Bee and wasp stings in dogs: first aid, allergic reactions and when to go to the vet

Most dogs who snap at a bee get away with a swollen lip and a sore paw, but a few have a serious allergic reaction within minutes — so it pays to know how to remove a stinger, what a dangerous reaction looks like, and when to stop watching and start driving to the vet.

Local reaction or allergic reaction?

Vetstreet’s veterinary team describes mild signs as swelling at the sting site and scratching, rubbing, licking or chewing at it, and severe signs as marked swelling of the face, throat or neck, hives, vomiting, difficulty breathing or collapse. The American Kennel Club (AKC) notes that allergic reactions usually appear within about 20 minutes but can be delayed for hours, and that stings on the nose, mouth or head should be watched for several hours in case swelling affects breathing or swallowing.

Which dogs are most at risk

In a review of 178 dogs stung by bees, wasps, bumblebees or hornets and seen at the University of Zurich’s animal hospital, Chapman and colleagues (2024) found that dogs under two years old, dogs weighing under 10 kg (22 lb), purebred dogs and dogs stung inside the mouth were more likely to develop severe whole-body reactions. Almost two-thirds of dogs that had a severe reaction had the same or worse symptoms when stung again, and more than 40% of dogs that had only a local reaction went on to have a severe reaction after a later sting.

Many stings at once are a separate danger. Lee and colleagues (2025) describe a two-year-old Yorkshire Terrier who developed kidney failure and multi-organ problems after being stung many times by paper wasps, despite intensive treatment.

First aid

• Stay calm and move away from the hive or nest. The AKC advises calling your dog to you, moving away from a swarm and going to the nearest vet if your dog has disturbed a hive.
• Find and remove the stinger. Vetstreet advises scraping a credit card across the skin to flick it out, rather than pinching or pulling, which may squeeze in more venom. Leave stingers in the mouth or other awkward places to your vet.
• Cool the area with a cold pack wrapped in a cloth to ease swelling.
• Offer water and watch your dog closely.
• Don’t give human medicines unless your vet tells you to and gives you the dose.

The 2026 RECOVER first aid guidelines on acute allergy and anaphylaxis, by Burkitt-Creedon and colleagues, set out an algorithm for recognizing and treating allergic reactions in dogs and cats before they reach the clinic. The authors are frank that all 12 recommendations rest on low or very low quality evidence or expert opinion — another reason to have your vet’s advice ready before you need it.

If your dog has reacted before

Ask your vet for a written plan. For dogs with a history of severe reactions, venom immunotherapy — a course of gradually increasing doses of venom given by a veterinary dermatologist — may be an option. In an uncontrolled prospective study of ten dogs with previous anaphylaxis, Rostaher and colleagues (2023) set out to show that this treatment is safe and effective, and Chapman’s findings on repeat reactions support considering it.

Prevention

• Keep your dog away from flower beds in full bloom, and check eaves, trees and the ground for nests, as Vetstreet suggests.
• Have nests removed professionally.
• Discourage snapping at insects with a “leave it” cue.
• Keep your vet’s and emergency clinic’s numbers handy.

When to call your veterinarian

• Swelling of the face, throat or neck, or swelling that spreads quickly.
• Difficulty breathing, coughing, drooling or trouble swallowing.
• Vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, pale gums or collapse.
• Multiple stings, a sting in the mouth, or a dog that has reacted before.
• If in doubt, call — your vet would rather hear from you early.

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Sources & further reading

1. Burkitt-Creedon JM, Mandell DC, Thawley VJ, et al. (2026) — RECOVER Guidelines: First Aid. Evidence, Treatment Recommendations, Knowledge Gap Analysis, and Clinical Guidelines for Acute Allergy and Anaphylaxis in Dogs and Cats. Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 36(S1):S63–S89. doi.org
2. Chapman E, West EA, Kosnik M, Fischer NM, Favrot C, Beeler L, Rostaher A (2024) — Natural History and Risk Factors of Hymenoptera Venom Allergy in Dogs. Animals 14:3220. doi.org
3. Rostaher A, Fischer NM, Vigani A, et al. (2023) — Hymenoptera Venom Immunotherapy in Dogs: Safety and Clinical Efficacy. Animals 13:3002. doi.org
4. Lee JM, Lee SK, Lee ST (2025) — Case Report: Multi organ dysfunction in a dog following massive paper wasp (Polistes rothneyi) envenomation. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12:1558937. doi.org
5. American Kennel Club (2026) — What to Do if Your Dog Is Stung by a Bee or Wasp. akc.org
6. Vetstreet — Bee Stings in Dogs. vetstreet.com

Where evidence is limited, recommendations rest on established practice and expert judgment, and may be updated as knowledge develops. This is general information and does not replace advice from your veterinarian.

Next steps

• Read next: A first aid kit and first aid basics for dog owners.
• Related: Garden dangers for dogs · Snakebite in dogs.
• Return to the guide: For your puppy buyers.