BEE STING

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Haley just got stung on foot by a bee. Can't find stinger. What should I do? It's really bothering him.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If you know the area where the stinger might be, use the edge of a credit card and scrape along the skin in that area to try to dislodge it. Even if you find it, don't try to pull it out with tweezers or anything else, that can just make it worse. Just scrape to dislodge it.

Bathe his foot in a solution of baking soda and water. Use an ice pack to reduce swelling and/or pain. 

Watch him for any signs of an allergic reaction: lethargy or weakness, labored breathing, severe swelling. If you see any of those symptoms, or if he can't put weight on that foot, get him to a vet. 

Hope he's okay. 

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Thank you Karen. Do you know how much baking soda to how much water?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I couldn't find the exact amounts, but it's supposed to be  like a paste. So more baking soda than water. 

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Thanks Karen  Haley ate his dinner and is having his after dinner nap so I am not going to disturb him.  He is putting weight on the foot but limping a little.  Our neighbor keeps 5 hives of bees and out yard is full of clover this time of year.  For future use I wonder how efective Nutri-Vet Anti-Itch Dog Spray is and if you have to keep the dog from licking after applying it.  Do you know anything about it?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I do use anti-itch sprays, but I'm not familiar with that one. I don't think itching is the issue with bee stings, though.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It bothers me that he's limping. If he's still limping tomorrow, I'd take him to the vet to make sure that stinger is out. 

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

Karen, the crisis is over. He's playing fetch. I did scrape all over the pads on that foot with a credit srd so perhaps I got the stinger.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yay! Great news! 

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Poor boy, glad he is okay. We have a new neighbor who also brought 1 hive with him. Also, a lot of wasps are flying around in our backyard, so I worry about stings as well. At least with the wasps, the stinger does not stay in.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I use meat tenderizer, which I eep just for that, and make a paste with water and rub it on the spot a few times. The
Meat tenderizer takes care of the protein of the sting. Hydrocortisone cream might also help.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

F, Do you rinse it off? If so, how long do you leave it on? With both the meat tenderizer and hydrocortisone cream, do you have to keep them from licking?

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

What kind of meat tenderizer? When I was reading this I thought of the metal or wooden meat tenderizer to pound the meat, LOL.