Can bees sting through soles of a shoe?

Brett33 · March 04, 2018, 11:35:00 AM

Hey guys - I had a bee question so I figured here would be the best place to ask :)

We have a dog that is severely allergic to bees and has stepped on one before and got stung and now we have to be very vigilant when she goes outside and make sure there are no bees around.

So we have thought of getting her some boots, such as these: https://ruffwear.com/collections/boots

However I was wondering if bee stings could penetrate the soles of these boots? From reading another thread here I have read that they can sting through all sorts of clothing including canvas, leather and denim - but I assume their stings couldn't penetrate the soles of those boots could they? I'm not sure how they compare to human shoe soles, but you can get an idea at least from the pics - not sure if the Grip Trex or Polar Trex would offer even better resistance or not?

Thanks a lot!

Acebird · March 04, 2018, 11:50:01 AM

I don't know the answer to your question but I would say if it very unusual for a dog to get stung on the pads by a honey bee. More apt to get stung on the nose, belly or in the mouth when the dog snaps at them.

Brett33 · March 04, 2018, 12:02:45 PM

Strangely enough she has been stung twice now and both times on the bottom of her paws; once she found a bee inside and thought it would be a good idea to play with it and the second time we were on a walk and she stepped on a bee, which got wedged between her paw pads and stung her badly; so now since bees seem to like crawling around on the ground here for some reason we are scared it will happen again and are looking at ways to protect her.

paus · March 04, 2018, 02:51:37 PM

Dogs getting stung on the feet is something new to me. I have had several dogs that get stung all over on short hair dogs and on the face of the several Labs that I have had. They swell up and itch but that is a normal reaction not an allergy, but they all soon learned to go somewhere else when I went near the hives.

yes2matt · March 04, 2018, 06:15:34 PM

Quote from: Brett33 on March 04, 2018, 11:35:00 AM
Hey guys - I had a bee question so I figured here would be the best place to ask :)

We have a dog that is severely allergic to bees and has stepped on one before and got stung and now we have to be very vigilant when she goes outside and make sure there are no bees around.

So we have thought of getting her some boots, such as these: https://ruffwear.com/collections/boots

However I was wondering if bee stings could penetrate the soles of these boots? From reading another thread here I have read that they can sting through all sorts of clothing including canvas, leather and denim - but I assume their stings couldn't penetrate the soles of those boots could they? I'm not sure how they compare to human shoe soles, but you can get an idea at least from the pics - not sure if the Grip Trex or Polar Trex would offer even better resistance or not?

Thanks a lot!

Beekeepers, when they get nervous/tired of getting stung in the knuckles, wear gloves like these. http://www.brushymountainbeefarm.com/Goatskin-Gloves
I have a pair, and do not use them a lot, but when I do, I don't get stung thru them. They are just single-ply cow or goat hide. So the booties you posted look like they would work ok.

Do they make Benadryl for dogs?

BeeMaster2 · March 04, 2018, 06:57:31 PM

Brett,
Those shoes have rubber pads like sneakers. Bees cannot sting through that much rubber.
Funny to see those dog shoes again. My daughter submitted the idea for doggy shoes about 24 years ago for the kids invention convention. She did not win but we did see them on the market shortly after the convention. She also designed a sun visor that unfolds. Also came out on the market after the convention.
Jim

Acebird · March 05, 2018, 09:49:02 AM

Quote from: Brett33 on March 04, 2018, 12:02:45 PM
the second time we were on a walk and she stepped on a bee, which got wedged between her paw pads and stung her badly;

I am wondering what the chances of that happening again. Bees are quite fast unless they are sick.

Hops Brewster · March 05, 2018, 11:00:59 AM

My dog's favorite summer pastime is catching bees out of the air. They must be a tasty treat. He's really quite good at it. He doesn't mind mouth stings so much, it's those on the nose and on his tender underbelly that make him head for his dog door. ONe time his nose got quite swollen for a day, but that is just a normal reaction to a sting, not an allergy.

I have seen him pawing at dying bees on the ground, and to my knowledge, his feet have never been stung. I don't think a stinger is long enough to penetrate the pads of a paw. I have no doubt that dog shoes would stop a stinger.

Brett33 · March 05, 2018, 04:03:07 PM

QuoteThey swell up and itch but that is a normal reaction not an allergy

No, when she gets stung she goes into anaphylaxis shock; the first time it happened her reaction was minor as she was at home and I think got the stinger out herself quickly; but the second time it happened it was on a walk, and stupid me didn't know the longer the stinger was embedded in her the more toxin would go in, so I carried her home as we were nearly home and hence I presume a lot more toxin got into her before she was able to get it out; this was the time she had a really bad reaction and almost didn't make it.

We now have some anti-inflammatories on hand, as well as an epi-pen which we are to give her if she gets really bad - and obviously straight the to Vet ASAP.

But being that I have seen a lot of bees roaming around here lately it has been a stressful time and we are looking for ways to avoid this situation happening again, even if it is unlikely.

Quote
So the booties you posted look like they would work ok.

Do they make Benadryl for dogs?

Ok thanks for your thoughts - as for Benadryl - as I understand it that they give her an antihistamine when she goes to the Vets, not sure why they haven't given them to us to give to her in-case it happens - perhaps you have to be very careful not to overdose, unsure?

Quote
Brett,
Those shoes have rubber pads like sneakers. Bees cannot sting through that much rubber.
Funny to see those dog shoes again. My daughter submitted the idea for doggy shoes about 24 years ago for the kids invention convention. She did not win but we did see them on the market shortly after the convention. She also designed a sun visor that unfolds. Also came out on the market after the convention.
Jim

Thanks Jim - your daughter certainly sounds like a good inventor haha :)

Quote
I am wondering what the chances of that happening again. Bees are quite fast unless they are sick.

Yeah, it's weird - if I see them out there I try and nudge them with my foot to see if they would fly away, but they don't seem bothered and just continue their walking around on the path; sometimes I even see some "sleepwalking" at night on the path.

QuoteI don't think a stinger is long enough to penetrate the pads of a paw.

Not sure about the first time, but the second time the bee got wedged between her paw pads, so the stinger must have missed the pads themselves.

Thanks everyone for your posts - they have been helpful :)

Acebird · March 06, 2018, 09:15:54 AM

Quote from: Brett33 on March 05, 2018, 04:03:07 PM
sometimes I even see some "sleepwalking" at night on the path.

That is when bees crawl, at night. You are sure these are honey bees and not ground bees?

Brett33 · March 06, 2018, 01:56:19 PM

Quote from: Acebird on March 06, 2018, 09:15:54 AM
Quote from: Brett33 on March 05, 2018, 04:03:07 PM
sometimes I even see some "sleepwalking" at night on the path.

That is when bees crawl, at night. You are sure these are honey bees and not ground bees?

I have no idea; I didn't even know there was such a thing as "ground bees" or what the difference is and why they are on the ground in the first place haha

BeeMaster2 · March 06, 2018, 08:37:50 PM

Ground Bees are Yellow Jackets. They usually build their nests in the ground and are very aggressive.
Jim

Brett33 · March 07, 2018, 12:20:33 PM

Quote from: sawdstmakr on March 06, 2018, 08:37:50 PM
Ground Bees are Yellow Jackets. They usually build their nests in the ground and are very aggressive.
Jim

I heard about them, but I also read about other types of "ground bees" where the article mentioned that they weren't very aggressive and would sing if threatened.

Brett33 · March 15, 2018, 05:28:32 PM

Quote from: sawdstmakr on March 04, 2018, 06:57:31 PM
Brett,
Those shoes have rubber pads like sneakers. Bees cannot sting through that much rubber.

Just got the boots, the majority of the soles are pretty thick rubber, but as you can see there are small groove lines between sections that are a lot thinner, but the shoes also obviously have a shoe base on the inside - probably unlikely, but do you think a stinger could go through the thin part of the rubber and the shoe base?

Also, I have no idea what stingers are like - are they flimsy and bend easily or are they hard and stable? I ask because I'm wondering what if she does get stung in the bottom of the shoe - would repeated walking on it wedge the stinger into the shoe more or would it fall off with continued walking?

Last question - how do you guys go about actually "seeing" stingers? I imagine they are hard to spot.

Acebird · March 15, 2018, 05:53:52 PM

They are real easy to spot because they have a venom sack attached like the ball end of a seamstress pin.
I think you are worried too much about the stinger penetrating the shoe. Your dog got stung because the bee got between the toes. That is not going to happen with shoe on. I don't know what you would do about crawlers.

Brett33 · March 15, 2018, 06:35:38 PM

Quote from: Acebird on March 15, 2018, 05:53:52 PM
I think you are worried too much about the stinger penetrating the shoe. Your dog got stung because the bee got between the toes. That is not going to happen with shoe on. I don't know what you would do about crawlers.

That's true - I am, but I guess that's natural when your dog almost died from it once before; but I see your point.

Also, what do you mean about crawlers?

Acebird · March 15, 2018, 08:48:56 PM

If you are walking your dog at night the bees don't fly they crawl on the ground usually next to the hive. Crawlers walk up your leg, inside your pants if you are human and sting the crotch. Some people tape their pants. I just pull my socks over my pants. What I am getting at is if your dog happens to stop a bee can crawl up these shoes and sting the leg. The whole idea of a honeybee stinging a dog on the foot is very rare. Are you absolutely sure it was a honey bee?

Brett33 · March 16, 2018, 05:15:24 AM

QuoteWhat I am getting at is if your dog happens to stop a bee can crawl up these shoes and sting the leg.

Well wouldn't it do the same thing with or without the shoes? ...or are the shoes more attractive to crawl up?

QuoteThe whole idea of a honeybee stinging a dog on the foot is very rare. Are you absolutely sure it was a honey bee?

No, I can't be sure. Regardless of that or not, honey bee, ground bee, crawlers etc I'm sure they would all sting if threatened (stepped on) though and hence if we just have honey bees here then that shouldn't change things?

Acebird · March 16, 2018, 09:05:46 AM

Quote from: Brett33 on March 16, 2018, 05:15:24 AM
Well wouldn't it do the same thing with or without the shoes?

yes

QuoteRegardless of that or not, honey bee, ground bee, crawlers etc I'm sure they would all sting if threatened (stepped on) though and hence if we just have honey bees here then that shouldn't change things?

If you get a hive of honeybees don't let the dog near the hive because dogs will snap at insects including bees until they get that first sting on the nose or in the mouth. That is were dogs get stung the most.