Insect stings on your pet dog usually just cause irritation and mild pain in most cases and do not usually require much attention or treatment. However, with wasp stings, so dog owners should definitely learn how to treat dogs stung by wasps because wasp stings can be a bit more serious than average insect bites. It can be pretty painful for your sweet pet if they get stung by a wasp, so handling it at once is crucial.
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Signs That Your Was Dog Stung by a Wasp
Here are some ways to tell that your dog may have been stung by a wasp. Since they can’t really talk to us, you have to look out for behavioural signs such as:
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- Whining
- Nibbling or biting the area where the sting could have gone in
- If stung on the paw, they may hold it up and avoid walking on it
- Excessive drooling
- Pawing strangely at the mouth or face
- Swelling
- Hives such as itchy, swollen, or red skin
How to Treat Dogs Stung by Wasps?
Before doing anything, do remain calm as your dog will likely be fine with some treatment. If the stinger is still there, use a credit card to scrape it out (this is quite unlikely as, unlike bees, wasps don’t usually leave a stinger behind).
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Do not use a tweezer or your fingers to avoid squeezing and venom out. Once the wound is clear, wash the area with water. Apply a cool towel or ice pack to the wounded area to help reduce the swelling and soothe the skin.
How to Tell If Your Dog is Having an Allergic Reaction?
Monitor your pet closely for the next few hours, and if they display one or more of the signs below, they may be having an allergic reaction. You should get in touch with your vet if the dog exhibits the symptoms below:
- Difficulty in breathing
- Swelling in the throat, mouth, ears, or eyes
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Collapsing
- Weakness
- Drooling
- Fits
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Should You Give Antihistamines to Your Dog?
Not all antihistamines for humans are good for dogs since some can make them seriously ill or even prove to be fatal. We do not recommend giving antihistamines to dogs before consulting with your vet.
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Final Thoughts
While most insect bites are generally harmless to your dog, a bee or wasp sting not only causes discomfort, but might result in more severe consequences like allergic reactions or skin infection if untreated. Also check the surrounding area where your dog was bitten as there may likely be a wasp nest nearby.