What to Do If Your Pet is Stung by a Bee Or Wasp

It's getting towards that time of year again when pets and children alike are tearing around in the back yard and can be susceptible to bee and wasp stings. Unfortunately, for some animals, being stung can be a matter of life and death. Therefore, it is important for an owner to know exactly what to do.

Of course, the chances are you will not notice that your pet has been stung, until you see him, or her, limping or, worse still, the nose or mouth starts swelling up. However, in non-emergency situations, there are some simple things that you can do at home to reduce the swelling and relieve the pain of an insect sting.

Removing a Bee Stinger

If you think your pet has been stung, you should look for a bee stinger. If you see the stinger, you should attempt to remove it by scrapping with your finger nails. It is not advisable to use your fingers or tweezers to pull the stinger, as this can cause the release of more toxins.

However, you will not see a stinger in all cases; your pet may have already removed it by rubbing at the sting site. Alternatively, of course, your animal may have been stung by a wasp, which does not leave a stinger behind. Therefore, if, after careful examination, you cannot find a stinger, do not worry.

How to Reduce the Swelling

After the stinger (if there was one) has been removed, you should get an ice pack and place it over the site of the sting. If possible, the ice pack should be kept on for approximately half an hour, as this will help to relive the pain and reduce any swelling. After this time, you should keep a close watch on your pet for at least 24 hours to ensure that he, or she, does not have an allergic reaction to the sting.

There are a number of home remedies that you can try, but remember these should never be used instead of proper veterinary care. In addition, these remedies should only be used in non-emergency situations. Try mixing a spoonful of baking soda with a little water until you get a thick paste, apply this to the site of the sting and leave for half an hour. If your animal has long fur, you may need to trim it to do this properly. Additionally, it is worth considering placing a cover over the paste to stop your pet licking it off.

Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction

Some of the symptoms that you should be watching out for include:

Anxiety
Fever
Pale gums
Restlessness
Weakness or lethargy
Quickness of breath
Difficulty breathing
Diarrhoea
Swelling in any part of the body other than the sting site
If you see any of these symptoms in your animal, it is essential that you seek the immediate assistance of a vet, Bear in mind that if your pet has been stung around the nose or mouth, he, or she, may experience swelling that restricts the throat and/or trachea.
What to do if Your Pet Goes into Shock

If an animal has a severe allergic reaction he, or she, could go into anaphylactic shock. This is a matter of life and death. If your pet has gone into shock, try to keep him, or her, as warm as possible and call the vet immediately. While waiting for the vet, try rubbing honey or Karo syrup on your pet's gums to keep him, or her, awake.

Of course, in the vast majority of cases, a sting is slightly painful, but nothing serious. However, it is wise to be aware of the possible dangers that your pet faces. Knowing what to do and remaining calm in an emergency could save your pet's life.