Bee stings

[Chris Smith]

My dog got stung by a bee (or yellow jacket?) the other day. It was right next to his eye. He yelped and winced and kept closing his eye for awhile. I also noticed some discharge from his eye for the next hour as well as swelling and a red circle at the point of entry. He also seemed quite lethargic but not sure if that was just from playing a lot with another dog.

What is the best thing to use either externally on it or internally if the dog is reacting to a sting? Should he just be "watched"? or should something (holistically) be done?

I called the vet and of course, they said bring him and/or give him a benedryl. I didn't want to drug him.

[Summer Magic]

I don't know about close to the eyes, but an old girl scout remedy for bee stings for humans was just plain white vinegar. The acid neutralizes the venom and takes away the sting and swelling.

[Grace Erick]

A bee sting can produce an allergic reaction. It can mean that a person's throat may close up and you can't breath anymore. I only know what happens with people. They are given a shot and benydril. Benidryl may be good to give to your dog, but I would ask your vet first, but you know how they are, they want you to bring your dog in, so it costs $35-$45 to tell you to buy benidryl and tell your what the proper doseage is.

[Colleen]

Half of a Benedryl twice a day would be safe.

[Summer Magic]

I always thought if one was allergic to bee stings they would react within just a few minutes of the sting. There was a fellow in my bottany class that was allergic, he did bring his kit with him every time we went into the field for research. He told everyone in the group what to do if he got stung so we could administer the shot. Because he said sometimes he didn't have time to get it out and administer it himself.

[Grace Erick]

I was overlooking the canyon in Kauai, HI, and was going back to my car with my husband and all of a sudden I didn't feel quite right and developed huge wide lumps on my arms, then my throat closed up and I could not talk and barely breathe.

My life was saved only because there was a hospital at the bottom of the mountain. I was given a shot, I forgot what it was. I was pretty out of it. From then on, I carry an antiphalylatic kit with me when I go hiking overnight. The dr. said I got stung, which I didn't feel anything or I was allergic to a plant in the canyon. Needless to say, when I return there, I won't go up to the canyon overlook again!

[Summer Magic]

I don't blame you. I'll bet that scared the sox off of you!

[Grace Erick]

Summer, at the time, I could not speak to say goodbye to my husband or to tell him to say goodbye to my family since I couldn't breathe, but you would think I would have said a quick prayer, but I didn't think of it at the time. I wasn't even scared, because I was focussing on controling my air intake and making sure I took very small breaths. I thought if I got excited and gasped for more air, I would have died.

I really need a new kit. It comes with a preloaded syringe and benydril tablets.

[Summer Magic]

I remember that his was pre-loaded too, but he said that it happens so fast to him that sometimes he couldn't get to it in time before he passed out. We all saw what it looked like, and where he kept it in his back pack just in case. We NEVER left him alone for any reason.

[Grace Erick]

Hi, The whole situation snuck up on me, so you can be overtaken by the time you realize what is happening to you. In may case, I could have helped myself if I realized what was wrong and had the kit.

[Jill Ramsey]

I give myself allergy shots, and always have to have someone present and have an EPI-PEN there. It is epinefrin?sp, which is what most people carry if they are deathly allergic to anything. I have it just as a precaution for the allergy shots. I have to have a prescription for it. My mom always put baking soda on bee stings, and I have found if you slice an onion in half and rub it on the sting, it stops hurting. But, I wouldn't do that around the eye. An icepack might work better there. and of course, the benedryl.

[Sam Aiden]

Homeopathically you can always carry Apis Mel, Histamine, and Detox which does get the toxin out of the system more quickly. We use our own Trauma Rescue for this type of thing as it also covers minor injuries which you could expect when you are out with your dog, cuts, muscle pulls etc.

[Chris Smith]

Thanks Sam. I am more interested in being prepared homeopathically whenever possible than using benedryl or other drugs on him. He only weighs about 25 lbs. so I would be fearful to OD him on a human adult dose of a med.