16/09/2024
With the lovely weather upon us and late summer flowers still in bloom as well as plenty of soft fruit that bees and wasps love, I thought this weeks tip should be about insect stings.
Dog can get stung by insects just like humans and react in the same way with redness, swelling and sometimes a severe reaction known as anaphylactic shock. There may be changes in the colour of the gums and swelling of the neck.
The sting can be anywhere on the body even on the face or muzzle, and it is important to always ensure that breathing and swallowing are not impeded and if they are, contact your vet urgently.
Bees leave the stinger in the body and to remove it, part the animals fur and gently ease the sting out by scraping from the base of the sting using the edge of a credit card. Dogs might act out of character if in pain so a muzzle may be required. (I will cover how to get a dog used to a muzzle in another tip).
If the dog has been stung in the mouth by a bee, the stinger will usually come out just by the natural action of the dog's mouth. However, as mentioned above, if breathing and swallowing are affected or could be affected, seek urgent veterinary attention.
I am a qualified Pet First Aid Instructor.
