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INSECT
STINGS - Wasps, Hornets, Bees, and Ants
Note for Pet Owners: This information is provided
by Provet for educational purposes only.
You should seek the advice
of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly
advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most
appropriate for your pet.
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Description
Animals may be stung by many insects of the Order Hymenoptera, most frequently
wasps, hornets, bees, and ants. Multiple stings may be more important than
single stings, but even a single sting can cause an acute allergic anaphylactic
reaction in some individuals.
Cause
Animals are most often stung because :
- The insect is disturbed or in an aggressive state
- The animal accidentally ingests the insect, for example by eating food on which the insect has settled, for example wasps are often attracted to fruit.
In honey bees the venom is called melittin, and the venom of these insects contain :
- vasoactive compounds including histamine (bees and wasps) and serotonin (wasps)
- enzymes including phospholipase A and hyaluronidase (bees and wasps) and peptides (bees)
- Haemolysins (honey bee, harvester ant, paper wasp)
- Haemolytic alkaloids (fire ant)
- Formic acid (field ant)
Breed Occurrence
There are no reported breed predispositions to being stung, or to development of
anaphylaxis
Signs
Clinical signs for bee and wasp stings include :
- Pain - acute at first, subsiding to a dull ache for 24 hours +
- Vocalisation of acute pain - eg yelping
- Abnormal behaviour eg running around in circles, scratching at the site
- Redness at the site
- Swelling at the site. This may be slight or severe depending upon the severity of the reaction to the venom, the anatomical location of the sting, and whether or not the animal has been exposed to a sting before. If it has been stung before the reaction is likely to be greater.
- Itchiness at the site
- Retained barbed stinger (bees)
Systemic effects due to the allergic reaction may include :
- Increased heart rate (wasp stings)
- Difficulty breathing (bee stings)
- Asphyxia or dyspnoea if stung in the neck region
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Sweating
- Blood in urine (haemaglobinuria) - bees
- Collapse
- Coma
- Death
Rare signs include :
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
- Kidney failure
- Liver failure
- Rhabdomyolysis
Complications
Diagnosis
Based on signs and visualisation of an insect with stinging potential near to or on the animal at the time signs start.
Treatment
- Remove barbed stinger if present. Venom continues to be injected for up to 1 minute once the insect has deposited the stinger
- Local application of vinegar (wasp stings) or bicarbonate of soda solution (bee stings)
- Local application of tincture of iodine, alcohol or arnica tincture (bee stings
- Local application of antihistamines or corticosteroids
- Systemic application of antihistamines or corticosteroids
- Intravenous fluids if in shock
- Adrenaline if severe anaphylactic shock
- Surgery to open up airway if dyspnoea
- Oxygen if dyspnoea
- Desensitisation may be attempted in individuals at risk to develop anaphylaxis
- Antibiotics to control secondary infection
Repeat exposure to stings should be avoided, as this increases the risk of an anaphylactic reaction occurring. Removal of nests from homes by experienced pest control professionals is recommended when appropriate. Avoid walking in areas of countryside where nests are located.
Prognosis
In the majority of cases the discomfort is transient and serious complications do not occur
Long term problems
Renal failure or liver failure can occur weeks after the stinging, so animals should be monitored for a couple of weeks following the event.
Updated October 2013
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