Wasps, Bees, and Adders: Dealing with Summer Stings and Bites

August afternoons have a particular kind of stillness. Warm air, long grass, the low hum of insects. Most of the time it is perfect walking weather. But this is also the time of year when wasps are at their most active, bees are busy foraging, and the UK's only venomous snake is out basking on heathland and sandy paths.

Most stings are minor. A quick yelp, a lick, a bit of swelling, and it is over in an hour. But some are not. A sting inside the mouth or throat can swell quickly enough to affect breathing. An adder bite can cause severe, rapid swelling and systemic effects that need urgent veterinary treatment.

The difference between a dog that recovers at home and one that needs emergency care often comes down to how quickly the owner recognises what is happening and what they do in the first few minutes.

This is what you need to know.

Dogs get stung most often on the face, nose, and paws. Paws because they step on insects in the grass. Face and nose because dogs are curious and will snap at a buzzing thing with exactly the enthusiasm you would expect.

Bees leave their stinger behind. If a bee stings your dog you may be able to see or feel the stinger still in the skin. Do not squeeze it or use tweezers, as this pushes more venom in. Scrape it sideways with a flat edge, like a credit card or your fingernail, to flick it out.

Wasps do not leave a stinger. They can sting multiple times. If your dog has been around a wasp nest or has disturbed a group of wasps, they may have been stung several times.

For a straightforward sting on the body or paw:

• Remove the stinger if present using the scraping method
• Apply a cool, damp cloth to the area to reduce swelling and ease discomfort
• Bicarbonate of soda mixed with water to form a paste can help neutralise bee venom (which is acidic). For wasp stings, which are alkaline, plain water or diluted vinegar is more effective. In practice, cool water is fine for both if you do not have these to hand
• Watch your dog for the next 30 to 60 minutes for any signs of a stronger reaction
• Keep them calm and resting

Most straightforward stings settle within an hour or two. A small lump at the sting site and some mild discomfort is normal.

There are two situations that move a sting from manageable at home to needing urgent veterinary attention.

This is the most dangerous type of sting, and it happens more often than owners expect. Dogs that snap at wasps or bees sometimes catch them, and the insect stings inside the mouth or further back in the throat before the dog can spit it out.

The tissue inside the mouth and throat swells quickly in response to a sting. In a severe case, that swelling can be significant enough to narrow the airway and make it harder for the dog to breathe.

Signs of a throat or mouth sting to watch for:

• Pawing at the mouth or face persistently
• Drooling more than usual
• Visible swelling around the face, lips, or throat
• A change in breathing: noisy, laboured, or faster than normal
• Retching or gagging without bringing anything up
• Sudden distress or agitation
• Swallowing repeatedly

If your dog was snapping at an insect and you see any of these signs within the next few minutes, treat it as an emergency. Phone your vet immediately while you are watching your dog. Do not wait to see how things develop. Airway swelling can progress quickly.

Like humans, some dogs have a stronger than normal immune response to insect venom. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can occur within minutes of a sting.

Signs of anaphylaxis include:

• Sudden vomiting or diarrhoea
• Extreme weakness, collapse, or inability to stand
• Pale or white gums
• Very rapid or very slow breathing
• Loss of consciousness

The adder (Vipera berus) is the only venomous snake native to the UK. It is not aggressive by nature. It would rather move away from a person or dog than confront one. But dogs, with their tendency to poke their noses into exactly the kind of warm, sheltered spots adders like, do get bitten, and when they do, it needs prompt attention.

Adders like warm, sheltered spots with access to sun. In the UK, they are most commonly found on heathland, moorland, sand dunes, rough grassland, woodland edges, and bracken-covered hillsides. They are found across England, Wales, and Scotland, though they are most common in southern England and parts of Scotland.

Peak activity is from April through to September, with August being one of the highest risk months. Adders bask in the morning sun and are most active in warm weather.

Adders are typically 50 to 75 centimetres long. They have a very distinctive zigzag pattern down their back. Males are usually grey or silver with a black zigzag. Females are more brown, with a darker brown zigzag. Both have a distinctive V or X shape on the back of the head. The pupils are vertical, like a cat's eye.

If you see a snake on a walk with these markings, keep your dog away and give it plenty of space. Adders will move off if not cornered or threatened.

The hallmark sign of an adder bite is two small puncture wounds close together, usually about one centimetre apart. The skin around the bite swells rapidly, often within minutes. This swelling can be dramatic, particularly if the bite is on the face or nose, which is a common location because dogs investigate low level smells with their nose.

You may not always see the bite happen. The first sign may be sudden yelping, the dog pulling back sharply, or you noticing swelling that appears very quickly in a specific area.

Signs of adder envenomation:

• Rapid, significant swelling at the bite site
• Pain and distress
• Lethargy, weakness, or collapse
• Vomiting
• Pale gums
• Trembling or disorientation
• In severe cases, breathing difficulty

Adder venom affects the blood and tissues. Without treatment, a bite can cause severe local tissue damage and in serious cases, effects on the whole body.

Keep your dog as still and calm as possible. Movement increases the rate at which venom spreads through the body. If you can carry your dog rather than letting them walk, do so. If you cannot carry them, keep the walk back to the car as calm and slow as possible.

Do not try to suck out the venom. This does not work and puts you at risk.

Do not apply a tourniquet or cut the wound. These approaches are not effective and can cause additional harm.

Cool the area gently with a damp cloth if available, but do not apply ice directly.

Phone your vet immediately. Tell them you suspect an adder bite, where it appears to be on the dog, and how long ago it happened. Most adder bites are treated with antivenom, which is most effective when given promptly. Some vet practices keep antivenom in stock. If yours does not, they will direct you to the nearest emergency vet that does.

Time matters. Dogs that receive antivenin quickly generally recover well. Delayed treatment increases the risk of more serious complications. Even if the swelling seems minor at first, get your dog seen as a priority.

Having a few things ready before you need them makes a real difference in an emergency.

• Super Tummy Instant for post-sting gut support and general digestive emergencies
• A small cool pack or a wet cloth in a sealed bag
• Your vet's phone number and the nearest 24-hour emergency vet number saved in your phone
• A card or flat edge (old loyalty card works) for scraping out bee stingers
• A light blanket or towel for carrying or calming a distressed dog

The most important thing in that list is your vet's number. In the moment, when your dog is distressed and you are panicking, having to search for a number adds precious time you do not want to lose.