Dog Guidance Blog

If a dog gets stung by bees, wasps and hornets, or bites from mosquitoes or other insects, these can not only be irritating and itchy, but painful as well. Although most stings or bites are not considered dangerous, you should keep an eye on it and if it doesn’t seem to get better in a reasonable time frame, or starts getting worse, please consult your Veterinarian as soon as possible.

When Jericho got stung on his lip area, I started him on Benadryl for the swelling. I called my Veterinarian for the dosage. During the night the swelling doubled in size and I was really beginning to worried, but kept up on the Benadryl. By morning the swelling was down quite a bit; but because there was a hole in the middle of the swollen area about the size of a pin head, I took him to the Veterinarian and was given antibiotics in case the stinger was still deep inside to stop any infection that could set in.

Upon talking to my Veterinarian and doing further research, I came upon other suggestions to help relieve the dogs pain and irritation from insect bites or stings.

1. Benadryl – As mentioned above use Benadryl for swelling and itching from the bee strings, etc.

2. Baking Soda – I should have remembered this one, because when I got stung, I made a “paste” using baking soda and a little water, and applied it on the swollen area. It helped soothe the pain and discomfort from the itching.

3. Ammonia – I was told that dabbing the ammonia on the affected area, using a tissue or cotton ball, would help relieve the pain.

4. Milk of magnesia – Try applying a thin coat to the affected area several times a day. This medication contains magnesium hydroxide, which will ease the irritation and itch.

5. Meat tenderizer – meat tenderizer has enzymes that aid in breaking down the poison in insect stings. It also reduces the irritation. Just make a paste using a little water and apply immediately to the sting, and keep re-applying as needed.

6. A leaf from the Aloe Vera plant – This is good for minor skin irritation. Just break off a leaf and apply a thin coat of its gel to the affected area. This soothes the discomfort and relieves the irritation
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7. Apply a cold compress– If your dog will hold still long enough, try applying a cold compress. This helps with the swelling and eases pain. Try holding it on the affected area as long as you can.

8. Hydrocortisone cream – Hydrocortisone cream is recommended for bites, stings, and hot spots. Hydrocortisone Cream with Aloe is even better because Aloe soothes the pain.

9. Find the culprit – If stung by a bee, try to find where the stinger went in and remove it with tweezers. Getting the stinger out will prevent any added venom to enter the wound.

If the swelling does not go down within a reasonable time frame, call your Veterinarian and set up an appointment right away.