Is your dog eating bees? It may be fun to see him jump up and down and all around chasing bees and then chomp down on them, but is it okay? Dog Ownership Guide did the research so you don’t have to do it yourself.
What to Know About Your Dog Eating Bees
It’s important to know the reasons your dog is eating bees. The following are the most common ones.
- Their prey instincts go into effect when there are bees flying around.
- Dogs don’t know what they are, so they use their mouth to figure it out.
- They love to play with anything that moves.
Bees don’t fly fast so they are easily captured, which is a great success for a dog that wants to win the chase.
The Problem with Dog Eating Bees
A dog eating bees may seem like good entertainment as he/she jumps and runs to capture them. It’s not safe, though. As you can probably imagine, bees in a dog’s mouth can be very painful and cause serious medical problems. Below are the details on what happens when you have a dog eating bees.
Stinging
Wasp stings and bee venom from a bee sting can cause pain and severe allergic reactions.
Difficulty Breathing
After being stung, some dogs have trouble breathing, which can lead to a life-threatening condition called anaphylactic shock or anaphylactic reaction (which causes obstruction in your dog’s airway).
Facial Swelling
Just like with humans, when a dog is eating bees, he/she can end up with facial swelling from multiple stings.
Eye Problems
If the sting site is near the eyes, it can cause eye irritation and swelling. This can lead to permanent eye damage if not properly cared for by a vet.
All of the above symptoms of a dog eating bees can take hours for them to appear, so keep a close eye on your pup after any bee chasing.
Allergic Reaction to Bee Venom
Keep a close eye on your dog’s behavior after being stung by any type of bee – wasps, honeybees, etc. Just like humans, it’s possible to have a serious allergic reaction to the venom. This is especially true if there are multiple bee stings on your dog’s body.
Aftercare for a Dog Eating Bees
The most important thing to look for are signs of anaphylactic shock. If you see your dog taking deep, rapid breaths, he/she is likely having trouble breathing. Call your vet for your furry friend as soon as possible.
If you do not see any signs of a bad reaction, you can treat the bee sting(s) at home.
Ice Pack
Apply an ice pack to the sting site. Leave it on for 10 minutes and reapply in another 20 minutes.
Remove Stinger
Inspect your dog’s skin for the stinger. Use tweezers to remove it.
Soothe Your Dog’s Skin
To soothe the irritation and redness, either apply Aquaphor or CBD oil to the sting site. You can learn more about Aquaphor by reading this article: Can You Use Aquaphor on Dogs?
CBD oil is another great treatment for dog skin allergies. Read about that here: CBD Oil for Dog Allergies
Dog Insurance for Dog Eating Bees
May pet parents aren’t sure if dog insurance is worth it because they don’t know if they would ever use it. Across the site, you will find instances of when dog insurance can be used. A dog eating bees is one activity that can lead to a reason to use pet insurance. If your dog has a major allergic reaction to a bee sting, treatment may be expensive if you don’t have insurance to cover it. Pet insurance is just like health insurance for people, but it’s much less expensive. You can learn more about dog insurance by reading: How Does Dog Insurance Work?
Step In When Your Dog Is Eating Bees
It may be amusing to watch your dog eating bees, it’s not a good idea. Step in and stop your pup from chasing these flying creatures. You never know if there’s a beehive nearby that could be disrupted, which would cause a lot more harm than just one bee.
