole thing looks different if the bee has stung your dog in the throat or throat. In this case, the mucous membranes can swell, which can lead to breathing difficulties or even life-threatening choking attacks. In addition, your dog may go into shock. This is noticeable, among other things, by pale mucous membranes, tremors and apathy.
Treating bee stings in dogs
It doesn’t matter where your dog was stung by a bee. The top rule for you is that you should remain calm. Don’t panic and calm the frightened animal. In addition, it makes sense to put your four-legged friend on a leash, as some dogs tend to run away in fright.
Treat your dog’s bee sting by first removing the stinger completely. Use tweezers or a clean cloth for this purpose. After that, you should cool the puncture site and observe your dog for a while. In most cases, however, the bee sting is quickly forgotten after the first shock and you don’t have to worry.
Bee stings in the throat are life-threatening for dogs
Unfortunately, it often happens that a dog swallows a bee while eating or drinking. Some four-legged friends also like to snap at the insects if they feel disturbed by them. Of course, the bee doesn’t know what else to do and stings.
In this case, the bee sting can become a great danger for your dog. The poison can cause his airways to become very swollen in a short time and he can no longer breathe. If the bee is in your dog’s mouth, you can try to remove it and then use ice cubes to counteract the swelling.
When is a bee sting in a dog a case for the vet?
Even if bee stings are harmless for dogs in most cases, you should not take any risks if in doubt. A dog that has been stung in the neck or throat by a bee should be taken to the vet immediately. Because cooling alone is not enough to prevent possible suffocation of the four-legged friend.
This also applies to dogs who are allergic to bee stings. In this case, anaphylactic shock can occur, which can take your dog’s life and therefore requires immediate medical treatment.
Preventing bee stings in dogs
Of course, it is not 100% impossible to avoid your dog being stung by a bee in the summer. Nevertheless, there are a few things you can do to reduce the risk and, above all, to prevent your four-legged friend from being bitten in the mouth. The following measures, among others, are useful:
- food bowl: regularly check your dog’s food bowl for insects and avoid large portions that sit around for too long.
- Training: Teach your dog from an early age not to snap at insects. In this context, also avoid letting your four-legged friend catch treats in his mouth.
- Garden: Make sure your yard is as dog-friendly as possible. The more flowers you have, the more likely it is that bees will be in your garden.
- Medicines: If you know your dog is allergic to bee or other insect stings, ask your veterinarian to give you some emergency medication to take home.
Bee stings in dogs – our conclusion
Bees and other insects such as wasps or mosquitoes are annoying, but they are part of the warm season. If your dog has been stung by a bee, keep calm, remove the stinger and cool the bite site.
Bee stings are only dangerous for dogs in the neck or throat area and if the four-legged friend is allergic to the bee’s poison. In these cases, you must immediately consult a veterinarian. He or she can take the necessary treatment measures and possibly even save your dog’s life.