Yellow Jacket Bee Stings on Puppies

Yellow jackets are stinging insects that resemble bees but are actually members of the wasp family, Vespidae. They behave more aggressively than other North American wasps; an entire colony may attack when threatened. Yellow jacket stings pose a special danger to puppies because they are small and do not have fully-developed immune systems. Call your veterinarian immediately if your puppy shows any signs of an allergic reaction or extreme distress. Getting your puppy to the vet as quickly as possible can save its life.

  1. Yellow Jacket Attacks

    • Yellow jackets and other social wasps have a pheromone that alerts other members of the nest when they are in distress. In some cases, this means that an entire colony may begin attacking. This is a life-threatening situation and you must get your puppy away from the nest immediately. Don't swat at the yellow jackets, but brush off any that remain on your puppy. Grab it and run as quickly as you can away from the yellow jackets. These wasps do not typically chase their victims for very long, so the best way to save your puppy is to move away. Keep running until the yellow jackets have stopped chasing you and your puppy.

    Allergic Reactions

    • Puppies, like humans, may have allergic reactions to insect stings. If your puppy is suffering from labored breathing after a sting, this is an emergency situation. Don't waste time calling your veterinarian or looking for a home remedy; go to an emergency veterinary clinic immediately. Your puppy may require a life-saving shot of epinephrine, a hormone that counteracts some allergic reactions.

    Sting Treatment

    • Fortunately, most yellow jacket stings are not life-threatening but they can still make your puppy sick. Yellow jackets do not leave their stingers behind, so if there is a stinger left, your puppy has been stung by a bee. Remove the stinger by gently scraping the top with a credit card or your finger nail. Avoid squeezing it. Treat the sting site with a paste of baking soda. If there is any swelling, apply ice compresses for five minutes every 20 minutes in the first several hours. If your puppy tries to scratch or bite the sting site, cover the wound or put your puppy in an Elizabethan collar. If your dog scratches the wound too much, it may cause an infection.

    Delayed Reactions

    • Some puppies may develop a reaction to the sting several days or hours after being stung. You may notice a rash or swelling. This may be a sign of a localized skin allergy or infection. While not typically life-threatening, your puppy still requires veterinary care. An untreated infection can spread to other areas of the body without antibiotics, and skin allergies can quickly turn your puppy into an itchy, bloody mess.