When a Bee Stings Your Pet Do You Know What to Do?

When a bee stings your pet, it's not a laughing matter. Outside pets are more at risk to bee stings, but inside pets can also be stung. Knowing what to do can save their life and it can be a matter of life or death for some pets. I had a dog who had such a strong dislike for bees and wasps, he would spend his summers searching for and actually attacking any he found. At least once every summer I'd have to deal with a bee sting he received after grabbing one. His mouth or nose would swell up like a balloon.

Most likely, you won't know when a bee stings your pet until you see them with a swollen face or neck or notice them limping. Not all bee stings require medical attention, but some do and knowing when you need to take them to the vet can save their life. Sometimes your pet is stung after your vet goes home for the day. Home remedies can help relieve the swelling and pain of bee stings; as long as it's not an emergency.

How to remove a bee stinger: The first thing you need to do is try and find the stinger and carefully remove it. Take a credit card or use your fingernail to gently scrap the stinger out. Never use tweezers or your fingers to try and pull it out because you are only squeezing more toxins into your pet. It's not always easy to find the stinger and if you can't find it, don't worry about it. The stinger will eventually come out on it's own. After being stung, your pet will most likely rub his head on the ground or paw at the site of the bee sting and he may have already gotten it out. A wasp doesn't lose the stinger like bees do, so you don't need to worry about removing one.

After removing the bee stinger: Put an icepack on the affected area to help reduce the swelling and give your pet some relief from the pain. Try to keep it on for about 30 minutes. It's important to monitor them for a couple of hours up to 24 hours to make sure they don't have any allergic reactions to the bee sting.

Signs to watch for when a bee stings your pet: If your pet has difficulty in breathing, is trembling, acts like he's cold, has diarrhea, anxiousness, rapid breathing, has pale gums, has signs of weakness and any usual swelling in other places besides at the site of the sting, take him to your vet immediately. If your pet was stung in the mouth or on their nose, pay attention to swelling in their mouth, head and neck. The swelling could be constricting their airway.

What to do if your pet experiences a severe reaction: When a bee stings your pet, he can go into shock (anaphylactic shock). This is an emergency. Keep him as warm as you can and on your way to your vet, rub Karo Syrup or honey on his gums to help keep him awake. A severe reaction can be life threatening and your vet may need to administer antihistamines, steroids or other medications to help relieve the swelling so he can breathe. Extreme cases may require placing a breathing tube down the throat and giving intravenous fluids.

Home remedies can help to relieve pain and swelling: When a bee stings your pet, home remedies can help, but they are not intended for severe cases and never a substitute for veterinary care when it's necessary. If you give your pet an over the counter antihistamine and then discover he needs to see the vet, make sure to tell your vet what you gave him. As with any kind of medication, when using an over the counter antihistamine for allergies like Benadryl, watch for any signs of allergic reaction your pet may experience with it. Some pets are allergic to the drug.

Home remedies - Benadryl: For bee stings with no allergic reaction, home remedies like Benadryl can be given every 6 to 8 hours. Do not exceed the recommended dosage. One milligram for every 1 pound of body weight. If you have a ten pound dog or cat, you would give them a half of a pill. A 25 pound dog would get 1 pill. Benadryl oral strips can also be used. An antihistamine cream can be applied directly on the site of the bee sting.

Home remedies - a baking soda or meat tenderizer paste: Mix a tablespoon of baking soda or meat tenderizer with just enough water to give you a thick paste. Cover the bee sting and the surrounding area with the paste. If your pet has long hair, it's a good idea to trim the area before applying the paste so you can make sure you are applying the paste in the right spot. Your pet may try to lick the paste off, so a cover may need to be applied to keep them from licking it. Leave it on for around 30 minutes or so and then wash it off with warm water. Reapply as necessary.

If you have pets, knowing when you need to take your pet to the vet and when you can use a home remedy can help ease your panic and fear when a bee stings your pet. It's important for you to stay calm so you can best help your pet.

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