Echo Gets Stung by a Bee and Goes to Hospital

Echo is an adorable miniature Dachshund puppy who loves his mum more than anything in the world. Sadly, a recent dog bee sting landed him in the emergency vet hospital at only 5 months old. He went into immediate anaphylactic shock, a rare allergic reaction that can be fatal.

PD spoke to his pet parent, Shamia, to find out what happened next. We wanted to find out if Echo’s recovered well after the ordeals he’s been through. In this article we also share what to do if your dog is stung by a bee and explore healthful tips for Dachshund dogs.

Can a dog die from a bee sting?

Ironically, dog bee stings often aren’t top of the list of common pet parenting concerns. Things like dog skin conditions, pet obesity and hereditary and congenital conditions tend to get more of the limelight when it comes to common worries people have for their pets.

However, like humans, dogs with an allergy to bee stings can be in mortal danger if they’re not treated on time.

Symptoms of anaphylactic shock include dog vomiting, pale gums, trouble breathing or swallowing and collapse, among others. Without quick medical intervention a dog in anaphylactic shock from a bee sting could die.

How quickly would a dog have a reaction to a bee sting?

An anaphylactic reaction in a dog (or human) can happen minutes after a bee sting. However, it’s worth noting with bee stings in dogs that symptoms of allergic reaction can sometimes take anywhere up to a few hours to present. Anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock, is the most extreme form of allergic reaction.

Shamia says, “Be cautious because it can happen really quickly. No matter how young or how old they are, always get it checked out. It took about 15 minutes from the moment we’d noticed he’d been stung to the point of us leaving for the vet.”

In that short time Echo had started to react severely, vomiting and pooping (on his beloved mum). His nose swelled around the bee sting, which as you can imagine, is no fun at all.

Plot twist

Unexpectedly this is where the story’s plot takes a twist. It wasn’t just any old bee that stung our little pooch on the nose, but one of dad’s own!

“Dad actually has six beehives on the property,” Shamia says, adding, “me and dad both have an allergy to bees that causes swelling. It’s a case of us just taking normal antihistamines to help with the swelling.”

“It was about 7 o’clock at night when Echo got stung by the bee. We were outdoors with the light on, which attracts the bees sometimes. As soon as you turn the light off they drop to the floor. That’s when Echo found the bee and got stung on the nose.

“I didn’t realise until five minutes later. When he comes in at night he normally sits on my lap and falls asleep. But he just couldn’t get comfortable and then I realised he was completely swollen and was starting to come out in hives.

“Mum rang the vet and they immediately said he should come in. When we got there, we explain what happened and they acted fast, weighing him, giving him an antihistamine and steroids and doing the necessary tests.”

Miniature Dachshund misses mum

The little dog (only five months old at the time) wasn’t just experiencing his first bee sting. It was also his first night away from mum and they both missed each other horribly.

Shamia says, “We waited at the vets for nearly two hours. They kept updating us, letting us know it’s OK, and that they were doing tests. They asked if we wanted to take him home and monitor him ourselves or leave him overnight.”

Echo’s overnight stay at vet hospital

“We made the decision to leave him overnight to have the peace of mind that comes from having professional care. It was a very silent night.

“He sleeps in the crate in my room so it felt really weird not having him there, snoring away. But we did get to see him before we left the vet and he already looked so much better. A lot of the swelling had gone down but he still had a little bit of swelling in his lip.

“The next morning I had work so dad had to go pick him up. When I got back, he was it was himself again. He was in the sun, sunbathing as he normally does.”

Right on the nose

Unlike humans who often get stung entirely by chance, dogs, by nature, go around sniffing things they want to know more about. They also go around barefooted and have double as many feet as we do.

This makes it far more likely for dogs to get a bee sting on their noses and paws.

If your dog has never been stung by a bee but you’re curious about other pet dangers then read our frequently asked questions about dog poisoning. For more on steps to take if your dog gets a bee sting, scroll down.

Will my dog be OK after a bee sting?

Thankfully, today, Echo is well recovered thanks to vet treatment.

As PD interviews Shamia, the miniature Dachshund wriggles around on her lap. He’s only satisfied once he can rest his chin squarely on her heart, gazing up his long slender snout into her eyes. That’s pure love.

She says, “We’re extra cautious when dad does work with the bees now. We make sure that Echo goes inside and we now have dog antihistamines and an EpiPen in case he gets a bee sting again.

“If he gets stung again, we have to give him a shot of the EpiPen. We’d have to take him to the vet because he will go into shock but the medication helps delay the reaction.”

Miniature Dachshund is a Valentine’s puppy

When Shamia first saw Echo, he was a just under nine weeks old. She says, “I was with my best friend and as we walked into the pet shop, there were sign saying what dogs they had available. I just saw a miniature Dachshunds and I was like ‘Oh my God’. He was the last one available.”

“I rang mum and she was still at work. Then I rang dad and he’s like, ‘you gotta ring mum’. So I had to wait for something like 25 minutes to ring mum back and get her on the line.”

“I’ve always wanted a miniature Dachshund; I think they’re amazing and I got him on Valentine’s Day.”

Shamia had hoped to one day get a Dachshund but hadn’t anticipated that day would be Valentine’s Day or spring up so soon. In fact, she’d had the name ‘Echo’ written up on her white board for some time and had imagined one day getting a girl dog. But she saw Echo and there was no turning back.

Read about five ways to show your pet you love them this Valentine’s Day.

When the dog bites, when the bee stings

If your dog or cat gets stung by a bee, hopefully Shamia and Echo’s story will help you know what to do if they’re allergic. To clarify, if you’re unsure, it’s best to go straight to the vet as there’s a chance it could be a life and death situation.

Shamia’s family also has another dog, Jack, a Kelpie cross. He’s an adopted dog who’s had his fair share of bee stings with no reaction at all. He simply goes and sits alone in a corner. Afterwards he’s back to doing his favourite things.

What to do if your dog gets stung by a bee

If, like Jack, your dog isn’t allergic to bee stings, here’s what to do in case it ever happens:

• Take out the stinger with care (tweezers can do the trick)
• Make a baking soda paste with a bit of water and dab on to the sting area
• Use an ice pack to reduce swelling and pain

Also give your dog some water to keep them calm and hydrated. You’ll need to watch over them carefully, making sure there are no signs of allergy. Either way, it’s wise to call your vet and let them know the situation. They may recommend antihistamines, which you’ll likely need a prescription for.

Always follow your vet’s advice because anaphylactic shock can sometimes be delayed. If you’re a cat mum or dad, be sure to read about PD cat Mittens’ struggle with feline urethral obstruction.

Miniature Dachshund dog health advice

Like most purebred dog breeds, the Dachshund has several health conditions they’re genetically predisposed to. Thankfully this doesn’t require too much fretting, it simply means knowing what these are, and putting the appropriate safeguards in place.

For example, due to their long spines and shorter legs, miniature and regular Dachshunds shouldn’t be made to jump up and down as this can stress their musculoskeletal system. Try to use ramps instead of making them hop in and out of the car, or up and down steps.

Read about IVDD in Dachshunds then have a look at these 20 cute sausage dog pictures!

A soft landing for pets with award winning insurance

Having pet insurance means that an unexpected trip to the vet like Echo needed won’t be a financial niggle. As a pet owner it means not having to compromise your attention on your pet by thinking about the possible cost of treatment. As Shamia says:

“Dad put in the claim the day after Echo went to the vet and he got it back approved really quickly. Pet insurance is really helpful because it means you won’t be out of pocket.”

With PD Insurance you get one or more months of FREE pet insurance when you buy online. We cover a range of accidents (like anaphylactic shock), illnesses and even dental depending on the level of cover you choose. With no lock-in contracts and flexible month-to-month policy options, you’re free to level up as needed.

Click below to start your quote today.