Treating your poodle for a bee sting

If your poodle happens to be stung by an insect like a wasp or a bee, here are some tips as to  treating your poodle for a bee sting.  Naturally, you will probably want to call your vet, but in the immediate time frame,  here are some of the things that can help.  The good news is, that in most cases, bee stings are not that harmful, and are only fatal in extreme cases, which are pretty rare.

With the summer weather here and the insects are out in greater numbers, there is always the possibility of your poodle or dog getting stung by a wasp or a bee.  This has already happened to our miniature poodle, Lucy this year.  Fortunately for her, her reaction to the sting was relatively minor, although she did suffer some trauma.

Poodles and all dogs, in general, are playful and curious creatures.  Lucy actually likes to follow the bees and she just seems to want to play with them in an innocent way.  Naturally, we are always on the watch for bees and keep a very close eye on her when we are outside in the back yard or on our walks.  If we see her go near a bee, we just pull her back and away from it.

Does this poodle want to play with the bee that is flying around in the grass?

Treating your poodle for a bee sting

Sometimes we just can't be there every time and now and then a bee will sting your poodle or dog.  The usual places they get stung are on the body, or face or ears.  Occasionally, as sting inside the mouth will happen, which are the most dangerous to the health of your dog.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe.  In extreme cases, death can occur, but this is rare.  Some of the signs of being bitten by a stinging insect are trembling and weakness, which can resemble a seizure.  Diarrhea, vomiting and possibly going completely limp can also be a dog's reaction to being stung by a bee.
If you find the stinger still in your poodle's body, carefully remove it with a flat object like a credit card.  Don't try to use a tweezer to remove it as it could break and cause exposure to even more venom.  You can put a little baking soda and water on the area that is stung, if it is swollen.  Even a small cold pack will help ease the swelling to a bump.
The best thing to do is to take your dog to the vet, where it can be examined and the veterinarian will make a diagnosis and determine the best treatment for the sting.  Our vet, who is a holistic veterinarian, suggested using something called Rescue Remedy.  It is an homeopathic remedy, sometimes known as "calming essence" as well.  We gave it to our poodle every hour that day and she was fine within several hours.
From dog-health-today, here is what they said about the possibility of the use of Benadryl, which a lot of people have asked about using for bee stings.

Benadryl (Diphengydramine), a medicine used to treat allergies in people, is often used by veterinarians in treating bee stings in dogs. If a dog is showing signs of an allergic reaction, an injectable form of Benadryl is often used by the vet because it will act faster than the oral form. The vet will often prescribe a follow-up dose or two of oral Benadryl once the dog is home.
Benadryl is usually dosed at 1 mg per 1 lb. of body weight. One Benadryl tablet is 25 mg. It is a good idea to keep Benadryl in your doggie first aid kit. It is an important aid in treating bee stings in dogs.
Depending on the severity of a dog's allergic reaction, your vet may use additional supportive measures, such as an injection of Dexamethasone, a synthetic form of prednesone, a steroid. Dexamathasone provides a potent anti-inflammatory therapeutic action.
A dog in anaphylactic shock will receive respiratory and cardiovascular support. Fluids will be aggressively administered to counter low blood pressure. If the dog is having trouble breathing, a breathing tube will be placed in his throat or a surgical incision may be made directly into the dog's trachea. Oxygen will be administered if needed.An antibiotic may be administered to prevent the development of secondary bacterial infections.
A dog recovering from anaphylactic shock needs to have his conditioned monitored at a pet hospital for up to 48 hours prior to being released.

Original story found here

Treating your poodle for a bee sting may not require the use of Benadryl.  It all depends on the severity of the reaction and your veterinarian's diagnosis of the situation.  Using a cold compress, or putting some baking soda and water on the area that was stung is good for the meantime, but get your poodle or dog to the vet quickly to be sure there is nothing else needed as far as treatment is concerned.