August ranks as the month when bees and wasps become more aggressive toward people and pets all across the country.
Here in hot Dallas, I find myself being more vigilant to protect my pets against these winged menaces when they are on potty breaks in my fenced backyard or on daily walks in the neighborhood.
Why Aggression Peaks in August
According to the National Weather Service officials and the American Veterinary Medical Association, August marks the time across the country when hives and nests are packed with thousands of worker insects.
Contributing factors:
- Their mindset shifts from building nests in the spring to now aggressively feeling the need to protect their homes from any perceived threats.
- They now have a bigger home turf to protect.
- The summer heat dries up the highly sought food supply for wasps and bees: seasonal flowers and nectar. This food scarcity makes them hungry and desperate to search farther away to find food.
- Worker bees in the late summer zero in on sweet people drinks and foods to replenish the dwindling natural sugar from the larvae they have been eating inside their nests.
Favorite Nesting Places
These stinging insects are creatures of habit. Regularly inspect your yard and porches for signs of their nests. Especially check:
- Under roof eaves
- Porch ceilings
- Deck railings
- Beneath patio bricks
- Rarely used garden bins
- Meter boxes
- Under lawn furniture
- Fruit trees
- Flowering clover, ivy and flower beds
Ways to Protect Your Pets
- Supervise potty breaks in your yard. If your dog unintentionally disturbs a nest, you are there to rescue them and immediately render first aid.
- On leashed walks, stick to sidewalks and cleared paths in parks. Steer your dog away from sniffing places bees and wasps tend to build nests: hollow logs, tall grassy areas, bushes and tree stumps.
- Train your dog the “leave it” cue and reward with praise and treats. This can reduce the chance of your dog snapping “sky raisins” – aka stinging, irritated bees and wasps.
- Keep on hand the liquid gel form of an over-the-counter antihistamine, such as Benadryl. Tape a safety pin to the front of the box. This way you can poke the gel and easily drip the antihistamine in the side of your dog’s mouth if he is having an allergic reaction to the sting.
- Contact your veterinarian and follow instructions, especially if your dog is experiencing an allergic reaction to the venom that can cause breathing difficulties.
Read the Label
Make sure the antihistamine contains only one ingredient: diphenhydramine. Do not give any versions that contain the artificial sweetener, xylitol that is dangerous to pets. Also, do not give a version that states it acts as a pain reducer because it contains another dangerous ingredient to pets: acetaminophen.
Learn more
You can learn more on ways to keep your cats and dogs safe by visiting https://www.protrainings.com/courses/pets. Consider taking our veterinarian-approved online pet first aid/CPR course. Enter this code: CPR – ARDEN MOORE and receive a 10 percent discount! And, if you are interested in becoming a Pro Pet Hero instructor, please click on the BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR button on the home page for more details.
