What to Do If Your Dog Eats a Bee 🐝🐶

Spring is here in Philadelphia, flowers are blooming and bees are starting to buzz. Hands up if you have a dog that attempts to chomp bees. (I do!) Dogs are curious by nature, and sometimes that curiosity leads them to munch on things they shouldn’t—like bees. Yesterday, one of our dog walkers called the office to say that a dog she was walking, Shirlee, snapped at a bee. Our employee was able to fish the bee out of Shirlee's mouth and thankfully the stinger was still attached. (But sadly, our bee friend went to eternal rest.)

If your dog just snapped a buzzing insect out of the air or tried to play with one that stung back, don’t panic! Here’s what you need to know and do if your dog eats a bee.

🚨 First Things First: Stay Calm

With human first aid, the first directive is to stay calm and it's no different when we're taking care of dogs. Seeing your dog in pain or discomfort can be alarming, but staying calm will help you assess the situation and respond rationally. Most of the time, a bee sting is a minor issue, but some dogs can have serious allergic reactions.

Shirlee, our sweet bee-killer.

🐝 Did Your Dog Get Stung?

If your dog tried to eat the bee, there's a good chance they were stung—especially around the mouth, tongue, or throat. Look for:

• Pawing at the mouth

• Drooling or whining

• Swelling (especially around the lips or face)

• Hives or red skin

• Sudden vomiting or diarrhea

• Difficulty breathing (a sign of a serious allergic reaction)

  
  

🩹 What to Do Next

1. Check the area

Try to spot where the sting happened. If the stinger is still visible (it may look like a tiny black splinter), gently scrape it out with a credit card or other flat object. Don’t use tweezers—they can squeeze more venom into the wound.

2. Soothe the sting

If the swelling is mild and your dog seems okay, you can:

• Apply a cold compress to the swollen area

• Give a small dose of Benadryl (diphenhydramine)—but only with your vet’s guidance on proper dosage

• Keep your dog calm and monitor for 6–12 hours

3. Call your vet if...

• Your dog has trouble breathing

• Swelling is getting worse quickly

• They're vomiting, lethargic, or collapsing

• They’ve been stung multiple times

These could be signs of anaphylaxis, which is a medical emergency.

💡 Pro Tip: Prevention Is Key

If your dog loves chasing flying insects and tends to snap at them, it might be worth discouraging the behavior with training cues or redirecting them with toys. You can also avoid letting them sniff around flowers or bushes where bees like to hang out. (Phone poles in Philly are notorious for harboring carpenter bees!)

🐾 Final Thoughts

Most dogs who eat bees will be just fine (like Shirlee) with a little TLC and monitoring. We spoke to Shirlee's human and she said that Shirlee has been so curious about the carpenter bees that are buzzing around. (She was not surprised by Shirlee's behavior.) Do we think she learned a lesson? Nope. Thankfully, if she was stung, she didn't have a reaction. But just like people, some dogs can have more serious reactions. When in doubt, it’s always best to check with your vet.