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Your dog will love a nice run outside in the summer and it’s great to see them having fun. But, sometimes the outdoors can have its disadvantages.
Dogs can easily be stung by bees or wasps in the long grass or near flowers while they’re playing.
If a wasp goes to sting your dog, it’s only natural for them to try and fight back, which could result in your dog eating it. When your dog eats a wasp, you’ll notice, because their mouths may swell and they may vomit.
If you are concerned that your dog has swallowed a wasp, you should seek medical attention straight away. It’s difficult to determine how their body will react.
What Happens If A Dog Eats Wasp (Or A Bee)?
If you happen to notice that your dog has swallowed a wasp or has been stung near the mouth, throat, or tongue, it’s common to see facial swelling.
This needs to be investigated promptly. The swelling can interfere with your dog’s airways and cause them to not be able to breathe properly.
If you see facial swelling, you should consult your vet as soon as possible to give your pet the best care.
Wasp stings are most common in the spring and summertime and not uncommon in August.
Wasps and bees may be lazy around autumn time and can become more aggressive than normal if disturbed. If your dog swallowed a wasp and has been stung several times, it can sometimes require emergency veterinary treatment.
The venom that is injected through wasp stings can cause your pet some problems. These range from simple, mild irritation and discomfort, to anaphylactic shock.
This is, essentially, a life-threatening allergic reaction.
What Should I Do If My Dog Ate A Wasp?
When the warmer months come around, nearly all flying insects become more visible and active. This includes everything from flies through to bees and wasps.
We know that wasps are frustrating to deal with for humans, but we understand how they work. Our dogs may find it fun to start jumping and attacking anything that comes close to their face, including a wasp.
If your dog has managed to catch the wasp and smoothly swallows it, chances are they won’t have any issues.
Like anything else, the wasp will pass through your dog via the digestive system.
Even though wasps contain venom, unless they actually inject it through their stingers, into your dog’s skin, they aren’t poisonous.
Unfortunately, during the process of your dog trying to eat the wasp, it is quite likely that the wasp will try to defend itself by stinging your pet.
Your dog is likely to suffer mild symptoms following the wasp sting. They may yelp as they experience the pain of the sting as well.
It is also not uncommon for some slight swelling around the site where the wasp has stung your pet.
Hopefully, your dog will remember how much it hurt and actively avoid it in the future but this isn’t always guaranteed.
If your dog doesn’t experience any issues other than slight pain around the sting site, then you don’t need to do anything. If you’re worried or see vomiting, bloating, diarrhea, or any other odd behavior, take them to a vet for a check-up.
How To Prevent Dogs From Eating Wasps
Whilst it would be great if your dog would just simply know not to eat wasps, dogs don’t understand most of the time. If you are lucky enough and are actually there to try and prevent it, a ‘leave it’ command can sometimes avoid your pet getting stung.
Unfortunately, when dogs get stung by flying creatures such as wasps, they may develop a fear of them.
This fear can heighten the likelihood of them chasing wasps in the future. This is because it triggers an emotional, angry response when they see them.
Your dog may not always chase after a wasp or bee if stung before. Sometimes, they might even display panicked behavior by running away from wasps or bees or start shaking uncontrollably.
This might even happen for other flying creatures, not just wasps and bees.
If your dog has been stung before, it might even develop a mental condition that is similar to OCD. This is known as fly-snapping, your dog may start snapping at the air, even if there is nothing provoking it.
Whilst there is nothing we can do to stop your dog from attacking wasps, we can try and limit the number of encounters by keeping a close eye on them.
Dogs are intelligent; if they know you have told them to leave something alone, it might stick and prevent them from getting stung in the future.
Can A Dog Get Sick From Being Stung By A Wasp?
The answer to this question varies depending on your dog. How ill your dog becomes depends on any allergies your dog has and their immune system.
Dogs that are sensitive to bee or wasp stings, could suffer from an allergic reaction. This needs to be responded to promptly to ensure your pet gets the correct care.
The allergic reaction can happen within 10 minutes of the wasp sting and you will be able to tell it is happening. The area where the sting occurs is likely to swell.
Your dog may also start to bite at it because it’s painful or itchy. Allergic reactions don’t always happen within this timeframe, however. It’s essential that you keep an eye on your dog for a few hours after the wasp sting.
If your dog is suffering from an allergic reaction to the sting, you can expect to see the following:
- Diarrhoea or sickness
- Swelling around the sting area
- The dog’s mouth beginning to swell
- Signs of weakness in the legs or actually collapsing
- Disorientation
- Wheezing or respiratory problems
Whilst a sting without an allergic reaction can be dealt with at home, if your dog shows signs of an allergic reaction, you should contact your vet as soon as possible.
A sting from a wasp that doesn’t involve an allergic reaction can be quite mild and not require any care. The pain will subside on its own.
But, if an allergic reaction does take hold, this can be serious for your dog. Respiratory problems can cause long-term problems and generally need the help of a veterinarian.
How Quickly Do Dogs React To Wasp Stings?
Just like humans, some dogs can be hypersensitive to bites from insects or wasp stings. The adverse effects of the sting will vary depending on your dog’s immune system.
If your dog is allergic to a wasp sting, this will take effect within 20 minutes of the sting.
Sometimes your dog may be resistant at first and it can be a few hours before the reaction becomes noticeable.
It’s best to keep your dog close by to monitor any changes in their behavior. This will allow you to react quickly if they take a turn for the worse.
You should take your dog to the vets if you notice any of the following:
Hives – you may notice some hives appear as red bumps under your pet’s fur. They will also appear on hairless areas like the stomach. Hives are incredibly itchy. You may notice your dog starts to scratch furiously or starts rolling around on the floor to relieve itself.
Disorientation – pay attention if your dog is stumbling around or seems completely confused. He is likely having more than the normal reaction to the wasp sting.
Excessive drool – be aware of any swelling around your dog’s throat or if your dog has difficulty swallowing saliva and drools continuously.
What Should I Do If My Dog is Stung By A Wasp Or Bee?
You should firstly, stay calm and see what happens. If your dog is fine but just suffering from minor pain, this can be treated at home and nothing serious will happen.
However, if your dog experiences an allergic reaction, which tends to happen after around 10-20 minutes, you should consult your vet immediately.
Dogs are nosy creatures by design and will generally be fascinated by bees and wasps. The noise bees and wasps make is sometimes irresistible to your dog.
Especially if your dog is young, it will love the thrill of chasing a wasp. However, the wasp doesn’t always find it that fun and may end up stinging your pet.
If your dog’s been stung by a wasp, there will be some symptoms they’ll likely begin to show. You can expect to see:
- Hives
- Excessive drooling
- Whining
- Pawing at their face
- Biting or scratching the site of the sting
- Swelling
- Holding up their paw
- Heat near the sting site
Don’t be too concerned if these symptoms are mild. It is not uncommon for the area where your dog has been stung to swell.
However, if your dog experiences swelling in other places or suffers from breathing problems, consult your vet immediately.
Why Do Dogs Try To Eat Wasps?
Whilst dogs are extremely intelligent, they don’t always show it. A time where this happens is when you notice your dog frantically chasing a wasp.
You know that it’s not going to end well and unless your dog knows the leave it command, your probably not going to stop them.
Dogs find small, buzzing, flying creatures irresistible and can’t stop themselves from chasing after them. Due to a dog’s excellent hearing, the bees and wasps make just the right amount of noise to peak their interest.
It’s not just wasps and bees, however. Dogs will chase after anything that looks fun. You may have noticed other dogs chasing sheep and cows.
Whilst this also doesn’t end well, especially if the farmer appears, dogs simply don’t understand they can’t do it.
Are Dogs Scared Of Wasps?
Breeds such as Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and Spaniels are highly attracted to moving creatures, more so than other breeds. If you have one of these, you’re likely to witness a few wasp stings during the lifetime of your dog.
However, once a dog is stung by a wasp, there are a few things that can happen. The first is that the dog will continue to chase wasps and probably get stung in the future.
What could also happen is the dog will develop a fear of flying creatures and either attack them purely out of this fear or cower at the sight of them. Sometimes the thought of being stung again is too much for your dog.
My Dog Was Stung By A Bee In His Mouth
Nearly 9 times out of 10, a bee sting will cause some minor pain and discomfort to your dog. It is unlikely that any vet treatment will be needed.
Occasionally, however, bee stings can be more dangerous depending on the area in which they sting your dog. Avoiding this situation altogether by teaching your dog to come back is the best thing, but this isn’t always possible.
Firstly, it’s crucial to know what to do in the event your dog gets stung by a bee. Remember to remain calm and begin to scrape out the stinger with a stiff material, a bank card usually does the trick. If you can pull it out of your dog in one go, attempt this first.
Do not try and squeeze the sting area as this could inject more poison into your dog, creating more unwelcomed pain.
Next, be sure to bathe the sting site in clean water. Using some ice on the sting will soothe your dog and ease the pain.
Be sure that the temperature is comfortable for your dog, too cold could make the situation worse.
If a wasp has stung your dog in the mouth, this can become dangerous. The swelling can interfere with your pet’s ability to breathe as it can block up the airways.
Multiple stings in this area will need to be looked at by a vet to give your dog the support it requires.
My Dog Ate A Bee And Is Now Throwing Up, What Should I Do?
If your dog has swallowed a bee and is throwing up, there’s a chance that the bee could have stung your pet before being swallowed.
Anaphylactic shock is a sometimes fatal allergic reaction. Signs to watch out for with anaphylaxis are things such as vomiting after 10 minutes of your dog being stung.
Dogs that have had an encounter with a bee before, or if your dog has been stung multiple times, are more likely to have an allergic reaction.
If your dog seems immediately unwell, consult with your vet and ask them what the best process is going forward. Mouth stings mean it is crucial to watch out for any respiratory issues that could affect your pet’s breathing.
If you feel your dog isn’t breathing properly or is wheezing continuously, take them to an emergency veterinarian as soon as possible.
Vomiting following an incident with a bee or a wasp means you should act fast. Whilst it may not always be a cause for alarm, allergic reactions in animals can prove to be fatal for them.
If your pet has symptoms that are following this such as extreme agitation or confusion, you should seek medical help immediately.
Will My Dog Be Okay After Swallowing a Wasp?
Even if your dog swallows a bee, it doesn’t always mean the outcome is going to be bad. Dogs can digest wasps and bees like any other form of protein through their digestive system. It will simply pass like any other food your pet consumes.
Bees and wasps may contain venom, but for them to cause your dog a problem, it needs to be injected into your pet’s skin by the stinger.
The best form of protection for your dog is to train them to recall when needed and also the ‘leave it’ command.
Having your dog learn both of these commands will limit the chances of your pet getting stung by insects.