Bee Stings (Dog)

Shadow · 08-04-2003, 02:14 PM

Anyone experience problems with their dogs having allergic reactions to insect bites? My poor boy has been stung 4 times this summer already, though its his fault for chasing bee's across the yard.

If your pet experiences these problems you should keep Benedryl (or similiar antihistimine) at home, and give one to your pet as soon as you notice any swelling, hives etc (call your vet for dosage). An insect bite can also cause severe life-threatening respiratory problems - the throat swells, preventing breathing. Get to a vet immediately if you are unaware of how serious your pets allergic reaction might be.

You cant really tell in the picture, but Blue's eye and his jowels swole up to the size of a baseball. It takes a day or two for the swelling and effects of a sting to subside...

neuroleptical · 08-04-2003, 02:16 PM

My cat Hank got a bee sting inside her mouth (yes she tried to eat a bee

) 2 years ago. I called the vet & they said watch for symptoms like having trouble breathing. Hank was fine.

Brandy · 08-04-2003, 02:17 PM

aw Shadow that is so sad,,,,Sasha has gotten bitten a few times but I think it is from misquitos and she just gets little whelts n her body,,,

the vet said Boxers have alot of allergies to bugs and stings ,,,she also told me to carry that on me all the time when I take sasha anywheres expecially in woods and places like that,,,,thank god I have never had to use it,,oh she also told me to use childrens Benedryl and not the adut stuff

Rincewind · 08-04-2003, 02:19 PM

Shadow, I know what you mean. My dog Spencer thinks it is his personal mission to elimate all bees from this world. Unfortunately, he has gotten quite good at it. He actually eats them and gets stung in his mouth. His reaction is nothing compared to Blue's though. He just gives a sharp little cry and will sit in a corner for a few minutes before he is up and running again. No swelling or irritation at all.

I will pick up some Benedryl just in case though. Thanks for the tip.

P.S. The pic in your avatar is amazing!

clearjade · 08-04-2003, 02:24 PM

Aw, poor Blue! The girls have not tried to chase bees yet, they are still quite fixated on squirrels

And welcome back to POTN!

Cinnamon · 08-04-2003, 10:59 PM

Shadow, I had no idea that dogs could be as allergic to bee stings as people!! I hadn't really thought about it.

Poor Blue - he doesn't look very happy in that picture

Christy · 08-04-2003, 11:06 PM

Oh Poor Blue, Im lucky so far none of the critters have been stung but Grizzly and he yelped but was fine, all though I go through enough benadryl in this house that I should have stock in the company (three kids all allergic to bee stings/misquito bites)

I hope Blue feels better very soon.

Shadow · 08-04-2003, 11:10 PM

The sting didnt really seem to bother him much, other than he was drooling everywhere cause his lips were so swollen. It was sad to look at him, but a little funny watching him try to figure out what was going on. In the pic, he is resting cause the Benedryl makes him a little drowsy.

The very first time this happened, i freaked. I had no idea an animal could have this kind of reaction from a sting. I've had dogs all my life and have never seen this before.

Blue came in one day after being outside, he was about 4 months old, and within 5 minutes his body was covered in huge hives - dozens of them, all over. I dont think ive ever driven so fast in my life. Got him to a vet to learn that it was in fact a bee sting in his mouth. He was given a shot (cant remember what it was) and his hives went down in a couple days. He was fine the rest of that summer....

This summer, he comes in and is laying behind me. I was playing with him and he looked fine. I turn around 5 minutes later and one jowel is about 3 inches thick and hanging 3 inches lower than the other side. There were no hives this time, so again i freaked and flew to the vet. Another bee sting, and another shot. Now ive learned what to look for and how to treat his allergy to this at home. Luckily he doesnt experience the more severe symptoms, although I really have to keep an eye on him just in case.

Think he'd learn not to chase bee's..? Of course not....

Chinnie Girl · 08-05-2003, 12:04 PM

Oh no, poor Blue. That's pretty bad! Rocky is allergic to bee stings so we keep the childrens Benedryl. She came in after she got stung and threw up and then she started swelling up so we rushed her in. She never got that bad though. Then when we got her home she was starting to swell more and rushed her back in. She was allergic to the shot he gave.

So he had to give her another shot. So Rocky was allegic to the bee and the shot!

emy_k · 08-08-2003, 05:33 PM

omg that is terrible. poor blue. if i was him id be cryin

. i never did know that dogs could have such a bad reaction to a sting. i have never had that happen to any of my animals, and i hope he doesnt. looks pretty darn painful. my dog frisco when he was a pup got bit by a copper head on the neck and it turned white and he lost all his fur. the vet said he was surprised he lived.