Bee Sting … what can I do?
Posted By Timi on July 13, 2010
Summer awakens many little pleasures of nature…and some that can be somewhat bothersome. Bee stings are a common ailment of our canine friends because they can be very curious of the buzzy little buggers. Some dogs actually like to make a game of it - trying to catch them in their mouths as they flutter about. Others insist on sniffing around the same bush that already has the interest of a bee or two. While others simply step on one as s/he innocently walks along the lawn. However it happens, dogs get stung and it can either be a minor incident or a life threatening situation giving you little precious time to save your beloved’s life. Here are some tips as to how to assess and handle the situation…
First, please remember that I am not a licensed veterinarian. I speak only from my own experiences or from the instructions provided to me by a trusted vet. I will always instruct that you consult your own veterinarian before taking any advice found on my, or any other site. With that said…
Is it serious or not?
There is no simple answer because each case is relative. In my experiences, none of the bee stings to my rescues has been serious; However, some dogs (just like humans) have allergies to the venom…and not all bees are bees. There are hornets and wasps and the location of where your little guy was stung may also play a role. I highly recommend that you make an immediate trip to the hospital if your dog is stung multiple times, or is stung in the face. Giving your dog Benadryl (see below) as you scurry may make the difference between life and death. Should you choose not to run to the hospital, then it is up to you to monitor your dog in order to see if his reaction gets worse as time ticks on.
Stinger
Make sure it’s out 100%. If you aren’t sure or know that it broke off and is still in foot (or wherever he was bit), you may want to take him to a vet immediately because venom can continue to escape.
Benadryl
The REGULAR/ORIGNAL kind ONLY. The bottle should have a pink label and read “Benadryl Allergy” with the only active ingredient being Diphenhydramine. Benadryl is proven to be effective and particularly safe…with the following exceptions: Known contraindications - meaning an “increase” of risk in use - if your dog has: prostatic disease, hyperthyroidism or glaucoma. In fact, Benadryl is all I’ve ever needed to give my dogs who have suffered a sting. But how much can you give? And how often? Most suggest to “administer up to 1mg for every pound your dog weighs / 3 times a day” - about every 8 hours. Now the 1mg per pound of dog is a rule of thumb. So technically for a 20lb dog, you could give 20mg but the tablets come in 25mg form and my vet instructs me to give my 19lb Pug ONE 25mg pill, twice daily, for 3 days. That’s obviously a little more than the “golden” rule. For 12lb Chihuahuas I cut the small 25mg tablet into four pieces and give 1/4 tablet every eight hours, or I may give them 1/2 of the tablet at the time of sting and 1/4 dose thereafter. For dogs 25lbs and up, I administer 1 tablet across the board. Be cautious with dosage for dogs under 10lbs. Remember: It is vital to ensure the stinger is out. MONITOR YOUR DOG. If you see increased swelling, lethargy, repeated shaking of an area, trouble breathing, etc - get him/her to a vet or emergency room immediately!
Injectable Epinephrine / Epi-Pen
You can talk to your vet about keeping one of these in the house. If a dog gets stung in the throat, or suffers multiple stings at once, then you could have fatal consequences and may just have minutes to get him/her to the emergency room. Having an Epi-Pen in the house can save your dog’s life. Learn how to administer one from your vet, and if you hike - bring one along for your dog…and yourself! Even after you administer one, it’s a good idea to get your dog to a vet.
Baking Soda Paste
If you don’t see immediate danger and choose to go the Benadryl/monitoring route, you can help draw the venom out. Make a paste by mixing some Baking Soda and water. Applying it to the affected area may be a challenge if your little one is a squirmer, but the effort is worth it.
Reduce Inflammation
If you think applying the paste may be difficult, an “ice pack” doesn’t seem likely to be much easier. If your dog allows you though, you can alternate a cold compress: on a couple minutes and off a couple minutes of the affected area. Never put ice directly on to a dog’s skin. I like to soak a thin washcloth in cold water and stick it in the freezer for under a minute. It doesn’t take long. If the towel gets stiff - let it soften a bit and then hold it on the affected area. If your also holding your little one at the time, he usually cooperates easier. Another natural inflammatory comes in the form of food. The spice Turmeric can be added to his food to assist the body in healing. Again, go by your dog’s weight. A teaspoon for a large breed, 1/2 teaspoon for 30-50lb dogs and a 1/4 teaspoon for toy breeds.
Whatever you decide to do, it is best that the dog not be left unattended for the next 12 hours to ensure that there are no allergic or other adverse reactions.
Help keep your dog safe and comfortable this summer. Be prepared and be alert to ALL the season’s dangers!
Comments
Leave a Reply
Please note: Comment moderation is currently enabled so there will be a delay between when you submit your comment and when it posts. There is no need to re-submit your comment, we simply request your patience in this process.
You must be logged in to post a comment.