First, how urgent is this?
Go now
- Obvious effort to breathe, panting, or open-mouth breathing.
- Swelling of the face, lips or throat, or a changed voice.
- Sudden collapse after the sting.
- Pale gums and cold legs.
- A seizure, or multiple stings.
Contact your vet today
- The sting is still in the skin: scrape it out with the edge of a card, do not pinch it with fingers or tweezers.
- Spreading redness and swelling, with pain lasting more than a day.
- A sting inside the mouth, on an eyelid or near the ear canal.
Record and observe
- Small local swelling, with normal energy and appetite.
- The sting removed, with swelling settling over a day or two.
Before you set off
- When and where the sting happened (photos).
- Whether the sting was removed, and how.
- How far the swelling spreads, and how it changes.
- Breathing, energy and appetite.
- Any history of allergy, and any medicines being taken.
- Do not squeeze the sting, do not apply human cream, and do not give antihistamines yourself.
What your vet may ask and do
- Ask: when, where, and roughly how many stings.
- Ask: any change in breathing, swelling or energy.
- Do: examine the sting site and the airway.
- Do: give medicine to control the allergic reaction where needed.
- Do: oxygen, fluids and admission for a severe reaction.
Where to go in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong 24-hour vet list
- 24-hour emergency, Hong Kong Island
- 24-hour emergency, Kowloon
- 24-hour emergency, New Territories
- Clinics with inpatient care
- What emergency and test fees look like
Call the clinic before you drive over, to confirm tonight's arrangements and the location.