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During the hottest time of year, animals become most active, so the risk of getting an insect bite increases several times. In these cases, the pet owner has a lot of questions regarding further actions. If a dog is bitten by a bee, first aid must be provided immediately. This will help stabilize the animal’s well-being and prevent complications.
The effects of bee venom on a dog's body
During a sting, a bee injects poison into the animal's body, which is produced by the insect's secretory system. This moment is accompanied by pain and swelling in the damaged area of the skin. If a dog has been stung by bees, you can hear a characteristic whining sound. The animal begins to behave restlessly. Swelling gradually forms at the site of the bite.
Bee venom, when entering a dog's body, causes weakness. All life support systems are slowing down.If a bee bites a dog in the oral mucosa, problems arise with eating. As a result, the animal's appetite decreases. In some cases, the bite area begins to itch, resulting in scratches from your pet's paws. Typical symptoms of the negative effects of bee venom include:
- excessive salivation;
- general weakness;
- swelling;
- labored breathing;
- licking the wound.
If a bee stings, the sting remains at the site of the bite, which causes suppuration. This further aggravates the pet's condition. Body temperature rises, purulent fluid is released from the wound. This condition poses a danger to the life of the animal.
Anxiety gradually gives way to a depressed state. The pet becomes passive. He constantly reaches out to the bite site, trying to lick the wound. If the poison provokes a severe allergy, the situation can be fatal. In response to a foreign substance, antibodies are produced, the appearance of which is accompanied by characteristic symptoms.
How do dogs bitten by bees behave?
Each dog's reaction to an external irritant is individual. In most cases, immediately after the bite the animal begins to whine. If a bee bites a pet in the face, then asymmetry immediately appears, which is very noticeable. The photo below will help you understand what a dog that has been bitten by a bee looks like.
If a dog swallowed an insect, the bite could be on the tongue. In this case, the situation becomes extremely dangerous. A swollen tongue blocks access to oxygen. The pet is acting restless at this moment. He may lose consciousness due to lack of oxygen. The further outcome depends on the speed of first aid.
Are dogs allergic to bee stings?
An allergy is the body's immune response to an external irritant. It develops not only in humans, but also in animals. In most cases, the allergen is protein. Most often, an undesirable reaction is provoked by a bee sting. According to statistics, 40% of bitten dogs develop allergies. It is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- rashes on the surface of the skin;
- sneezing and runny nose;
- itching of the skin accompanied by scratching;
- tearfulness;
- feverish condition.
What bites are dangerous for dogs?
If your dog is stung by a bee, you need to be vigilant. But there is no need to worry. Not every insect bite poses a danger to the animal. There are signs indicating the development of a pathological process. If they appear, you should contact your veterinarian. Warning symptoms include:
- blue tongue of the dog;
- Pfrom the mouth;
- lethargic state;
- severe vomiting;
- loss of consciousness.
It is especially dangerous if the insect bites you on the lips, nose and cheeks. Under the influence of bee venom, swelling of the larynx rapidly develops. It can cause suffocation, which can be fatal.
Bite on the nose
The most painful area for a bite is the nose. The danger of the situation lies in the possible obstruction of the airways. If the swelling is severe, the dog may suffocate. In this case, you cannot do without the help of a specialist. Before contacting a veterinarian, it is recommended to remove the sting yourself and disinfect the wound.
If a bee stings your dog on the nose, it is important to prevent the swelling from spreading to the respiratory system. An antihistamine and applying cold compresses will help with this. Don't wait for allergies to develop.The most reasonable solution would be preventive treatment.
What to do if your dog is bitten by a bee
Even in the photo, dogs that have been bitten by bees look confused. Their owners should not panic. You need to keep your cool. The main task of a person is to provide first aid. It includes the following actions:
- Initially, the bee's sting is pulled out of the wound. To do this, use nail scissors or tweezers. Since a certain amount of poison remains on the sting, the procedure requires caution. This prevents residual poison from entering the bloodstream.
- The wound formed after a bite must be treated with an antibacterial agent. Alcohol or hydrogen peroxide are excellent for these purposes.
- To eliminate swelling, apply a cold compress to the problem area.
- It is recommended to use traditional medicine. You can apply parsley paste or plantain leaves to the wound.
- In order for the poison to leave the animal’s body faster, you should provide it with plenty of fluids.
- To eliminate or prevent the symptoms of an allergic reaction, you need to give your dog an antihistamine. In this case, Tavegil, Supradin or Loratadine are suitable.
Young individuals suffer insect attacks more painfully. If a bee bites a puppy, you need to immediately give an injection of an antihistamine. When selecting a dosage, we are guided by the following principles:
- “Diphenhydramine”, “Tavegil” and “Suprastin” are injected at 0.1 ml for each kg of pet’s weight;
- Magnesia injection is given at a concentration of 25%, 0.1 ml per 1 kg;
- "Dexamethasone" is administered from 0.1 to 2 ml per kg;
- Furosemide is injected according to the above scheme.
What to do if a dog is bitten on the paw by a bee
If a bee bites a dog on the paw, the first aid algorithm does not change. This type of bite is considered rare. This usually happens if the pet accidentally steps on an insect while playing. The main characteristic sign of a bite is lameness. The dog begins to whine and tries to lick the resulting wound. At this point, there is a risk of ingesting residual poison. Therefore, you need to quickly remove the sting from the paw. It is advisable to bandage the damaged area so that the pet cannot injure itself even more.
What to do if your dog is bitten by bees
If an animal can endure the sting of one bee without complications, then an attack by a large number of insects will provoke undesirable consequences. This happens if a dog stirs up a beehive. The intake of large amounts of bee venom into the body in almost all cases leads to allergies.
If bees have bitten a puppy, there will not be enough time for first aid. It is necessary to immediately take your pet to a veterinary hospital. Symptoms are relieved with antihistamines. In addition, the doctor treats the skin with antibacterial solutions.
What to do if your dog ate a bee
Dogs love to play with various insects. Therefore, accidental ingestion of living creatures is not uncommon. The probability of a favorable outcome in this case is extremely low.Almost always, the bee manages to bite the dog on the tongue, lip or inner surface of the mouth. The larynx area begins to rapidly swell. Increases the risk of suffocation.
Giving a pill in such a situation is almost impossible. The best option would be an injection with an antihistamine solution. The dosage is calculated taking into account the weight of the pet.
In what cases should you contact a veterinarian?
In some cases, you can cope with the consequences of a bee sting on your own. But it is much safer to immediately contact a veterinarian. To make the right decision, you should analyze the existing symptoms. People contact the veterinary clinic in the following cases:
- difficulty breathing due to swelling of the larynx;
- simultaneous sting of several bees;
- the dog was bitten in the face or mouth;
- excessively weakened health of the dog.
From the outside, a photo of a dog stung by bees may seem funny. But we should not forget that the animal feels significant discomfort. It is necessary to monitor your pet’s condition after a visit to the veterinarian. It is important that there is always clean water in the bowl. It is advisable to remove foods that may be potential allergens from your diet. In some cases, it may be necessary to visit the treatment room to administer injections.
How to protect your pet
In judicial practice, there have been cases when bees bit a dog, and the beekeeper compensated for the damage. During the honey harvest period, insects become aggressive, so the likelihood of getting a bite at this time increases several times.Despite this, preventing a dangerous situation is much easier than demanding moral compensation in court.
First of all, you should evaluate the environment in places where you frequently walk your dog. It is advisable to avoid being near apiaries. It is not recommended to let your pet near berry bushes. If a nest of wild bees is discovered, it is necessary to destroy it using the safest means before the insect has time to bite someone close to you. It is also important to ensure that you have a first aid kit, which you should always take with you on a walk. The life of a pet may depend on the timely provision of first aid.
Conclusion
If a dog is stung by a bee for the first time, the likelihood of developing negative reactions is much higher. Puppy owners need to take extra care. According to statistics, they more often die from insect bites.
