In the daytime, flower patches or blooming bushes are likely to be full of pollinating bees, so try to keep your dog’s nose out of these areas. For example, be aware of the types of locations your dog is likely to find stinging insects. Of course, there’s no guarantee, especially when out in nature, but there are a few things you can keep in mind to improve your odds of a pain-free walk. The best way to get your dog relief from a sting is to prevent it completely. Since hornets are even stronger predators than wasps thanks to their size, you may find them acting more aggressively, even towards a big dog. Like a wasp, their stinger isn’t barbed, which means a hornet can deploy multiple painful stings in a row. Hornets are much larger, and can be identified by their hanging bodies as they fly around, and are usually marked with black and white rings, rather than black and yellow. Hornets share a lot in common with wasps, with the major differences being in size and colour. The upside of this is that wasp stingers normally do not lodge in the skin, as they’re not barbed. This is because, unlike bees, a wasp is not killed by using their stinger, and can actually use it multiple times in a row. If your dog winds up aggravating a wasp, or worse, disturbs a nest, there’s a good chance that the wasp will chase after the dog and go for a sting. Wasps are predators, and so tend to be more aggressive than bees, sometimes chasing after even the largest prey. There are dozens of varieties of wasps all throughout the world, but their general description and behaviour is consistent across almost all of them. They have a smooth, hairless, almost shiny coat that is usually black and yellow (these wasps in particular are commonly known as yellowjackets). Wasps are typically slimmer and sleeker than a bumble or honey bee, and fly through the air much quicker than their lumbering bee cousins. If your dog sticks their nose into a flower patch that a bee happens to be pollinating, for instance, it may be intimidating enough for a bee to sting. Since they can only use it once, bees will usually only sting if they feel threatened. Bee stingers are barbed, which means it becomes lodged in the skin, and can continue to channel toxins into the bloodstream until it’s removed.Īlthough a bee sting is quite painful, it’s relatively rare to see a bee use its stinger. When a bee uses its stinger, it can be quite painful, but it will also kill the bee. However, in most places, you’re likely to run into the same three types of flying, stinging insects:īees are characterized by their fuzzy coat and larger abdomen. There are a few insects that carry stingers and toxins – and there may be others specific to your area. Knowing about the different types of stinging insects, as well as the best ways to treat those stings, can save your dog (and you) a lot of agony down the line. Sometimes this behaviour can wind up getting your dog in trouble, especially in the peak of the summer, when wasps, bees, and hornets are out in force.Īlthough a sting is one of the less serious injuries you and your dog need to worry about, there’s no doubt that they hurt, and lots of stings in the wrong place could even present a more serious injury. As you know, there’s little a dog loves more than chasing around after smaller creatures and sticking their nose where it might not belong. And while we love spending time in the sun with our furry friends, there’s still something to be on the lookout for: bees, wasps, and hornets. Warmer weather brings lots of new critters out and about.
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