What to do if a cat is bitten by a wasp or a bee, first aid

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Due to hunting instincts, pets, when in the wild, often become victims of attacks by bees, hornets, wasps and some types of spiders. The reaction of a cat's body to the bite of stinging insects is unpredictable, since animals, like humans, are prone to allergies. If a cat was bitten by a wasp on the paw or back, then such bites may not be noticed by the owners of adult animals. These places are the least sensitive and the cat can cope with the problem on its own. In mild cases, inflammation and unpleasant itching go away within a few hours, and pain from touching the bite site lasts no more than two to three days.

If a wasp stings a kitten or an adult cat with increased susceptibility to insect venoms (Persian, British, Angora breeds), then in this case there is a possibility of death after the bite. Even if the bite fell on the least sensitive part of the body, it is worth considering that even a small portion of poison can provoke serious intoxication of the body.

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The symptoms of an allergic reaction are as follows::

  • dyspnea
  • vomit
  • chills
  • movement coordination disorders
  • increased salivation
  • hives
  • convulsions
  • in the most severe cases shock may occur

Every breeder or hobbyist should know a plan of action if the condition of an animal affected by a wasp sting worsens. If any of the above signs of an allergic reaction occur in your cat, you should immediately show it to a veterinarian. Experts in the field of veterinary medicine categorically do not recommend relying on your own experience or advice from numerous articles. Since each animal has an individual reaction to medications, the veterinarian monitors the cat for some time after their administration.

If a wasp bites you on the face, head or throat, there is a high probability of swelling spreading to the respiratory tract, which in turn provokes suffocation. A bite to the eye or nose is no less dangerous; such wounds are not without severe inflammation, which is fraught with suppuration of the mucous membrane and other complications.

If a wasp bites a cat on the stomach or groin, this can lead to swelling of the urinary tract. In this case, it is necessary to immediately get rid of the swelling by contacting a specialist, otherwise blockage of the urinary tract can lead to death.

For any animal, be it a cat or a dog, multiple stings from wasps or other stinging insects can have serious consequences. In this case, you should immediately contact a veterinary clinic.

Bite symptoms

A person cannot always notice when a cat has been bitten by a wasp. You can suspect an attack by the pet’s behavior and appearance. The animal meows pitifully, tries to lick and bite the sore spot. Upon examination, a red spot, swelling, and scratches from the cat’s attempts to scratch the sore spot are found on the skin.

The wasp injects with a sting, which provokes severe swelling. The degree of inflammation depends on the age of the pet and the location of the bite. Swelling is more severe in kittens when poison gets into the muzzle area - nose, cheek, eye.

The symptoms when a cat is stung by a wasp are no different from those in humans. Normal body reaction:

  • redness no more than 10 mm in diameter;
  • edema;
  • burning;
  • pain;
  • after a few hours itching.

The presence of a strong allergic reaction after a wasp attack can be determined by external signs on the skin, systemic:

  • severe swelling;
  • redness over 1 cm in diameter;
  • additional rash;
  • incessant itching;
  • increased salivation;
  • lacrimation;
  • breathing problems, lack of air;
  • swelling of the larynx;
  • diarrhea;
  • weakness;
  • increased body temperature;
  • vomit;
  • convulsions;
  • lack of appetite.


Wasp sting in a cat
Allergy symptoms in a cat may disappear on their own after a few days, but there is a possibility of a severe reaction involving the respiratory organs in the pathological process. Swelling of the larynx occurs in a few minutes, the cat dies without emergency assistance.

On a note!

Manifestations of allergies in a cat, cats appear immediately after a bite, the immune system reacts to damage to the skin, ingestion of poison instantly. A severe allergic reaction appears within 5-20 minutes. At this time, you need to observe the animal in order to quickly respond to the situation if necessary.

Conditions that require examination by a veterinarian

It is important to get your pet to the hospital as quickly as possible if the bite occurs in the following places:

  1. Head and neck. Severe swelling occurs, which makes it difficult for the cat to breathe, and in some cases leads to its stopping.
  2. Eyes. Severe suppuration and inflammation appear. Without a veterinarian's examination, there is a chance that the animal may become partially or completely blind;
  3. Groin. Swelling appears at the site of the bite, which can lead to problems with urination.

If a small kitten suffers from an insect bite, poisoning occurs, which often leads to death. It is also important to seek help from a qualified specialist if your pet has a strong fever, has chronic diseases, has recently had surgery, or has been found to be highly sensitive to the poisons of various insects.

What to do if a cat is bitten by a wasp

Initially, you need to examine the site of the bite, since similar symptoms occur after a bee attack, but have their own characteristics. The bee leaves a sting, a small part of its own abdomen, at the site of the skin lesion. For some time, the sting continues to pulsate, delivering poison into the blood. Therefore, you first need to get rid of it. This is done carefully with tweezers or a needle. They get out like a splinter. Further actions are identical.

Important!

It is imperative to disinfect the wound. Use medical alcohol, ammonia, or any tincture containing alcohol. Valerian, motherwort, calendula, in addition to disinfection and antibacterial properties, also have calming and painkillers. Moisten the cotton wool generously and wipe the sore spot.


Folk remedies for a wasp sting
If the bite was discovered at home, you can use a pharmaceutical drug or use folk remedies.

  • Baking soda paste. Excellent disinfectant, relieves pain and itching. Add a little water to soda and apply the paste to the affected skin.
  • Laundry soap. Foams well and treats the skin.
  • Toothpaste, shaving foam. The product perfectly soothes, disinfects, and eliminates swelling.
  • Ice cubes, cold meat. First aid for severe swelling. Apply for a few minutes.

If the body reacts normally to wasp venom, these actions are enough to alleviate the pet’s condition and speed up the recovery process. Unpleasant symptoms disappear within a day, the epidermis is completely restored within a week.

How to help using traditional methods

Unlike medications, certain folk recipes, if a cat has been bitten by a wasp, can be used without restrictions. Traditional medicines, of course, are not as effective as pharmaceutical drugs, but at the same time they can help a cat.

  1. Treating bitten areas with acid-containing foods - apples, oranges, citric acid.
  2. A compress of chamomile infusion, applied for 40 minutes.
  3. A soap solution that helps relieve itching, which should be used to wash the wound from time to time.
  4. Ground turmeric has an effect when stinging wasps.

But not all prescriptions are medicinal; they only help to reduce symptoms and stop the rapid progression of allergies. In this case, folk recipes are used only for mild bites. When a pet develops severe symptoms, immediate medical attention is needed.

Actions for allergies

If a cat is bitten by a wasp on the paw, nothing bad will happen. You just need to provide first aid and observe the pet’s behavior for an hour. The most dangerous consequences from an attack are in the muzzle area. If you are bitten on the nose or lip, the risk of severe swelling increases. Within a few minutes, the larynx swells, which interferes with the flow of air. In this case, immediate administration of adrenaline and an antihistamine solution is required.


Allergy remedies

If you are bitten in the eye or cheek, you should immediately give your pet an antiallergic drug in the form of tablets or drops. They use drugs for people - Claritin, Suprastin, Diazolin, Fenistil, ElCet. The medicine must be given to the victim if the wasp has bitten a kitten of different ages. The very first bite in his life is dangerous, since there are no antibodies to the poison in his blood, as well as the second. The risk of developing an allergy increases when the allergen enters the bloodstream again.

To eliminate a local allergic reaction, use antiallergic, antihistamine ointments or preparations based on natural herbal ingredients if the allergy is mild.

On a note!

Don't panic if your cat eats a wasp. An animal may swallow an insect during play. It doesn't sting in the stomach. A bite while in the mouth is determined by the condition of the tongue; if it does not swell, everything is fine. Otherwise, you need to give your pet an antihistamine.

Photos of animals that were bitten by a wasp are presented below. The severity of allergy symptoms directly depends on the individual characteristics of the body and the state of the immune system. Pedigree pets are prone to allergic reactions. Outdoor cats and male cats tolerate wasp stings without any problems. The sore spot will ache for a day and will begin to heal. If the Sphynx was bitten by a wasp or another short-haired pet, the help of antihistamines will be required.


Wasp sting on a cat

What to do - first aid

A cat that has been injured on the street should be immediately brought into the house and placed in a cool place, ensuring complete rest. In such conditions, the cat will come to its senses faster.

First of all, you need to know that the wasp does not leave its sting at the site of the bite. It’s another matter if the cat was bitten by a bee or stung by a bumblebee, which leaves a sting in the wound, so it must be removed with tweezers. This must be done with the utmost care so as not to crush the sting, otherwise even more poison will enter the body.

If a cat has been bitten by a wasp, first of all you need to apply a cold or ice compress to the sore spot, which will help relieve swelling and eliminate itching. Ice should first be wrapped in a clean towel or plastic bag. A soda compress also helps in such cases: baking soda is pre-dissolved in boiled water. When carrying out these manipulations, you need to talk kindly to your pet; at this moment, more than ever, he needs the care and support of a loving person.

What to do if a cat is bitten by a bee or wasp? You can wipe the area with a solution of 9% vinegar diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio, or with a soap solution. The procedure should be carried out regularly.

Often, owners use the homeopathic drug Apis (give 2-3 tablets, they will remove the danger threatening the pet). It is advisable to always have this remedy on hand, especially if the cat, having been bitten by a wasp, has already suffered from an allergic reaction previously.

If the cat was bitten by a wasp on the paw or body, and the animal’s condition has not worsened, these actions will be quite sufficient.

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Giving your pet medications to relieve allergic symptoms without consulting a veterinarian is extremely risky, since it is unknown what the body’s reaction will be. It may also happen that if used incorrectly, they suppress the immune system and lead to a secondary viral, bacterial or fungal infection.

Even if it is not possible to take your cat to a hospital, you can get the necessary information by phone.

As a rule, experts recommend Prednisolone, Dexamethasone, Benadryl (not contraindicated even for kittens), and Diazolin for cats. Suprastin is not prescribed so often - it is not such a universal drug, sometimes it causes an immune response in animals.

Under no circumstances should you inject your pet with adrenaline yourself; the procedure can only be carried out by a veterinarian!

Pharmacy products

There are no special medications for cats.

  1. To eliminate minor allergies, creams based on medicinal herbs, tinctures, Zvezdochka balm, Bepanten, Menovazin are used.
  2. To eliminate moderate allergies, Fenistil gel is used.
  3. With a pronounced clinical picture, antiallergic hormonal ointments are required - Advantan, Elokom, Betamethasone, Triaccutane.
  4. If an infection gets into the wound, the sore spots are treated with a local antibiotic - Levomekol, Tetracycline, Erythromycin, Gentamicin.

The cat's skin should be treated 1-4 times a day; as the symptoms disappear, the dosage is reduced. Therapy lasts no more than 5 days. If the situation does not improve within 2 days, you need to show the cat to a veterinarian.

When to urgently contact a veterinarian

You should seek immediate veterinary help if your cat is stung in the face or mouth. Even if your pet has not previously been allergic to any substances, wasp venom will in any case cause slight swelling. It may spread to the throat and the cat's condition will worsen.

Other situations when you cannot do without the help of a specialist:

  • a wasp bit a small kitten;
  • the pet has been stung several times;
  • the sting got into the eye;
  • if after some time the cat becomes lethargic, trembling appears, and the temperature rises;
  • head swollen.

In these cases, the cat may need resuscitation. A person ignorant of veterinary medicine is unlikely to be able to provide qualified assistance to a pet. There is no time to waste, because swelling can develop in a matter of minutes, and then it will not be possible to save the cat.

  • In emergency cases, veterinarians use glucocorticosteroids - Dexamethasone or Prednisolone intramuscularly or subcutaneously. These medications help relieve swelling quickly.
  • Benadryl and Diazolin are used to relieve an allergic reaction. Suprastin is rarely used in veterinary practice.
  • For difficulty breathing, Eufillin is recommended.
  • In especially severe cases, when the cat needs to be rescued urgently, adrenaline is administered.

If a cat has suffered from a wasp or bee sting, the owner’s task is to provide first aid and monitor his condition. It is important to make sure that your pet does not show signs of a severe allergic reaction. In this case, the cat must be urgently taken to the veterinary clinic.

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Folk remedies for bites

Given the poor infrastructure in many remote areas, the above services and medications may not be available to many owners. Indeed, not every city has a veterinary clinic, and interruptions in the supply of medicines can also be seasonal.

As usual, traditional medicine comes to the rescue in such situations. It must be remembered that this is the most extreme measure when it is not possible to carry out normal treatment, because the effectiveness of the action and the recovery period for the pet will be completely different.

So, the main thing in this matter is to start stopping the bite from the very first minutes. You need to find the swelling/site of the lesion, take a lemon, orange or any other citrus fruit and apply it to the bite site.

Next, an infusion of chamomile or calendula is brewed and compresses are given to the animal throughout the day. This will partially help relieve inflammation. Turmeric powder, which needs to be diluted with water, will help cope with subsequent itching.

Important! Traditional medicine can only help if the animal does not have an allergic reaction.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines

After a bee stings a cat's nose or other place on its face, an antihistamine should be given to avoid severe allergies. There is no special cat drug. Experts advise:

  • Prednisolone. At home, give 0.5 tablets. Turn it into powder, dilute it with water, and pour it into the cat’s mouth. If immediate relief of an allergic reaction is required, an injection is given intramuscularly and 0.5 ml of solution is injected.
  • Dexamethasone. More suitable for obvious signs of allergies - vomiting, nausea, difficulty breathing. An injection is given with a solution of 0.2 ml.
  • Diazolin. It is recommended if a bee has bitten a kitten, an adult cat, or a cat. Dose – 0.5 tablets at a time. On the first day, an antihistamine is given three times.
  • L-cet. A modern antihistamine is produced in the form of a suspension or tablets. In the first case, give 0.5 teaspoon per day, in the second - ¼ of the tablet.

To save a cat’s life after a bee sting, you can give any antihistamine that is in your home medicine cabinet, but then you should show your pet to a specialist. Carry out further therapy under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Important!

If a bee bites a cat on the paw, there is no particular cause for concern. But an animal may have an individual intolerance to bee venom. In this case, the consequences are unpredictable, the paw noticeably swells. To avoid complications, you need to give an antihistamine immediately after discovering a bite.

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