My Dog Got Stung by a Wasp, What Should I Do?

Wasp stings are poisonous. These stings are painful and when provoked, wasps can sting various times. This can make our dog's condition much worse. The location of the sting is also very important, as a sting on their throat or tongue can be more dangerous and will need immediate help from a veterinarian.

Dogs usually get stung on their nose or face as they are very curious and use their nose to discover new things. Getting stung on their nose is particularly painful. However, the most dangerous is getting stung inside their mouth or throat as it can swell up and close your dog's throat and block their airway.

There are different types of wasps that can potentially sting your dog, especially if your dog is exposed to the open air during the warmer months of the year. Getting stung by a wasp is also more likely in curious dogs that like to sniff, touch or even bite new things they encounter.

However, these curious dogs can in fact get stung by other insects, such as getting stung by a bee or getting bit from a spider. To differentiate different types of insect bites we must rely on the clinical symptoms. With that being said, some of these symptoms overlap with other health issues. This is why it's always best to observe the symptoms but take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible so that they can better examine our dog's condition.

The most common symptoms for a dog that got stung by a wasp are:

• Inflammation of the area of the bite
• Pain
• Redness of the affected area
• Itching
• Stings on the face, which are the most frequent, can cause considerable swelling around the face
• Those that occur inside the mouth, due to swelling, can cause serious respiratory problems
• Anaphylactic shock if the dog receives multiple stings or is allergic to wasps

Now that you know whether or not your dog has been stung by a wasp, what should you do?

If it's a simple sting, you can try to remove the sting with your finger nails. Avoid using tweezers as it may inject more venom out of the sting and into your dog. Once the sting is out, your dog will experience mild pain and discomfort. Your veterinarian can recommend certain painkillers so that they can cope with it until they've healed. This shouldn't take more than a couple of days.

On the other hand, if your dog is also experiencing other symptoms due to their allergies, they will need veterinary assistance as soon as possible. Especially if they have been stung on their tongue or inside their mouth or throat. In these cases, your dog will need special care as their airways may be blocked. Your veterinarian will examine and administer the correct drugs and fluids to reduce the inflammation so that your dog can breathe and recover from the anaphylactic shock.

If it's a simple sting by a wasp, your veterinarian will remove the sting and administer painkillers for a couple of days so that your dog can cope with the symptoms until they are fully recovered.

If your dog has anaphylactic shock, the treatment will involve more medical procedures. This will depend on your dog's condition and the veterinarian's diagnosis. In these cases, remember to bring them to the veterinarian as soon as you can.

At home it is only possible to treat wasp stings in dogs that have caused no more than a mild local reaction. If the affected part is the face, the inside of the mouth or the dog shows some sign compatible with anaphylactic shock, we cannot limit ourselves by only treating our dog at home. It is essential that we contact the veterinarian.

If your dog has gotten stung by a wasp on their body, simply remove the sting and use these home remedies to help them cope with the pain:

• Apply ice (with a cloth, never directly on the wound)
• Clean wound

If the sting is mild, they should recover in a couple of days. If they struggle with the symptoms, you should take them to the veterinarian for some prescribed canine painkillers.

In the other cases, where your dog was stung in a vulnerable area or is also experiencing other symptoms, they will need to be taken to the veterinarian as soon as possible as, in the worst cases, it can be fatal. In these cases home remedies simply won't suffice.

This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.

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