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My dog ate a bee. What are bee sting symptoms and what to do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Dachshund miniature | Male | unneutered | 6 months and 18 days old | 5.6 lbs

I think my dog carried a dead bee inside our house by his mouth. If he did get stung, what should I do? His tongue and throat don’t look irritated or swollen right now but I don’t know how dogs react to bee stings? Do dogs react physically to be stings? Can they potentially be lethal to dogs if they get one?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on June 15th, 2018

Hi there. Bee stings can be serious if the dog happens to be allergic, just like in people - but the vast majority of the time, they don't cause any major problems at all :) Many dogs like to catch bees and swallow them, and I very rarely see any significant issues related to this. If Dutch is acting normal, there should be no cause for concern. Signs of a possible allergic reaction would include facial swelling, difficulty breathing, vomiting, or weakness or collapse. If you see any of these signs, then I would take him to a veterinarian right away. Otherwise, you can just monitor him for the next few hours to make sure everything is okay.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on March 17th, 2018

    Usually a sting will cause swelling and pain. If Tater tot was stung in the mouth/throat there will be swelling that may cause difficulty breathing and this would be an emergency. Sometimes vomiting is another sign. If she is a happy and bouncy as usual and has no difficulty breathing nor is lethargic or painful, she likely was not stung by a bee. Symptoms will usually show up right away.

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    Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on March 19th, 2017

    Signs of allergic reaction due to bee sting can include swelling of the face and first airways. The allergic reaction can be quite serious and life threatening. I would recommend an immediate check up to have preventive treatment (based on antihistaminic drugs and steroids) given. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation (where you can post pictures ) if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on January 6th, 2017

    I would be concerned in that Mika could suffer an allergic reaction from eating the bee, as dogs are more sensitive to bee venom than humans. I would watch her for swelling of the face, lips, and tongue, difficulty breathing, disorientation, and weakness. Allergic reactions can come on suddenly, but they can also develop after a couple of hours (delayed reaction). I would monitor her over the next 24 hours, and if you see any of the signs I mentioned above, I would take Mika into a vet immediately.

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