Wasp stings in dogs
Those horrid, yellow and black, stinging critters? Yep, you guessed it: wasps. No one likes them, but they are very important for our ecosystem. In this blog, we’ll tell you all about what to do when your dog is stung by a wasp.
When are wasps active?
Wasps are most active in the month of August, which is when they go on the hunt for all kinds of delicious sweetness. August is also the month in which young wasps fly out into the great big world.
What can you do to deter wasps?
As you’ve just read, wasps love anything and everything sweet. Try to keep your sweet-smelling perfume, a glass of lemonade or that refreshing fruit salad as far away from you as possible. These are like catnip to wasps. Want to protect yourself against wasps in a natural way? Place a bowl with clove, vinegar, orange apple, lemon or union in your garden sitting area or on your balcony. This is a very unpleasant scent for wasps and keeps them far away; perfect for when you and you dog are relaxing outside. You can also use a wasp trap or spray.
My dog was stung by a wasp, what do I do?
There are several things you can do to minimise the reaction when your dog is stung by a wasp.
- Step 1: check for stinger
Wasps can sting multiple times before losing their stinger. Check your dog’s skin for the stinger and remove it with a bank card or the back of a blunt knife.
- Step 2: cool the skin
Just like in people, the sting will cause redness and swelling. This is easily minimised by placing a cooling element or an ice cube on the area of the sting. Don’t forget to wrap the cooling element in a towel when it’s too cold to put directly on your dog’s skin.
- Step 3: observe
Unfortunately, a wasp sting can cause an allergic reaction in some dogs. The symptoms are similar to that of an allergic reaction in people. It’s important to observe your dog’s behaviour. Whether you should see a vet also depends on where your dog was stung.
- Step 4: caring for the skin
To lessen redness and swelling even more, you could put some Hilton Herbs Virex Cream on the spot of the sting. Hilton Herbs Virex Cream is based on calendula and has a soothing and cooling effect on the skin.
When should you see a vet?
Was your dog stung in his mouth, the neck area or around his eyes? There’s an increased chance of swelling and it’s wise to take your dog to the vet. The swelling can cause difficulty breathing if your dog develops an allergic reaction.
Are you unsure whether you should see a vet? Always contact your own vet and they can help you decide the best course of action.
Do you have any question about wasp stings in dogs after reading this article? Contact our veterinary team at veterinarian@vetsend.co.uk.
