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Treating a Dog for Bee Stings

Dog bee stings may not be evident at first glance, because they may not bother your dog. However, if your dog is stung there are several steps you can follow in order to treat him.

Locate the Stinger

The first thing you need to do when treating a dog for a sting is to locate and remove any the stingers. The stinger will be a black barb in the middle of the sting. To remove it, scrape a credit card or fingernail along the surface of the skin. Avoid squeezing the stinger, it will release more toxins.

Identify the Insect

Next, identify whether a wasp or a bee stung your pet. This is important because they produce different types of venom. A wasp has an alkaline based venom, while a bee has an acidic venom.

Neutralize the Venom

By identifying the insect you are able to neutralize the venom while lessening pain and swelling to the affected area. To treat a wasp sting, soak a pad or compress in vinegar and place it on the sting. If it is a bee sting make a paste out of baking soda and water and place it on the irritation.

If you cannot identify the insect, or don't have these ingredients on hand, a cold compress also helps reduce pain and swelling. In any of these situations, an antihistamine tablet is also helpful in reducing the reaction. Be sure to ask your vet about how much to give your dog.

Severe Allergic Reactions

In some cases a dog will have a severe allergic reaction and go into anaphylactic shock. Symptoms to look for include shortness of breath, your pet collapsing, agitation, vomiting, diarrhea and excessive drooling. If this happens, make him comfortable and call a vet immediately.

While at the vet, ask about acquiring an Epi Pen kit. This kit helps counteract an anaphylactic attack caused by bee stings and can be used if your dog is ever stung again. It is important that you learn how to administer the drug correctly in order to avoid misuse of the drug.

Remember, a dog is not always bothered by bees, dogs with long fur are often protected from stings. If your dog has short hair or tries to eat bees, these steps help reduce the effect of the sting. Swelling should go down within 24 hours.

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