Dealing with a wasp or bee sting for a chihuahua

I love to go out walking with Team Chi, it’s just one of my favourite things. But I always dread one of them getting stung, well Minnie as she is the one who chases wasps, bees and she loves to romp about in the grass. (hence getting decimated by harvest mites last autumn). A bee sting for a chihuahua could be a problem because of the body weight to venom ratio.

All dogs are inquisitive and often to love chasing bees and wasps as they flit around the flowers. No amount of telling is going to dissuade an excited chihuahua this is not a good idea and they may end up with a bee sting.

It is also possible that they could disturb a ground nest while having a rummage about in the vegetation of your backyard. If you upset one wasp then you upset them all. This could lead to a multi-wasp attack. Hornets and Honey Bees behave in the same way. With honey bees, if there is a hive on your property, it can be easy to locate and remove with the help of a Honey Bee Removal company. However, this does not have to be the case with ground wasps. It is often difficult to find their nests and remove them, which increases the risk of their stinging a chihuahua.

Bee stings to the face and paws are most common, but a chihuahua’s tummy is close to the ground so this is at risk as well.

You don’t want to avoid taking your chi out to the park in the sunshine, but because they are so small you do need to take extra care of them.

For a large dog a bee or wasp sting is painful but unlikely to be life threatening (unless they have an allergic reaction, more on this later.) But a bee sting for a chihuahua (or wasp sting) could be an overload of toxins and they need to be monitored very carefully.

Removing the stinger

How to deal with the bee sting

Get the stinger out, by either running your finger over the sting or using a stiff piece of card. Only use tweezers if you must as you could squeeze more venom into the site. If you chihuahua is very upset she may bite, wrap a towel or flannel around her muzzle, taking care to leave airway free, to protect yourself.

Bath the area with a mixture of baking soda and water.

Administer a cold pack to help reduce the swelling (wrap it in a towel) for 5 minutes at a time.

You can give your dog Benadryl; 1 mg per pound of body weight or 2.2 mg per kilo. Please check with your vet.

Spotting an allergic reaction

If your chihuahua is unlucky enough to be attacked and receive multiply stings, then you need to get her to a vet immediately. (25 stings on a small chihuahua could prove fatal).

How to spot an allergic reaction:

• Your Chihuahua becomes weak and wobbly
• She has difficulty breathing
• A large amount of swelling from the sting site.
• Vomiting
• Drooling
• Pale Gums

If your chihuahua displays any of these symptoms after a sting, take her to the vet immediately.

How to avoid wasp and bee stings

Chihuahuas need the stimulation and fun of being out door and doing dog-stuff just like larger dogs. To keep them safe just be extra careful and keep your eye on them. Avoid areas that bees and wasps like to build their nest, like long grass. They like to build in old mouse, rabbit holes, hollow logs and trees.

If your chi starts frantically digging, go and investigate in case they are digging up a nest. Chihuahuas are very intelligent and despite being very stubborn, are highly trainable. Teach your chi the ‘leave it’ command’.

If you spot a nest that could be a potential hazard to dog walkers and children, report it to your local town council. You could also flag it up on local dog walking social media.

It is also a good idea to make yourself a travelling first aid kit and pop it in your handbag so you can deal with any problems as they arise. Also make sure you have your vets phone number in your phone. There are some human medicines you can give your chihuahua in an emergency.

If you have any other remedies or advice for dealing with wasp and bee stings we would love to hear it. Please leave information in the comments section.