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When a cat is bitten by a bee, this is an emergency situation in which the animal needs veterinary care. If he develops an allergy to a lesion, this threatens with serious health problems and even the death of a pet. In this case, the owner must act quickly, clearly, competently.
How does bee venom affect cats?
Mobile, playful animals, cats often become victims of insects when they are hunted. It mostly happens in the summer in the countryside. A city cat can also be bitten by a bee that accidentally flew into the room.
Bee venom acts on the cat’s body in the same way as on humans. In this case, the animal experiences severe pain at the site of the bite. Subsequently, painful sensations are replaced by intolerable itching.
Urticaria or acute pain in itself does not pose a danger to the life of a cat that has been stung by a bee. An allergic reaction is dangerous, which subsequently develops. A slight swelling at the site of the bite goes away on its own in a day. If the swelling develops and does not subside, then the cat needs emergency veterinary care. Especially if the allergic reaction progresses in the nose or throat area, the animal may suffocate.
What symptoms do animals show after being bitten?
If the cat was bitten by a bee, and the owner did not see this, it is possible to determine the defeat of insect venom by the corresponding signs.
Symptoms of a bee lesion:
- severe swelling at the site of the bite;
- hard breath;
- profuse salivation;
- vomiting;
- convulsions;
- temperature.
How do cats stung by bees behave?
If a cat is bitten by a bee, you can observe a change in his behavior. He shakes his head or paw, depending on where the sting is stuck. On closer examination, you can see a strong swelling that will grow over time. After an insect bite, a sting can be seen in the wound. The cat will begin to breathe heavily, after which vomiting will open. The animal will try to reach or crawl out the bite site.
Why is a bee sting dangerous for cats?
Dangerous places for bee damage in cats:
- nose;
- larynx;
- groin;
- eyes.
How do cats get allergic to bee stings?
Allergy in cats to bee stings occurs with varying degrees of severity. In total, 3 types of allergic reactions are distinguished by intensity:
- moderate reaction causes lethargy, the temperature rises, the cat refuses food. At this stage, treatment is not required, the animal’s body will cope with the bee venom on its own.
- Average degree manifested by swelling at the site of the lesion, blisters appear, the skin around the eyes and neck swells, unbearable itching (urticaria) appears, which can turn into an acute form and threaten the life of the animal.
- Anaphylactic shock – a strong reaction to an insect bite, which develops within a few minutes, threatens to kill the cat. In this case, urgent veterinary care is needed, the introduction of antihistamines intravenously.
What to do if a cat (cat) is bitten by a bee
First of all, after the defeat, the cat that was bitten by the bee is brought into the room, laid in a cool place. After 5-10 minutes, it is necessary to examine the animal and find the site of the lesion. If there is a sting in the wound, it is carefully removed with tweezers.
The cat was bitten by a bee in the paw: what to do
Ice is applied to the bitten place, after wrapping it in a towel. The cold should be kept for about half an hour. This manipulation will help relieve swelling. After the damaged area is smeared with a solution of 9% vinegar diluted with water 1: 1. The procedure is repeated several times a day.
First aid for a bite in the nose
This injury can make it difficult for your pet to breathe. Therefore, after applying cold to the bite site and washing it with vinegar or soapy water, the animal is given corticosteroids – hormonal anti-inflammatory substances.
You can give the cat the drug Apis, which is able to support the cat’s body after removing the sting, relieve swelling. Owners of allergic cats who have been bitten by a bee should always keep this remedy at hand.
If the condition worsens, an injection with antihistamines may be needed: Diazolin, Dexamethasone, Suprastin. For each drug, you must consult a veterinarian. If you can’t get to the nearest veterinary clinic, the medication is discussed with the doctor over the phone.
Photo of cats stung by bees
In the photo you can see how edema develops in cats bitten by bees.
The muzzle swells at the site of the lesion, the eye closes.
A sting in the face or cheek also threatens with serious swelling:
A lesion in the throat threatens with swelling of the larynx and respiratory arrest in the animal:
If an insect has bitten on the paw, this does not have serious consequences, but requires treatment:
An untreated paw can hurt for a long time, the animal will be immobilized:
The most dangerous bee stings are in the eye area. They are fraught with loss of vision.
The photo shows how edema develops in cats bitten by bees. All these conditions require correction by a specialist.
In which case you need to contact the veterinarian
If the condition of the cat after being bitten by an insect worsens, the help of a veterinarian is necessary. Difficulty breathing, vomiting, convulsions, increased swelling are signs that the cat needs to be urgently taken to a veterinary clinic.
If a bee has bitten a small kitten, they immediately turn to the doctor. It is impossible to treat a young cat at home. Bee venom is too dangerous for a small animal.
If the cat was stung by more than one bee, but by several, it is urgent to give her first aid, relieve the pain and immediately take her to the veterinarian.
How to protect your pets
In summer, it is necessary to protect the cat from the bite of various kinds of insects. It will not be possible to completely protect the pet from the environment, so you should make his stay in nature less dangerous.
Preventive measures:
- On the windows in the room, especially outside the city, it is necessary to put mosquito nets.
- It is required to carry out cleaning on the personal plot, to destroy wasp and bee nests.
- Cats should only be fed and watered indoors, not outdoors. So the risk of swallowing a dangerous insect with food can be minimized.
- Before going outside, the cat is treated with repellents, which allows for several hours to secure his stay on the street.
Conclusion
If a cat has been bitten by a bee, the swelling should be removed immediately with cold or medication. Bites on the face, as a rule, are fraught with difficulty breathing, inability to eat and drink. If the condition worsens, when the edema cannot be removed by folk methods, the immediate help of a specialist is necessary.
