Bees, Bullants, Stingrays, Cane Toads

Bees

When a bee stings an animal it injects toxin. This toxin can seriously affect an animal if it receives a large enough number of stings. In fact, enough stings can kill dogs, as occurred at the Murwillumbah Cattle Sale Yard in March 2000 when two pedigree cattle dogs were stung thousands of times by a swarm of bees. Cats can normally escape from swarms easier than dogs so are rarely affected in this manner, however, horses have been badly stung (see picture).

Dogs can also be allergic to bee stings, like people, and deaths can occur from anaphylaxis with signs of difficult breathing, red raised itchy skin patches, low blood pressure, shock and collapse. Only your vet can provide the necessary treatment.

Bullants

There have been three cases reported of dogs that were tied up near a bullant nest receiving multiple stings. In these cases the venom led to kidney failure and one of the three dogs died despite intensive treatment. Obviously, owners need to be aware of keeping dogs away from bullant nests.

Stingrays

Stingrays have a venomous barb on the upper surface of their tails. Although they are venomous, a bigger problem can be the deep wounds that the barb can make.

A dog swimming in Port Phillip Bay in Victoria was killed by a stingray when the barb on its tail pierced the dog's chest cutting a main artery, causing it to bleed to death before it reached the veterinary clinic. This case is believed to be the only reported death of a pet following a stingray attack in Australia.

Cane Toads

Cane toads, one of Australia's most widespread feral pests, have glands on their head behind each ear that can release a poisonous toxin when they are threatened. They can even squirt the milky toxin from its glands up to one metre away! This toxin can affect many native animals as well as pets that come into contact with it, especially if they swallow it.

One veterinary clinic in Brisbane reported 90 dogs suspected of toad poisoning over a 30-month period. Small breed dogs such as Jack Russell, silky, and fox terriers accounted for 76% of cases. The most common signs were frothing at the mouth due to increased salivation, bright red gums and fitting. Virtually all affected dogs (96%) recovered, but deaths have been reported to occur by cardiac arrest within 15 minutes.

If you suspect your dog has been in contact with a cane toad it is worthwhile to wash its mouth, eyes and nose out with water as quickly as possible, while wearing gloves.