Stings, burns and eye injuries: dog first aid

This guide is general information only. First aid doesn't replace veterinary care. In an emergency, ring your vet (or your out-of-hours vet) straight away.

Out-of-hours emergencies in Liverpool: Medivet 24 Hour Alder, 410 Eaton Road, West Derby, L12 3HG, says it is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 0151 220 4668 (Medivet, checked 18 Oct 2026). Vets Now Liverpool, based in the PDSA Pet Hospital on Woolfall Heath Avenue, Huyton, L36 3YD, opens from 6pm on weeknights, from noon on Saturdays, and all day on Sundays and bank holidays. Call 0151 271 5727 (Vets Now, checked 18 Oct 2026). Always ring before you set off, and ask your own vet which service covers their out-of-hours calls.

A curious nose can find a wasp, a hot hob or a sharp twig in seconds. Here's what UK vets and charities say to do about stings, burns and scalds, and eye injuries, and which signs mean you should ring the vet straight away.

Bee and wasp stings

Most stings cause some mild pain and irritation and don't need treatment from a vet (Blue Cross). Dogs are most often stung on the face or paws (PDSA). Bees leave their sting in the skin. Wasps don't, and can sting more than once (PDSA).

Signs your dog has been stung

• whining, or a sudden yelp or jump outdoors in summer
• holding up a paw, or limping
• biting or nibbling at the spot
• pawing at the face or mouth
• drooling
• swelling, or hives (red, swollen, itchy skin)

(Blue Cross)

What to do

1. Stay calm (Blue Cross).
2. Remove a bee sting if you can see one. Scrape it out sideways with the edge of a credit card or something similar (Blue Cross; PDSA). Don't squeeze it with tweezers or your fingers, as this can push more venom in (PDSA; Blue Cross). Don't worry if you can't find one, as it may have fallen out (Blue Cross).
3. Soothe it. Bathe the area in water (Blue Cross). Then hold on a cold, damp cloth, or an ice pack wrapped in a tea towel, if your dog is comfortable with it (PDSA).
4. Watch closely for signs of an allergic reaction (see below) (Blue Cross; PDSA).

Don't give antihistamines without speaking to your vet first. Some human antihistamines can make dogs seriously ill, or even kill them. Your vet can check the drug and the dose (Blue Cross; PDSA). PDSA says home remedies such as vinegar or bicarbonate of soda do no harm, but may not help as much as people think (PDSA).

Allergic reactions: warning signs

Some dogs are allergic to stings, and a severe reaction can be life-threatening (PDSA). Watch for (PDSA; Blue Cross):

• rapid swelling, often of the lips, eyes, ears or face
• difficulty breathing
• vomiting or diarrhoea
• weakness, collapse or fainting
• a fit (seizure)
• hives or a severe rash

If your dog is struggling to breathe, or their face, neck or throat is swelling quickly, go straight to the vet and phone on the way (PDSA). A sting in the mouth is dangerous, because the swelling can block the airway (Blue Cross). For a milder reaction, ring your vet for advice (PDSA). If your dog stops breathing, see our choking, seizures and collapse guide.

Burns and scalds

Burns come from hot things like a hob, and scalds from hot water. Dogs can also burn their paws on hot pavements or metal railings in the sun (Blue Cross). A burn may look small at first but keeps getting worse and can blister. Burns are extremely painful (Blue Cross). Always contact your vet, whatever the size of the burn (PDSA).

What to do

1. Remove the cause, taking care not to burn yourself (Vets Now; PDSA). Don't try to pull off anything stuck to the skin, such as melted plastic (Vets Now).
2. Check for other problems, such as difficulty breathing (PDSA).
3. Cool the burn with running water (see below for how long). Never use ice or iced water (PDSA).
4. Keep the rest of your dog warm with a blanket, keeping it off the burnt skin. Take care not to let them get too cold (PDSA; Blue Cross).
5. Cover it loosely. Lay cling film very loosely over the burn if it might get dirty on the way to the vet (PDSA; Blue Cross). Vets Now says cling film works well because it doesn't stick to the wound (Vets Now).
6. Don't use creams, ointments or butter (PDSA; Vets Now; Blue Cross).
7. Ring your vet for an emergency appointment (PDSA).

How long to cool, and how cold: the advice differs

• PDSA: cool water for at least 10 to 20 minutes, either running water or by putting the burnt skin in water (PDSA).
• Vets Now: cool, but not cold, running water for at least 5 to 10 minutes. Use a shower or hose if the burn is large (Vets Now).
• Blue Cross: cool (not cold) running water for at least five minutes, if your dog will let you. If they struggle, the burn is severe, or they're in extreme pain, don't delay getting to the vet to cool it (Blue Cross).
• RSPCA: flush the burn with large amounts of cold water (RSPCA).

Chemical burns

Wear gloves and avoid splashing yourself. Check the product label for advice. If there's none, rinse with plenty of running water. Stop your dog licking the area, and contact a vet as soon as possible with details of the chemical (Vets Now). The RSPCA warns not to wash the chemical into their eyes (RSPCA).

Bonfires and barbecues

Blue Cross warns that the ground can stay hot for hours after a fire has been put out, so keep your dog on a lead around fire pits (Blue Cross). With Bonfire Night coming, our fireworks guide has more on keeping your dog safe.

Eye injuries

Eye problems can get worse very quickly (Blue Cross), and should always be taken seriously to protect your dog's sight (PDSA). Common causes include injuries, something stuck in the eye (such as a grass seed or a cat's claw), and irritants like smoke, dust, sand and chemicals (PDSA).

Signs to look out for

• holding an eye closed, squinting or blinking a lot
• discharge or weeping
• redness or swelling
• cloudiness
• blood in the eye
• a bulging eye
• the third eyelid showing

(PDSA; PDSA; Blue Cross)

What to do

• Ring your vet as soon as possible. Ask for an urgent appointment if your dog is in pain, especially if they're off their food, lethargic or crying (PDSA; PDSA).
• Stop them rubbing it. Don't let your dog paw at the eye. Use an Elizabethan collar (cone) if you need to (Blue Cross). PDSA says a buster collar is vital while an eye ulcer heals (PDSA).
• Don't wait and see. An eye ulcer, a wound on the surface of the eye, can lead to the loss of the eye if it isn't treated (PDSA). Stick injuries and cat scratches are common causes (PDSA).

Find a vet in Liverpool

It's worth saving your own vet's number, and their out-of-hours number, in your phone before you ever need them (PDSA). Our Liverpool vets directory lists practices across the city.

In an emergency: Liverpool's two out-of-hours emergency vets, Medivet 24 Hour Alder (0151 220 4668) and Vets Now Liverpool (0151 271 5727), are listed with their addresses and opening times in the box at the top of this page (checked 18 Oct 2026).

More in our dog first aid series:

• Dog first aid: the basics
• Poisoning: what to do
• Heatstroke and cold
• Cuts, bites, wounds and ticks
• Choking, seizures and collapse
• Your dog first aid kit

See all our dog health and first aid guides

There are no affiliate links on this page. Affiliate disclosure. This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Always speak to your vet.