Calm Your Dog

When a bee stings your dog, your furry friend may be extremely upset by the painful sting. Remove your pet from the area outside where he was stung and take him inside to a familiar area, such as his bed or your couch, if possible. The main thing is to remain calm yourself to keep your pet calm and still.

Remove Stingers

Correct removal of the stingers will result in less venom from the bee entering your dog's system to make him ill, decreasing swelling and side effects in the process. Examine the stinger in your dog to see which direction it is pointing out of the skin. Use a brush or comb against the direction of his hair growth to find the stinger in his skin if he has long hair. Your dog will most likely try to lick or scratch at the area, giving you a good idea where to search for the stinger. Additionally, the swelling tissue will make a raised area in his fur. Use a credit card or your driver's license and rub it on the stinger in the same direction of the stinger on the outside of his skin. Bees leave their stingers in their victims, while wasps do not.

Topical Treatments

To alleviate swollen skin around the site, make a topical poultice out of baking soda and a small amount of water to form a thick paste and spread it on the sting site and around it. Baking soda relieves the pain and swelling from stings. Use an ice pack on top of the poultice to relieve pain and swelling, if it appears to be anything more than mild swelling.

Oral Treatment

Antihistamines keep your pet from reacting to bee venom. Administer an antihistamine in either liquid or pill form tucked into a tasty dog treat at the rate your veterinarian recommends. Most dog owners have the dosing instructions and antihistamines in their canine first aid kit. If you haven't used this medication before, call your veterinarian office for dosage directions.

Bee Sting Complications

If your dog is swelling larger around the sting site, or you couldn't locate the stinger to remove and treat it, take him to your veterinarian immediately. Canines can be allergic to stings and need additional injections, fluids or treatment. If your dog suffers from multiple stings at once, it is best to seek veterinarian assistance for your four-legged friend.