If a wasp stings a dog or a cat
Symptoms of a wasp sting in a dog and a cat
- A wasp sting often causes itching, swelling and pain at the site of the sting in dogs and cats.
- In the worst case, a sting can also cause an allergic reaction that could be fatal for your pet.
Do this if your dog or cat is stung by a wasp and it causes swelling – especially in the head and neck area – or intense itching:
-
Give the pet some hydrocortisone.
You can ask the vet what the correct dosage of the adder tablets is.
-
If you are uncertain whether the swelling is caused by a wasp sting or an adder bite, do not give your pet cortisone.
If the situation is unclear, take your pet to the vet. With adder bites, you must not give any cortisone because it will put strain on the pet’s kidneys. You can always call a vet and check what their instructions are.
-
Cool the sting site down.
Cool the sting site down with something cold if the animal allows it. You can use, for example, a cool and damp towel. In addition to wasp stings, mosquito bites can cause an allergic reaction if your pet is sensitive to insect bites or there are a lot of stings or bites.
-
Take your pet to the vet.
You should take your dog or cat to the vet if they are stung by a wasp in the head or neck area, if the swelling doesn’t go down or if the sting site is very painful and bothers your pet.
-
If there is a wasp sting inside the mouth of an animal, act particularly fast.
If the sting is inside the mouth of the pet, you should especially react immediately, because if the area swells up, it can block the airways. Cats and some dogs may try to catch wasps, in which case they are at high risk of getting stung inside their mouths.
If the swelling of an insect bite or a sting does not go down within a few days or if the sting site looks infected, you should contact a vet.
Source: Evidensia – Ampiaisen pisto koiralla tai kissalla (A wasp sting on a dog or a cat)