Bees Sting Pets Too!!!
My-Dog.info > Dog Diseases, Bites, Worms & Ticks
Summertime is wonderful for outdoor activities for your pet,
but can result in exposure to bees, wasps, hornets, ants, and
other biting insects.
The significance of a sting depends on the type of stinging
insect, the pet's reactivity to the venom, and the location of
the sting. The worst cases I have seen resulted from internal
stings to the back of the mouth and throat area.
Typical signs include pain, redness, swelling, and sometimes
more severe allergic-type reactions develop.
Bees have a barbed stinger. The bee dies as a result of
stinging. When the stinger enters the skin, it sticks there and
should be removed by gently scraping it out with a credit card or
other blunt object. Avoid grabbing it with forceps since you will
squeeze additional venom out of the stinger into the tissues.
There is significant pain in the first hour or so, and the pet
will often yelp at the time of the sting, and rub the affected
part with their paws, or rub the head on the grass etc. in order
to relieve the discomfort.
An ice pack applied to the affected area may provide some
relief, and the dog should be monitored closely for a few hours
after the event. Signs of weakness, breathing difficulty, anxious
appearance, and any unusual swelling that extends significantly
away from the sting site need to be followed up promptly with
professional veterinary attention. Pay particular note to
swelling of the head and neck area.
If the dog is swarmed by a number of bees, immediate
veterinary attention should be sought. Swelling around the face
and throat are particularly of concern, and professional
treatment should be very prompt in these cases.
Hornet and wasp stings are more painful than bee stings, but
the stinger does not become imbedded. The same guidelines for
first aid and when to call the veterinarian apply as for bee
stings.
If the sting is single, and a mild local reaction is present,
there is no need to administer home medications. A mild
self-limiting reaction is not a cause for concern.
Severe reactions, as described above require therapy at a
veterinary facility since fast-acting injectable forms of
medications are indicated (antihistamine, steroid, adrenaline
etc.). Oral preparations of medications do not absorb quickly
enough through the stomach to provide the prompt activity that is
required in progressive sting reactions. Oral medications may be
prescribed as a follow up therapy when the reaction is not
resolving quickly, but for management of acute, severe reactions,
the oral forms are not an adequate primary therapy. The
progressive reactions also benefit from professional care because
if the throat swells, respiratory support may be needed, and in
these cases, or those of multiple sting injury, intravenous
fluids and other intensive support may be required.
Reprinted with permission from www.animalhealthcare.ca
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