Are Wasps Dangerous? Understanding Stings and Nest Disturbance in Queniborough
Pets sniff, dig and chase, which makes them more likely than people to disturb a nest, so protecting an animal starts with knowing where wasps are and keeping them away.
Why pets get into trouble with wasps
Dogs explore with their noses, snap at flying insects and dig. Cats stalk anything that moves. Small animals in hutches, rabbits and birds in aviaries sit in fixed spots that wasps may fly past all day. When an animal pokes at a hole in the ground or a gap in a fence, it can provoke a whole nest at once, and unlike a person it will not think of backing away quietly.
What follows is general information. For anything about your pet's health, your vet is the right person to ask.
Time of day matters little, but the season does. Pets are usually most at risk from midsummer onwards, when the colony is large and wasps are constantly on the move. A dog that walked past the same fence in May without trouble may meet a very different situation by August.
Signs your pet has found a nest
You may not see the nest itself, but your pet's behaviour can give it away.
- a dog that suddenly yelps, runs in circles or races back to the house from one part of the garden;
- pawing at the face or mouth, or rubbing the muzzle along the ground;
- swollen lips, muzzle or paws;
- a cat that comes in agitated and refuses to go back to a particular spot;
- a lot of wasps hovering around the place where your pet was.
If this happens, calmly get the animal indoors and away from the area, and avoid going back to look for the cause yourself. Keep other pets away too.
Some pets will simply carry on after a sting, so do not rely on the animal telling you. If a pet suddenly avoids a place it used to use freely, take that as a hint to look from a distance for wasp traffic.
Stings in animals
Many animals get a sore, swollen patch after a sting and recover without trouble. Some do not. Swelling around the face, mouth or throat can interfere with breathing, and some animals react more strongly than others. Stings inside the mouth are a particular worry, since dogs often snap at wasps.
Contact your vet promptly if your pet has been stung in the mouth, has swelling of the face or throat, is struggling to breathe, collapses, vomits repeatedly, or has been stung many times. If you are unsure, a phone call to the vet is always reasonable. Do not give your pet human medicines unless the vet says to.
Humans caught up in the same incident should also be checked. If you were stung while rescuing your pet, wash the sting, apply a cold pack, and call 999 if you notice swelling of the face, lips or throat, or any difficulty breathing.
Keeping pets away from a nest
While a nest is active, the most effective step is to prevent access to it.
- Work out where the wasps are flying in and out, from a distance.
- Keep dogs on a lead for toilet trips and walks near that area, and use another part of the garden.
- Shut cat flaps overnight if a nest is by the back door, and let the cat in and out another way.
- Move hutches, bird tables and water bowls away from the flight path where possible.
- Cover pet food and water outdoors, as sweet and meaty scraps both draw wasps.
Wasps start building nests in late April depending on the weather, and a colony peaks in August. In and around Queniborough, as elsewhere, a nest that goes unnoticed through the early summer is likely to be much busier by high summer, with thousands of wasps.
For a nest by the front or back door, think about how you will get the dog out for the toilet. Use another exit, if there is one, or take the animal out on a short lead straight to a part of the garden that is far from the flight path. Walks can be taken from a different gate for the time being.
The same applies to visitors with pets. If friends or family are coming with a dog, let them know about the problem before they arrive, and keep the animal on a lead.
What not to do
It can be tempting to take matters into your own hands, especially if a favourite pet has already been stung. Resist that.
- Do not block the entrance or pour anything down it.
- Do not let a curious dog dig or investigate.
- Do not stand close to watch what the wasps are doing.
- Do not try to knock a nest down with a pole or a hose.
- Do not leave pet toys or bowls near the nest site.
Blocking an entrance can make wasps look for another way out, which may lead them into the house. Disturbing the nest risks stings for you as well as your pet.
Whatever happens, never put yourself between a worked-up pet and a nest. Take the animal in your arms or on a lead, and move away at once. Your own safety comes before the rescue of a toy or a ball.
Arranging treatment
We treat wasp nests for a fixed £95 per nest, and any additional nest at the same property costs £35 extra. There is no call-out charge, the price is confirmed on the phone before a technician visits, and no work goes ahead without your agreement. Technicians are trained and fully insured, and we take domestic and commercial bookings seven days a week, with same-day service offered.
The number is 0116 214 9259, and the online booking form is on the contact page if you would rather use that. On the day, keep animals indoors in a room away from the area. If someone in the household is allergic to wasp stings, tell us when you book so we can take it into account.
Ask the technician, when you book, whether the empty nest can be taken down. It stops curious animals investigating the spot later on.
Wasps on your property in Queniborough?
Fixed price £95 per nest, no call-out charge, same-day service available.