In spring and summer, bees and wasps are in full swing. Although these insects tend to roam free from their chores in nature, we perceive them as threats, aware of how annoying their bites are. Just as they can attack a human, they are also a potential danger to pets.
If you take your dog for a walk in areas where there are abundant flowers or let him play loose in the garden, you have probably seen him try to capture an insect with his nose. This is part of his hunting instinct and also part of his constant curiosity to explore the world around them. Now, it is not the same for your dog to tempt luck by chasing a fly, than to do it with a bee or a wasp.
First of all, it is necessary to differentiate the stings of bees and wasps. The first injects the stinger into the animal’s skin, which releases poison that causes itching and pain. Of course, once they release the stinger, they die and can no longer sting your pet. In the case of wasps, they release the venom by biting and can do so several times, their sting being especially painful.
If a bee stings your dog, you should identify the affected area and try to remove the sting very carefully. You can use tweezers for this. Until you have removed the stinger, avoid letting the dog lick, scratch, or rummage in the area, as this could further embed it. If it is a wasp, you will have to chase it away to prevent it from continuing to bite your four-legged best friend.
As a general rule, a bite on the dog’s body will only cause pain and itching for a few hours, which can be alleviated by applying ice wrapped in a cloth. In addition, the area must be disinfected by washing it with warm water and soap. The problem is aggravated if the bite is in the snout, mouth or throat, as here you run the risk of inflaming the animal’s respiratory tract. If this happens, you should go to the vet as soon as possible, so that they can act as they deem appropriate and thus save the life of your pet.
On the other hand, it can happen that your dog suffers an allergic reaction to the sting of the wasp or bee, regardless of the area of ??the body where it has occurred. You will identify it by symptoms such as panting, difficulty breathing, weakness, apathy, inflammation in the area of ??the bite that spreads to the rest of the body, and even possible vomiting or diarrhea. If you see any of these signs, go to the vet urgently so they can prevent the animal from anaphylactic shock.
