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In the hot season, animals become most active, so the risk of getting an insect bite increases several times. In these cases, the owner of the pet 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 to stabilize the well-being of the animal and prevent complications.
Effects of bee venom on dogs
During a bite, a bee injects poison into the animal’s body, which is produced by the secretory system of the insect. This moment is accompanied by pain and swelling in the damaged area of the skin. If the dog is bitten by bees, you can hear a characteristic whine. The animal begins to behave restlessly. At the site of the bite, swelling gradually forms.
Bee venom, getting into the body of a dog, provokes weakness. All life support systems are slowing down. If a bee has bitten a dog in the oral mucosa, there are problems with eating. On this soil, the animal’s appetite decreases. In some cases, the bite area begins to itch, which leads to scratching from the pet’s paws. The characteristic symptoms of the negative effects of bee venom include:
- copious salivation;
- general weakness;
- swelling;
- labored breathing;
- licking of the wound.
If a bee has bitten, the sting remains at the site of the bite, which provokes suppuration. In the future, this aggravates the condition of the pet. The body temperature rises, purulent fluid is released from the wound. This condition poses a danger to the life of the animal.
Anxiety is gradually replaced by a depressed state. The pet becomes passive. He constantly reaches for the bite, 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 get bitten by bees?
The reaction to an external irritating factor is individual for each dog. In most cases, immediately after the bite, the animal begins to whine. If a bee has bitten a pet in the face, then asymmetry instantly appears, which is very striking. The photo below will help you understand what a dog bitten by a bee looks like.
If the dog swallowed the insect, the bite could land on the tongue. In this case, the situation becomes extremely dangerous. A swollen tongue blocks access to oxygen. The pet at this moment is behaving uneasily. 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 stimulus. It develops not only in humans, but also in animals. In most cases, the allergen is a protein. Most often, an undesirable reaction is provoked by a bee sting. According to statistics, allergies develop in 40% of bitten dogs. 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;
- tearing;
- feverish state.
What bites are dangerous for dogs
If a dog is stung by a bee, you need to be vigilant. But you don’t need to worry. Not every insect bite is dangerous to the animal. There are signs indicating the development of the pathological process. If they appear, contact your veterinarian. Warning symptoms include:
- blue tongue of the dog;
- пenu from the mouth;
- lethargic state;
- severe vomiting;
- loss of consciousness.
It is especially dangerous if the insect has bitten on the lips, nose and cheeks. Under the influence of bee venom, laryngeal edema rapidly develops. It can lead to suffocation, which is fatal.
Bite in the nose
The nose is considered the most painful area for a bite. The danger of the situation lies in the possible overlap of the airways. If the swelling is severe, the dog may suffocate. In this case, you can not do without the help of a specialist. Before contacting the veterinarian, it is recommended to pull out the sting yourself and disinfect the wound.
If a bee has bitten a 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. Do not wait for the development of allergies. The most reasonable solution would be preventive treatment.
What to do if a dog is bitten by a bee
Even in the photo, the dogs that were bitten by the bees look confused. Their owners should not panic. You need to keep cool. The main task of a person is to provide first aid. It includes the following steps:
- Initially, the sting of the bee 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 the bite must be treated with an antibacterial agent. For these purposes, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide is perfect.
- To eliminate swelling, a cold compress is applied to the problem area.
- It is recommended to use traditional medicine. Parsley gruel or plantain leaves can be applied to the wound.
- In order for the poison to leave the body of the animal faster, it should be provided with plenty of fluids.
- To eliminate or prevent the symptoms of an allergic reaction, it is necessary to give the dog an antihistamine. In this case, Tavegil, Supradin or Loratadin will do.
Young individuals endure insect attacks more painfully. If a bee has bitten a puppy, an injection of an antihistamine is required immediately. When choosing a dosage, they are guided by the following principles:
- “Dimedrol”, “Tavegil” and “Suprastin” inject 0,1 ml for each kg of pet’s weight;
- an injection of “Magnesia” is done 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 by a bee in the paw
If a bee has bitten a dog in 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 starts to whine and tries to lick the resulting wound. At this point, there is a risk of ingestion of residual poison. Therefore, you need to quickly pull the sting out of the paw. It is advisable to bandage the damaged area so that the pet cannot injure itself even more.
What to do if a dog is bitten by bees
If the bite of one bee can be tolerated by the animal without complications, then the attack of a large number of insects will provoke undesirable consequences. This happens if the dog stirred up the bee hive. The intake of a large amount of bee venom into the body in almost all cases leads to allergies.
If the bees have bitten the puppy, there will not be enough time for first aid. You need to take your pet to the vet immediately. Symptoms are relieved with antihistamines. In addition, the doctor treats the skin with antibacterial solutions.
What to do if a dog ate a bee
Dogs love to play with various insects. Therefore, accidental swallowing of living creatures is not uncommon. The probability of a favorable outcome in this case is extremely small. Almost always, the bee manages to bite the dog on the tongue, lip or inner surface of the oral cavity. The larynx area begins to swell rapidly. Increases the chance of suffocation.
It is almost impossible to give a pill in such a situation. 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 the veterinarian
In some cases, the effects of a bee sting can be dealt with on your own. But it is much safer to immediately contact the veterinarian. To make the right decision, you should analyze the existing symptoms. The veterinary clinic is contacted in the following cases:
- breathing difficulties as a result of swelling of the larynx;
- simultaneous sting of several bees;
- the dog has been bitten in the muzzle or mouth;
- excessively weakened health of the dog.
From the outside, a photo of a dog bitten by bees may seem funny. But we should not forget that the animal feels significant discomfort. It is also necessary to monitor the condition of the pet after a visit to the veterinarian. It is important that clean water is always present in the bowl. From the diet, it is desirable to remove foods that can act as potential allergens. In some cases, it may be necessary to visit the treatment room for injections.
How to protect your pet
In judicial practice, there have been cases when bees bit a dog, and the beekeeper compensated for the harm. During the honey collection period, insects become aggressive, so the likelihood of getting a bite at this time increases several times. Despite this, it is much easier to prevent a dangerous situation than to demand moral compensation in court.
First of all, you should assess the environment in places where you often walk with your dog. It is advisable to avoid being near apiaries. It is not recommended to let the pet to the berry bushes. When a nest of wild bees is found, it is necessary to destroy it in the safest way, until the insect has managed to bite one of the relatives. It is also important to take care of the availability of a first aid kit, which should always be taken with you for a walk. The life of a pet may depend on the timeliness of first aid.
Conclusion
If the dog was bitten by a bee for the first time, the likelihood of developing negative reactions is much higher. Puppy owners need to be extra careful. According to statistics, they are more likely to die from insect bites.