It’s prime hiking time now for Arizona people and their dogs. Just this morning the trail in one of the Phoenix Mountain Preserves had plenty of dogs and their human hiking buddies.

It also seems to be prime season for bees, with a lot of reports of people and animals being injured by swarming bees.

What to do if your dog gets stung?

If it is one sting – don’t worry so much. If the sting happens inside your dog’s mouth or throat, better get it checked out by the vet, though.  Getting stung in those places can be dangerous since the sting can cause swelling and affect your dog’s breathing.

Keep an eye out for overall allergic reactions as well such as:

• General weakness
• Difficulty breathing
• A large amount of swelling extending away from the sting site

Dr. Billy Griswold of Priority Pet Hospital in Gilbert reports the worst case of dogs vs. bees came when several show dogs were tied up in a back yard with no way to escape when a swarm of bees attacked them. Just like in cases of dogs getting stung by scorpions, it is always the smaller dog who is the most affected by venom.

Be careful out there!