In the summer lots of pets end up with bee stings, especially around the mouth after they chase and try to swallow a bee. The resulting sting can be very painful and cause a big swelling of the lips and face.
If you know that a bee was to blame (either you saw the bee, or you can spot the sting embedded in the mouth) then head to the kitchen and find some bicarbonate of soda. Rub a small amount over the swollen area, and this will reduce the acidity of the sting and help to bring down the swelling.
If you suspect a wasp, you need to use vinegar as wasp’s stings are alkaline, unlike bees which have an acidic sting. You can tell that a sting was caused by a wasp and not a bee because wasps don’t leave their sting behind.
Snake bites are uncommon in pets, but do occur. In the UK, the adder is the only poisonous snake, and their bites generally occur around the face of dogs who have been rooting around in undergrowth and disturbed an adder. Symptoms of a bite usually include a rapid and painful swelling localised around two small puncture marks, and more serious complications are very uncommon. The best course of action is to keep the dog as quiet as possible and take him to your vets as quickly as possible, where a strong anti-inflammatory injection will usually sort out the problem.
In countries where more venomous snakes exist, it is important to immobilise the bite site to prevent the toxin spreading, especially if it is on a limb, and get veterinary assistance as soon as possible.
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