Wasps and bees are not fussy about who or what they will sting if it angers them enough, so just like we are at risk of being stung, so are our dogs. Treatment is very similar to the treatment that you would carry out on a human as well.
The most common places for a dog to be stung are on the muzzle or face when he’s been sniffing as he goes along; in the mouth because he’s tried to catch a wasp or a bee; or on the paw or leg because he’s stood on a “sleepy” wasp or bee.
If you’re not sure what has stung your dog, remember that with a bee sting, the stinger remains in after the bee has stung.
You should try and remove the stinger as soon as possible because the stinger muscle that gets left behind can continue to pump venom for quite a considerable time after it has parted company from the bee to which it was attached.
Your dog may well try and, sometimes, even succeed in getting the stinger out himself by perhaps rubbing his muzzle or face along the ground or scratching frantically at the sting site. The stinger is barbed so it doesn’t usually come out on it’s own.
It is possible that your dog will have an allergic reaction to a sting. You should keep a close eye on your dog following a sting for any adverse reaction. If he is showing signs of reaction, then you can administer Piriton (under a vet’s instruction with regard to dose) but sometimes a reaction can be severe and may lead to anaphylactic shock. This is a medical emergency and you must get your dog to a vet without delay – his life is at risk.
Wasp stings are very similar to bee stings – with one exception – the stinger is not left behind and a wasp can sting multiple times.
Treatment for a wasp sting is the same as a bee sting – be watchful for any reaction and either administer Piriton or get your dog to a vet immediately.
Wasp stings are alkali and bee stings are acidic. This means that they each contain different chemicals and your dog may have a reaction to one but not the other.
You can bathe the area of the sting to try and reduce inflammation.
For bee stings, use a solution of bicarbonate of soda and water – since the bee sting is acidic, you need to neutralise the acid.
For wasp stings, bathe the area with a vinegar solution – since these stings are alkali, you apply an acidic solution.