Just back from the Vet

Poor boy marley came running into the house and I noticed his eye was badley swollen. I suspected it was a bee sting as aload of tree bumble bee's have taken over a bird box at the bottom of the garden.
As it was his eye that was swollen i was taking no risks and called the vet who said bring him in straight away. so within 15 mins of it happening the vet was checking him over, getting some dye into his eye was a nightmare and was like wrestleing a crocodile. eyeball given the all clear and cant find a sting left in him anywhere so thankfully all okay. was given antihistamins and steriods to take the swelling down for a couple of days.

He's acting like nothing happend and not pawing at it so it cant be bothering him to much, but was a bit of a shock for me. by the time we got to the vets the swelling had started to go down a little and I took a couple of pics to show what a bee sting around the eye looks like when we came out of the vets. although it wasnt as swollen as when it first happend you an get a good idea.

Aww poor boy. He is so stunning get well soon marley!

poor fella , hope his eye is better soon and pleased it's not bothering him

Poor Marley, I'm sure it will be fine in a few days. The antihistamines should do the trick. ><

Poor Marley, glad he's ok ><

Pleased he is ok!

Poor boy. Hope he is feeling all well again soon x

Aww >< Marley, glad it wasn't to serious , I hope he feels well again soon:)

Must have been a real fright! Glad he is ok.

thanks all Just got back from a walk and he is fine. the swelling has gone down alot and is hardley noticable now.

Just have to work out out to move the bee's. they are in an old bird box so will prob wait until dark and cover the hole in the front and move them somewhere else. I've ID them as tree bees which are a bit more aggressive than normal ones so i cant have em around in case they swarm the dogs as they rattle about underneath the nest.

Ben wrote:Must have been a real fright! Glad he is ok.

It was, you know how a boxer looks next day after a fight, it was like that. Initially I thought what the hell have you done??? but swelling from an ingury wouldnt have come up that quick so suspected a bee sting.

he was fine in himself and just wanted to play with Laska like nothing had happend, just looked awfull. Dogs remind me of that old monty python sketch with the black night "its just a flesh wound" lol

Really pleased he's making a good recovery, real worry isnt it

Also really pleased to see you are just trying to move the bees rather than eradicate them, great idea, well done.

woody

Aww poor Marley, glad he is ok ><

Poor Marley - so glad he's feeling better, anti-histamines are a God-send.

Bees don't always leave their sting behind them, but with them being in your bird-box they look like the hot favourite to be culprit. I do admire your humane action in getting the blighters "re-homed" - don't get stung yourself!

Bee-free tomorrow!?

Poor Marley...glad he's ok!

Lynda wrote:I do admire your humane action in getting the blighters "re-homed" - don't get stung yourself!

Bee-free tomorrow!?

I've had a read up about it and I should be able to plug the hole and move them with no distress. will have to wait for a couple of hours after dark and then should be okay as they arnt supposed to fly in the dark.

I cant blame a bee for doing what comes naturally when under threat even though it just cost me a new pair of trainers lol. there is a shortage of them and they do so much good for the enviroment it would be criminal to kill em off when I have other options available.

I am also going to write to the vets in gratitude, its a country vet just outside hemel, they saw me so quick, the Vet herself was brilliant and checked his eyeball, skin around the swelling, heart beat and breathing, weighed him and basically took alot of time checking him out. they supposed to shut at 12 but we left at 12:20 because she wanted to make sure he was okay. she also gave me option of injection or tablets but advised tablets as it was cheaper and had same effect (refreshing) the meds cost me less than 3 quid bless her.

Poor Marley! ><

Bless him! Hope the swelling goes quickly!

Nathan wrote:thanks all Just got back from a walk and he is fine. the swelling has gone down alot and is hardley noticable now.

Just have to work out out to move the bee's. they are in an old bird box so will prob wait until dark and cover the hole in the front and move them somewhere else. I've ID them as tree bees which are a bit more aggressive than normal ones so i cant have em around in case they swarm the dogs as they rattle about underneath the nest.

DON'T try to move the box!! We did this last year, having taped the hole up and we ended up with husband in hospital with toxic shock. They 'swarmed' and he was stung dozens of times. Instead squirt some bee killer powder into the box and then run! We did this when we'd returned from hospital and they all died immediately.

omg Jo that must have been horrible! Did it happen in daylight? In which case a lot of bees would have been outside the box, plus when you untaped the hole the other bees presumably rushed out in a fury.

Nathan, how is Marley today and did you move the bee box safely?

Lynda wrote:

Nathan, how is Marley today and did you move the bee box safely?

marley is okay thanks, his swelling went downlast night and was just as normal.
on the bee front i went out last night and taped the hole up no probs after reading up on it you should wait until mid day next day to move them... but the tape moved over night not sticking well to wood.
today i was picking them off the dogs backs and got swarmed when i went to have a look at nest. it was just to damn dangerouse and tipping point was three of em on laskas back trying to sting her. thank god for dence coats but they were realy having a go at her. I cant risk health of my dogs not to mention not being able to go into my garden myself so it was a kill off decision. the arnt native anyway and have only been around since 2001 and are right nasty lil buggers...they bit the dust at the end of a blow tourch which was quick and over in a few seconds . not something im proud off but I have my and my dogs health to look after. they are mean lil buggers and i warn anyone to keep away from them.

Glad Marley is OK again.

I've never heard of tree bees (I'll look them up!) but your experience today in trying to do the decent thing by the bees was obviously defeated by their ferocious behaviour - trying to sting Laska, how very dare they (hope they didn't sting you). In your place, and if I had a blow torch available, I think I would have done the same. As you say they are not a native species, then they are no loss (think grey squirrels) so don't feel bad about it.

No more killer bees, for you or your dogs

I had them in my garden last year (well at least that's what I thought they were when I looked them up because they looks different to any I'd seen!) I also read about their aggression but never had any problems although they nested in the wall and I think they all drowned in the wet weather

Glad they didn't come back this year now I've got Daisy!

Poor boy >< Hope he is all better now