# Will eating a bee still trigger an allergic reaction?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-eating-a-bee-still-trigger-an-allergic-reaction/719454>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 7, 2015, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-eating-a-bee-still-trigger-an-allergic-reaction/719454 "2015-05-07T06:23:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-eating-a-bee-still-trigger-an-allergic-reaction/719454/1 "2015-05-07T06:23:15Z")

</div>

I believe my dog is allergic to bees. One time early in my ownership I had him outside and shortly after going back inside he broke out into hives. Fortunately I had already given him benadryl just before going out. A few more benadryl and starting a panicked trip towards the vet the hives faded away. Inspecting him after it appeared something had bitten or stung him.

My dog has an odd fasination/fear of bees. Occasionally one sneaks into the house. He’ll see it and do everything he can to get to it. They normally fly along the ceiling where he can’t get them, though he has managed to twist his ankle trying. If he loses track of it he hides in another room.

When I notice them (usually because the dog is running and jumping around the room) I just grab whatever is handy and kill them. The dog stays incredibly interested in them still and really tries to get at the corpse. He’ll jump on furniture or knock over trash cans to get to them. He’s never been successful in getting a dead bee. Flushing them down the drain generally ends his search.

So the question is if he was successful in getting a bee corpse is it likely or even possible he’ll suffer an allergic reaction?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\
**Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-eating-a-bee-still-trigger-an-allergic-reaction/719454/2 "2015-05-07T21:04:37Z")

</div>

I foound [this](https://writersforensicsblog.wordpress.com/2011/07/23/q-and-a-will-ingestion-of-bee-venom-kill-someone-who-is-allergic-to-bees/):

> [@](#):
>
> Bee venom is a protein toxin and would be digested by the acids in the stomach if swallowed. And once digested it would not likely cause an allergic reaction. However, an allergic reaction would happen once the venom contacted the buccal mucosa—big word for the lining of the mouth. This could cause an anaphylactic reaction and kill the victim

Note that the information presented is for humans, but it seems like the same would apply for dogs. If he got it down before any venom was released, he’ll be fine.