Hi all. I've just noticed that Luna (my troublesome but lovely 9 month old) has a small bump on her nose. I'm not entirely sure how it got there, but I guess it could be from a bee? I've pressed it down and around, but it doesn't seem to be causing her any pain. She does also seem quite tired, but that could also be from a busy morning of playing with her doggy friends. Perhaps the bump is from a knock? Do you think there's anything I should be worried about? Nicky
I would give it a few days, perhaps a week, to see if it goes down (as it will if it's a sting or bump) and then if it's still there I'd check with the vet.
If it is a bee sting, you are so lucky she is not allergic. When Snowie got stung by a bee -- well, I didn't see the bee, but the vet reckoned she found the sting in his fur and she said it was a bee sting -- his whole face swelled up and he looked like a charpei.
Oh dear! Poor lad. It is worth knowing that if it is an allergy to a sting (wasp or bee) that the first sting isn't necessarily the worrying one - it just "primes" the system. Each subsequent sting can be more and more of an issue with regards allergy. Its difficult to tell what a lump would be. I know when Lilly was stung by a wasp she found it itchy and irritable. Keeping an idea on her is a good idea, and if worried, chat to you vet. jac
Thanks all for your replies. Her bump has gone down and she's back to her usual high maintenance self! Not sure what it was though - perhaps a sting and thankfully one she's not allergic to. Nicky
Years ago, Ginger got into a Yellow Jacket nest on a trail. She go stung many times, and just stopped and covered face on the trail. My wife actually pulled out of the area and wiped the Yellow Jackets off of her. She had a lot of swelling on her nose and ears, but was fine after a day or so. Benadryl would be a good thing to carry both for the dogs and hikers. I don't know if dogs can have an allergic reaction and anaphylactic shock like some people do. That would be a very serious problem even in town. I'm always surprised when I see dogs chase and bite Yellow Jackets. They seem to kill them without being stung, at least most of the time
According to my vet, yes, they can. She gave us a packet of cortisone tablets in case Snowie got stung again, to be administered immediately while his throat was not yet closed for swallowing (thankfully this has never happened). Of course to get to an emergency vet asap as well for a cortisone injection. As @drjs@5 says, it can be worse the next time round. Snowie once woke us up in the middle of the night. When I felt his head I could feel his ears were very thick. Put on the light and was faced with the charpei again. Rushed to emergency vet at 2am for the cortisone injection. Which is when we got given the cortisone tablets for immediate administration. That time round we think he must've got bitten by a spider, no bees around in the middle of the night I think.
The normal emergency treatment for humans, for sting caused anaphylactic shock is epinephrine usually via an epi pen. I wonder if vets ever prescribe epi pens for dogs who are allergic to stings. In a severe reaction there is usually not time to get to an ER or Paramedic, unless you are in an urban setting.
