The sun is high, the birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and bees are buzzing about our parks and gardens!
Though we love the work these buzzy critters do, it isn’t fun at all when your dog or cat gets a bee sting! Pets are inquisitive and use their noses to explore the world, so the occasional sting can happen from time to time.
If you’re a pet sitter or dog walker, it’s really important for you to know what to do in the case of an insect stinging the pet in your care.
Pet sitters - before the pet sit, ask the pet owner if the dog or cat in your cat has an allergy to bees or wasps (or anything else that could be a risk around the home). If the owner has prior knowledge of an allergy, they can hopefully fill you in of what to do.
Prevention is always best, so beware of walking dogs through fields of flowers where bees are visible, or near flower beds – especially if your dog is one to snap at bugs. Also keep an eye on cats in your care when out in the garden: if there is a bee-filled plant, they might be tempted to pounce.
Here’s your plan of action in the event of bee or wasp sting:
- Remove the sting – be very careful and try to scrape it away with a credit card rather than tweeze it out, as this can lead to more poison being released from the stinger (and more pain!).
- Bathe the area with a cool cloth or an icepack to reduce the swelling.
- Keep the pet calm and quiet - bring them indoors or somewhere contained if possible. This will bring their heart-rate down to stop the spread of the poison.
- You might notice some localized swelling, which is a normal reaction to the sting. But call the emergency vet immediately if you spot difficulty breathing, major swelling, excessive saliva, diarrhea, fatigue or lumps elsewhere on the body. This could indicate an allergic reaction.
- If the sting is near the throat or mouth, best to call the vet immediately – as swelling can make it difficult to breathe.
- Keep an eye on your pet over the next few days. Call the vet if the swelling doesn’t settle down.
- If in doubt (in case we haven’t said it enough!) – call the vet. They are there to help!
