Our lovely morning walk was cut short today when my two dogs disturbed a nest of wasps!

We were quite a distance from home, so you can imagine how distressed I was trying to get both large dogs home with them having probably been stung.

My bitch, who was mated 10 days ago, was walking really slowly with her head down, I can't tell you how worried I was... anyway after what seemed like a lifetime I eventually made it & straight into the car to the vets.

It appears she's been stung twice, once on the upper lip, and the other on the top of her front foot. The vet was going to give some painkillers but after discussion with her we decided not to give her anything as I don't want to risk any problems with a potential pregnancy. If she had been stung lots of times, then I wouldn't have had any choice but to let the vet do whatever they needed...

Has anyone had this happen to a recently mated bitch before, and does anyone have any advice please?

Tanya

Homeopathic Apis Mel is good for stings, (although would check with vet first before giving to possibly pregnant bitch) and maybe applying lavender oil/cider vinegar might help with the irritation and swelling too.

4 of my girls got stung last year.  Never had so many stings. :( Lips and boobs mainly so not in good places either.  I'm sure some of these wasps are getting bigger too.

Hope your pooches are ok itsadogslife.

Thanks Justine

I had been watching her like a hawk all morning, and did try some vinegar, but with her swelled lip, I couldn't locate the actual sting mark:(. But on a positive not, have just returned in after having to go out for a couple of hours, and she is looking much brighter now which is a massive relief! It's not helping that the weather is incredibly muggy and hot here so the dogs are wiped out for most of the day anyway.

Luckily for them, they are a double coated breed (GR) and I knocked several large wasps off them with my ball chucker. My boy didn't get stung at all I don't think, neither did I which is a minor miracle as one was actually wriggling it's butt on the side of his face trying to sting him!

Apparently Waspese (or something like that) is good to carry around for emergencies such as these. I think I might have to go and invest in some...

Thanks for your suggestions, it's appreciated!

Yes Waspeze, thats a good idea or maybe you could find a natural spray of some sort that you could spray on her that will help to keep them away but wont affect any potential babies ;) Or if you think its itchy, something like calamine lotion dabbed on.

They hurt when you get stung dont they.  :(  Wasps are a nuisance.  Hope she is ok, lucky she has a thick coat too by the sounds of it :)

Careful with the natural waspeze the one I have contains pyrethrum dont know if its ok for dogs but deffinitly a no no for cats it is deadly.