by Zack Wright
Understand that this information is simply a resource; it DOES NOT replace real veterinary advice or consultation. If you don't know what to do (or even if you think you do), take your dog to the vet as soon as possible.
Signs Your Dog Has Been Stung by a Wasp or Bee
- Sudden yelp or yelping fit (Rough translation: "OUCH, OUCH, [expletive], OUCH!")
- Pawing at the face or mouth
- Shaking their head repetitively
- Whining
- Drooling excessively
- Holding up a paw (if stung on the foot)
- Biting or licking at the sting area
- Swelling (may be significant, depending on the type of wasp or if an allergy is present)
- Hives (swollen, itchy red bumps with raised hair)
Photo: Yellowjacket wasp, one of the more aggressive species of wasps
Caring for a Bee or Wasp Sting on Your Dog
0. Remain Calm
Whether it's a bee sting, wasp sting, insect bite, snake bite, or something else, your reaction to the situation can affect your dog's overall psychological reaction, so keep it together.
1. Identify the Bee, Wasp, or Insect
It helps you (and your vet) to know what you're dealing with. Take note of any insects swarming in the area; there may be a nest nearby. Get a photo if you can.
Later in the article, we'll go into much greater detail on bees, wasps, hornets, and other potential insects and arachnids that bite and sting.
2. Look for a Stinger and Remove It
A bee's stinger left in the skin can continue to pump venom into your pooch. If you see a stinger lodged in the skin, use a credit card, pocketknife, or other flat object to scrape the stinger out.
Do not squeeze the stinger, as it can release more venom out of the stinger sac. Tweezers aren't the best call unless you can pull below the venom sac.
As a note: only bees have barbed stingers that can stick in the skin. Wasp and hornet stingers are smooth and do not stick. If you don't see a stinger, there's a good chance it was a wasp sting - if not another insect or arachnid.
3. Rinse the Sting Area with Water
Rinse the site thoroughly with cool, clean water.
4. Soothe the Site of the Sting
If available, make a thick paste of baking soda and water, apply it and leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse it off. Another option would be Lavengel® to help with the irritation and itch.
In a later section, we'll take a look at some home remedies for bee stings that have been circulated. Outside of baking soda paste, which is recognized by the CDC, we do not necessarily support the other purported remedies - but we're not going to tell you how to live your life.
5. Help Reduce Swelling
Place an ice pack on the sting area for 10 minutes. For larger areas, a cooled towel works well. Do not leave ice on for longer than 20 minutes at a time.
If the swelling is severe, and involves the nose, mouth, or neck, take them to the vet, as it can affect their ability to breathe or swallow.
Dachshund with swelling due to bee sting; photo via Animal Emergency Service of Australia
6. Mitigate Allergic Reactions
Bee and wasp venoms are different, with each containing distinct allergens. Just because your dog is allergic to one type of venom does not mean that they are allergic to both kinds, or that of more than one species.
That said, bee and wasp venom both contain a substance called histamine, which causes receptors in the body (H-1 receptors) to trigger an immune response. This begins the process of producing antibodies that swarm to the area, creating the inflammation and swelling.
You can give your dog a dose of oral antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (a.k.a. Benadryl® or Vetadryl®) to help reduce the inflammatory reaction and help with itching.
The general rule of thumb for diphenhydramine (Benedryl®) dosage in canines is 1 mg per pound of body weight (about 2 mg/kg). Make sure it does not contain other ingredients.
Children's chewable or liquid Benadryl® (diphenhydramine only) can be good options for small dogs weighing less than 10 pounds.
That said, we strongly recommend consulting with your vet to be sure, especially if your dog has certain health conditions or takes certain medications.
7. Protect the Site from Being Scratched
Keep them from scratching the wound, as this can delay healing and bring about a bacterial infection. Since bee and wasp stings tend to itch mightily as they heal, infections, sores, and even hotspots frequently develop at a sting site.
If they won't leave the area alone, have them wear an Elizabethan collar (cone or soft donut collar). Again, Lavengel® can be a big help here in mitigating the itch and mending the skin.
8. Watch Your Dog for Severe Allergic Reaction (Anaphylaxis) to the Sting
Allergic reactions typically appear within the first 20 minutes of a sting, but they may also be delayed for hours. Anaphylaxis, a severe, life-threatening reaction, is a possibility for some dogs that are allergic to bee or wasp venom.
It is paramount that you act fast if a severe reaction occurs. Take your dog to the emergency vet clinic immediately if you see any of the following symptoms:
- Hives (raised, red, itchy bumps that appear in patches)
- Severe swelling around the head, snout, and neck
- Excessive drooling
- Wheezing, breathing with difficulty, excessive panting while resting
- Agitation (cannot stay still or comfortable)
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness, disorientation, or stumbling
- Seizures
Photo by Natthathida Nilburt, via Dr. Chris Brown, DVM, on Facebook
How Do Vets Treat a Severe Reaction to a Bee or Wasp Sting?
If your dog is experiencing anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction), your vet will work to reduce the immune system response and prevent the body from going into shock. Antihistamines will be given to try to block the body's H-1 receptors from responding to the histamine.
In addition to these, corticosteroids may be given to further reduce the hyperactive immune system and decrease inflammation. If the dog has trouble breathing, epinephrine (adrenaline) may also be administered, along with oxygen and IV fluids to stabilize them.
Certain tests, such as blood or urine tests may be advisable to rule out organ damage due to anaphylaxis. It's likely that the patient will need to stay at the clinic for a day or two.
Once the patient has recovered and is released, an Epi-Pen® may be prescribed in case of future stings. It's important to not let your dog right back into the yard after treatment for anaphylaxis due to a bee or wasp sting, as a second sting could result in a faster, more severe reaction that could be fatal.
Dive Deeper: Bees, Wasps, and Hornets
While we tend to call most flying and stinging insects "bees," there are some important distinctions between what are considered bees, wasps, and hornets. Knowing what to look for can help you and your dog avoid them.
Differences Bee-tween Bees, Hornets, and Wasps
Both bees and wasps are crucial to not only the environment, but the food supply humans depend on. It is not out of line to say that billions of lives depend on these little insects.
Bees are the primary pollinators of all flowering plants, which includes agricultural crops. Wasps and hornets serve as minor pollinators, but their main duty is to eat other insects that destroy crops and keep their populations in check. Without bees, wasps, and hornets, a massive shortage of food worldwide and widespread famine would result.
Bees
Bees are fuzzy all over, with wide, flat legs. Their diet is chiefly pollen and nectar, which they collect and bring back to their hives. A few of the most common species of bee in America are the carpenter bee, the bumblebee, and the honeybee.
Unlike wasps and hornets, a bee's stinger is barbed, and will be pulled out of the bee once used. Doing so is fatal to the bee, and its stinger can remain in the skin of the target, pumping in more venom until emptied or removed.
Wasps and Hornets
While these guys are often confused, the truth is that every hornet is a wasp, but not every wasp is a hornet. They both have hairless, often waxy-looking bodies with round legs and smooth stingers used for paralyzing prey and giving larger threats a reason to steer clear.
Hornets are a designated sub-group of 22 species of wasps and tend to be larger than wasps (1.5 in. and above). There are actually no hornets native to the U.S. - simply one "immigrant" species, the European hornet, which resembles a giant yellowjacket and nests in the ground or in hollow trees.
Wasps come in many shapes and sizes, and they can be solitary or social - that is, they live in a colony with a queen. Solitary wasps, such as digger wasps or mud daubers, tend to be less aggressive, living alone in the ground or building tube-like mud nests in protected areas. Spiders are a chief part of the diet of many solitary wasps.
Social wasps form nests in the ground or create papery nests in trees or under eaves and other protected "roofs." These nests can appear in a globe shape (the black-and-white, misnamed Bald-faced Hornets build these) or in the classic honeycomb shape (paper wasps).
Social wasps tend to be more aggressive, especially during the latter summer months (July to mid-September).
One of the most common stinging wasps is the yellowjacket (personal least favorite of mine), which builds nests in trees or underground - especially near mulched areas and in the sides of mounds or banks. These nests can be built very quickly and are not always easy to spot, so these little heathens can really surprise you while out in the yard.
If you suspect your dog is approaching a bee or wasp nest, quickly tell them to come back. Teaching them an emergency recall is always a good idea for situations like this.
Other Biting Bugs
Bee and wasp stings tend to hurt immediately and swell up quickly, but there are other insects and arachnids out there that can bite and sting your dog as well. While you may not always see what stung or bit your dog, it's good to have an idea of what is "out and about" in your region throughout the year. Here are some other critters that can leave a painful or itchy welt with swelling:
- Mosquitos
- Horseflies and deer flies
- Scorpions (mostly in the arid climate of the southwestern U.S., but they can occasionally be found further east and north, too)
- Ants, especially fire ants
- Spiders
Home Remedies for Bee or Wasp Stings
Let me start by saying this: The remedies listed below - outside of ice packs and baking soda - rely more on anecdotal data than scientific study or veterinary consensus. We tend to side with real data, but we will not deny that some natural remedies are effective.
Some of these may work for some dogs' bee stings and do no good whatsoever for others. Try them at your own risk, and stop use if irritation occurs or worsens.
- Ice: Ice packs have been, and will always be an effective way to help with swelling and pain. Apply an ice pack on and off for 10 minutes at a time.
- Baking Soda Paste: Mix a little water with baking soda to make a thick paste, and apply it to the wound. Leave it on for several minutes, then rinse it off.
- Oatmeal Paste or Bath: You can make a paste with ground up oats and water. Dogs with multiple bee stings can be given an oatmeal bath.
- Honey: Medical-grade or Manuka honey, can be effective with relieving irritation.
- Aloe Vera: Often used for burns, cuts, and insect bites, aloe vera possesses many anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound healing properties.
- Witch Hazel: An astringent and ancient folk remedy for itching, swelling, and a variety of other ailments.
- Calendula: A flower extract with a multitude of uses; often an ingredient in natural burn remedies.
Ways to Prevent Your Dog from Getting Stung by a Bee or Wasp
Having bees and wasps around isn't a bad thing, and the majority of outdoor dogs will run into them at some point. Many will even try to eat one...once.
The simplest way to avoid bee or wasp stings is to avoid them and their nests, especially during late summer months. When walking your dog, avoid areas with flowers or fruit trees (where there's fruit, there's bugs and bees).
Discourage your dog from trying to catch or "sample" the spicy flies, and having an emergency recall ready to get them away is a sound strategy.
Keep an eye out for bees in fields or wooded areas, and if you see yellowish or black wasps entering and exiting brush or a hole in the ground, stay away!
Lastly, if your dog has a known risk of anaphylaxis, ask your vet about getting an EpiPen® to keep for emergencies.
Bee vigilant out there!
Resources
- VCA Animal Hospitals: First Aid for Insect Stings in Dogs
- PetMD: What to Do if Your Dog Is Stung by a Bee
- Animal Emergency Service (Australia): Has Your Dog Been Stung By a Bee?
- Venom Allergy, Ewan P., British Medical Journal, Volume 316(7141), p. 1365-1368; 1998
- The Old Farmer's Almanac: Wasps, Bees, and Hornets: What's the Difference?
- Dogs Naturally Magazine: Dog Bee Sting? Here's What to Do