Dog Stung by a Bee: What to Do and When It's an Emergency

What a bee sting usually means

Dogs are usually stung while sniffing flowers, digging, or snapping at insects, so the nose, face, mouth and paws are the common targets. A sting injects venom that causes immediate pain, so the first thing you notice may be a yelp, then pawing at the face, licking or chewing a foot, limping, and a red, warm, puffy lump at the site. Only honeybees leave a stinger behind; wasps, hornets and yellow jackets can sting repeatedly.

For most dogs this local reaction is the whole story. The swelling may grow for a few hours and fade over a day or two. A minority react more strongly, either with swelling that spreads well beyond the sting, hives across the body, or a whole-body allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. VCA notes that allergic reactions usually begin within about 20 minutes but can be delayed for hours, which is why watching your dog afterward matters.

First aid for a bee sting

Step 1: Find the sting and look for a stinger, a tiny dark splinter with a small sac at the top. Scrape it out sideways with the edge of a credit card or a fingernail. Both VCA and the AKC advise against pinching it with your fingers, and VCA advises against tweezers, because squeezing the sac can push in more venom.

Step 2: Cool the area. Hold an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a thin towel against the sting for about 10 minutes to reduce swelling and pain. A thick paste of baking soda and water can be applied to the spot. Step 3: Offer fresh water, keep your dog calm and indoors, and stay with it for at least the next hour, checking the face, gums and breathing.

When to call your vet today

Call your vet if the swelling keeps growing after the first hour, spreads beyond the sting, or is on the muzzle, lips or near the eyes. Call too if your dog was stung on the tongue or inside the mouth, if it keeps pawing at its face, will not eat, or if the area is still swollen and sore the next day, since stings occasionally become infected.

Also call if your dog has reacted badly to a sting before, is a puppy, an older dog or has heart or other health problems. Ask your vet before giving any antihistamine or other medicine. Some human allergy products contain ingredients that are harmful to dogs, and some dogs should not have antihistamines at all.

When it's an emergency

Go to your vet or the nearest emergency vet immediately if your dog has difficulty breathing, wheezing or noisy breathing, rapid swelling of the face, lips, eyelids or throat, heavy drooling, hives spreading across the body, vomiting or diarrhea, pale gums, weakness, disorientation, collapse or a seizure. These can be signs of anaphylaxis, and the AKC warns it can lead to shock.

Multiple stings are also an emergency even if your dog seems fine at first. A dog that disturbed a nest or was swarmed can absorb enough venom to cause shock, muscle damage or kidney injury, and it needs prompt treatment. Call ahead while someone drives, and bring a description of the insect if you saw it.

What you can safely do at home

Beyond removing the stinger and cooling the area, keep things simple. Prevent your dog from licking or scratching the spot, and if a paw was stung, keep walks short until the swelling settles. For several stings on the body, VCA suggests a cool oatmeal bath to soothe the skin.

Avoid putting human creams, essential oils, vinegar or alcohol on the sting; dogs lick them off, and some are toxic or irritating. Do not give human pain relievers, which can seriously harm dogs. If you are unsure whether a reaction is mild, call your vet rather than waiting.

What the vet will likely check

For a local reaction, your vet will examine the sting, look for a remaining stinger, check the mouth and throat for swelling, and listen to the heart and lungs. They may give medicine by injection to reduce swelling and itching, and send you home with instructions on what to watch for.

For a severe allergic reaction, treatment is fast and hands-on: medicine to stop the reaction, oxygen, intravenous fluids to support blood pressure, and monitoring until the danger passes. Dogs stung many times may need blood tests and a hospital stay to check for damage to the kidneys or muscles. If your dog has had a serious reaction, ask your vet whether you should have an emergency plan for future stings.

Preventing stings

Discourage your dog from chasing or snapping at buzzing insects, especially in late summer when wasps are most active. Check your yard for nests in the ground, under eaves, decks and play equipment, and have them removed while your dog is kept inside. Avoid walking through clover and flowering beds where bees feed.

Keep outdoor food and sweet drinks covered, and pick up fallen fruit, which attracts wasps. If your dog has had a strong reaction before, keep your vet's number and the nearest emergency hospital's details on your phone during the warmer months.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.