Bees, wasps, hornets, spiders, ants, centipedes, scorpions and yellowjackets sometimes sting dogs, causing painful swelling and redness. Black widow spiders, brown recluse spiders, centipedes and scorpions can cause severe reactions when they bite. When insects bite, a human medicine can benefit dogs. After removing the stinger and performing first-aid help to prevent the bite from becoming worse, you can apply calamine lotion to relieve the itching until your dog goes to a veterinarian.
How to Use Calamine Lotion on Dogs
Part the hair of the dog where the insect bit it and look for the stinger. Usually bees leave their stingers, which look like small black sacs. Scrape the stinger using a credit card to dislodge it from the skin. If you leave it in the skin, it will continue to release venom and worsen the condition.
Mix 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda with 1 teaspoon of water to make a paste. Apply it to the sting.
Insert a few ice cubes into a plastic bag to make an ice pack and hold it against the sting. If you have no ice cubes, use a bag of frozen vegetables. This will relieve the pain and swelling of the sting.
Apply calamine lotion to the area of the sting to soothe the itching.
Place an Elizabethan plastic collar around your dog's neck to prevent it from licking the sting. The zinc oxide in calamine lotion can cause stomach upset, vomiting and diarrhea if the dog ingests it.
Bring the dog to a veterinarian for an examination and follow-up treatment.