My puppy got a bee sting, and the vet is closed. What should I do?

They do tend to swell varying amounts when they get stung by bees, but they don't tend to have severe complications, so I would not worry too much right now. You can safely give one 50mg tablet of benadryl by mouth to help prevent allergic reactions. Just know that this will make him drowsy. An allergic reaction normally happens within the first couple of hours, so if he's doing OK by the end of the day, then he should be fine. If he starts vomiting, you notice his face swell excessively, or he seems to have trouble breathing, then these would be signs of an allergic reaction that needs emergency vet treatment. I hope that helps and Ardie turns-out OK.

Look for the stinger and remove it, if you can, Cool his paw with ice in a cloth (no ice directly on the foot). You can also soak the foot in epsom salt solution for about 10 minutes. The pain should go away by tonight,

If the symptoms don't seem to bad and if he isn't lethargic or having problems breathing just wait 2-3 hours, it should start getting better by then. in any case of respiratory problems or lethargy you must take him to the vet urgently.

There's really nothing that safe to give him over the counter for pain. Apply a cool compress to the area but the pain will likely subside within a few hours. Monitor him for any swelling of the face or trouble breathing. Also make sure the stinger is out. I hope Hugo feels better quickly!

Poor Stella! No, I would not recommend giving her aspirin - this is not safe for use in dogs, and will interfere with your veterinarian's ability to treat her appropriately if she needs to see the vet for her sting. If the area is mildly swollen and sore but your pup is otherwise acting normal, you shouldn't need to do anything - just like a human with a wasp or bee sting, it will be sore for a few days but should resolve on its own. If she seems excessively painful, or if she has significant swelling or any other symptoms such as vomiting, hives, or difficulty breathing, then I would recommend taking her to the vet to be seen as these can be signs of a more serious reaction.

I would just monitor the paw for now. You can apply an ice pack for 5-10 minutes 2-3 times per day to help with the discomfort or reduce any swelling that may occur. If Diva begins to have any other symptoms such as breathing difficulties, swelling of the face, etc. I would recommend getting her examined by a veterinarian for further treatment. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Poor Bubby! My own dog has gotten stung before, so I know how scary that is and how much they seem to hurt. If Bubby develops swelling on his face or neck, vomits or seems to have trouble breathing, it is a medical emergency and he needs to be taken to a veterinarian immediately. Often the area will just be painful and will resolve on its own. You can try putting a cold compress on the area once Bubby calms down a little if he will let you (but do not push it if he still does not want you to touch the area). I've attached a handout below about bee stings. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=383 Please let me know if that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.