This species is an annual that grows from seed spread from pre-existing hemp nettles, or deposited by animals, and human activity. If your cat has multiple stings or bites, a soothing oatmeal bath is the way to go. However, this plant is often also seen as a noxious weed that dominates disturbed areas in or near forests, or in clearings with moist, fertile soil. Do I need to take my cat to the vet for a bee sting? This plant has been known to be a leading cause of bacterial skin infections which can rapidly spread on the pet's skin in wet, humid and hot situations, which could lead to death if not treated immediately. Be aware of similar species that aren't stinging nettles, like false nettles, horse balms, white snakeroots, and hemp nettles. We use cookies for our legitimate interests of providing you with personalized content, enabling you to more easily use our website, evaluating use of our website, and assisting with ad reporting functions. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. If your cat is stung by a bee or wasp they are most likely to suffer from a swollen paw or face, which are the most common places for cats to be stung. The chemicals released by the plant include acetylcholine, histamine, serotonin, moroidin, leukotrienes, and possibly formic acid. The stinging nettle, with it's jagged leaves, is an incredibly important plant for dozens of species of insects, including some of our most loved butterflies species. Dogs with a thick double-coat of fur might be slightly more protected from stinging nettles, since their top coat is meant to protect their skin from being hurt by thorns and brambles. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Stinging nettle grows in disturbed areas, wooded areas, and occasionally open grasslands, provided the soil is moist for seed establishment. The plant itself tends to be a little darker green than stinging nettle. A sting near the eye can be treated with a simple, cold compress. Fen nettle ( Urtica galeopsifolia) is found in a confusingly variable set of environments in England. It also catches a bad wrap as a bully (admittedly justified) by causing a painful itching and burning sensation to those who come in contact with the sharp hairs that cover its leaves. You can also squeeze the juice from a dock plant or jewelweed plant onto your skin to calm the stinging. The actual science behind the use of plants to treat this condition is very limited. Nettle stings can cause severe irritation to our pets and sometimes the pet will not put their weight through the affected feet to avoid the pain. Pour fresh water over the area without touching. Boil the nettles. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Stinging nettles are covered with countless tiny hollow hairs called trichomes. Can dogs get stung by nettles on their nose? Its preference for damp, fertile and disturbed ground makes it a good coloniser of places enriched by human activities, such as agriculture and development. When something brushes against these hairs, their very fragile silica tips break off, and the remainder of the hair can then act like a needle. Apply an ice pack to the affected area for 10 minutes to reduce swelling. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Then, apply a piece of tape to the affected area and remove it to pull out any remaining fibers from your skin. More On The Sting-less Nettle. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Nettles can sting dogs paws leading to intense itching and chewing. To learn more, like how to identify different species of stinging nettles, read on! Female flowers are more green, with 4 pubescent (hairy) sepals and 1 pistil. Nettles. What do I do if my dog gets stung by nettles? The reason for this is that stinging nettles contain fine hairs and chemicals that irritate human skin. Northern Bugleweed is non-stinging, and belongs in the mint family (Family. Apply antibiotic creams or ointments. In severe cases, immediate surgery is required in order to drain excess fluids from an affected eyeball. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Then apply antibiotic ointment. Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or feeling like your throat is tightening. The chemical irritants from the plant can dry on the surface of the skin, then they can be removed by soap and water. There is also some branching on each flowering stem. After, "I didn't need to get past the first few steps, but I took the advice to wash with soap and water (without. Urtica dioica (stinging nettle) in the Herb Garden. But, it is not their shield from the stings of the nettles or other thorny plants. Stinging caterpillars, and stinging or poisonous insects in general, often sport bright colors and strange shapes. To avoid the nettle sting, we just wear long sleeves and gloves when we are handling fresh nettle plants. And cooking or drying . 6 What should I do if my cat got stung by an insect? Yet, this has been common practice in treating a sting from a nettle plant for centuries. Tincture: Flow the guidelines of the manufacturer as it will depend on their product but as a rough guide. I've eaten plenty of cooked nettles. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The leaves are very large, oval, have rounded tips, and have a wavy look to the edges. Stinging nettle, in most areas, is a native perennial, and a sign of what is called in ecology as "succession" where forb plants are growing in Nature's attempt to cover exposed soil. One of these chemicals is formic acid, which causes the painful rash. Stinging nettles are great for wildlife Later in the year small seed-eating birds, including chaffinch, bullfinch and house sparrow all benefit from the thousands of small seeds which each nettle plant produces. One of these chemicals is formic acid, which causes the painful rash. Dogs have body areas with little to no fur, like their bellies. This plant, which can easily reach 3 feet in height, has fine hairs on the stems and leaves. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. When ingested, stinging nettle can result in profuse salivation, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, labored breathing, muscle fasciculations (twitching) and ataxia. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. No, goats can not eat stinging nettle plants. Nettles not only boost your pets immune system, but theyre also natural diuretics that help your cat and dog get rid of waste from the body and are great a natural remedy for those pets that often suffer from allergies. What should I do if my cat got stung by an insect? It doesn't really hurt and if you grab the stems low down they don't sting anyway. Stinging nettle does not seem like the kind of plant anyone would want to harvest, let alone put into their mouth. A bag of frozen peas serves as a handy ice pack for individual bites. The tall plants, anywhere from 10 to 20 feet high, produce small whitish-green . It is considered either a subspecies of the common North . As, "This has happened to me a couple of times in the last few weeks. Stinging nettles can cause a rash and other symptoms if people touch them. It may also encourage bleeding and cause uterine contraction. 10-15 drops for medium-sized dogs and 20-30 drops for larger breeds. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 177,887 times. Not for nothing were they used as a source of textile fibre in the past.) Are these okay for cats to eat? Stinging nettle If touched, these needle-like hairs inject the stinging acid into the skin, triggering a burning, tingling sensation and an itchy rash. The stinging hairs act a lot like a hypodermic needle when your skin brushes against them. Stinging nettle may cause: Low blood pressure. The chemical irritants from the plant can dry on the surface of the skin, then they can be removed by soap and water. The content of this page is not veterinary advice. well if your cat gets stung then the best way to deal with it is to put a cold cloth on the cats stung area and then you call the vets and arrange an appointment quickly and then you if you cannot . Approved. Avoid walking through nettles. If your cat is stung by a bee or wasp they are most likely to suffer from a swollen paw or face, which are the most common places for cats to be stung. To learn more, like how to identify different species of stinging nettles, read on! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". "My husband walked through some nettles while we were in the Greek Islands in 2012 and got the rash from it (only on. The nutritional value of its protein is better than meat! Dr. Marusinec is a board certified Pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, where she is on the Clinical Practice Council. Enjoy! How do you soothe nettle stings? Support wikiHow by There are 5 subspecies of which 4 have stinging hairs. The entire area can appear swollen and inflamed, with a reddish tint to the area affected. Also known as heartleaf nettle, this plant is notorious for causing a burning sensation when it makes contact with bare skin. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. If the stinger is still in the wound, it should be removed right away. I have a book on 101 things to do with Stinging nettles,not much help but it might just change your perception of the stinging nettle . After 10 minutes, wash your skin with soap and warm water or a clean cloth. ", a child I ended up with stinging nettles, they put mud on me from the lake. Since it has anti-inflammatory properties it may help with sinus pressure and swelling. By avoiding any rubbing or touching at first, the chemicals are not pushed further into the skin, which can cause the painful reaction to last longer, possibly even days. Swelling in your mouth area, including your lips or tongue. Dogs typically get these stings because theyre curious and exploring. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". For tips from our Medical co-author on how to tell when you should seek medical attention for a nettle sting, read on! What is a natural remedy for cat allergies. When the hair tip pierces the skin, the acid makes it into the skin causing anywhere from an annoying . In between the leaves, look for clusters of small greenish or yellow-greenish flowers without petals. Apply an ice pack to the affected area for 10 minutes to reduce swelling. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. You can eat them like any other greens; the prickles lose their sting after a minute in boiling water. A bit of time with google turned up: "Nettle is the green vegetable rich in protein. These tips or needles inject histamine into tissue when animals (or humans) rub up against the plant. It does not store any personal data. Though rare, bee stings do happen near or in the eye. Study the entire plant to identify stinging nettles: the stems, roots, leaves, flower clusters, etc. If you have areas of broken skin that are warm to the touch, draining pus, or more inflamed than the surrounding areas, then you may be developing an infection. The sting and rash from the plant are painful, but can be treated. . Itching. Today, many people use it to treat urinary problems during the early stages of an enlarged prostate (called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH). This article has been viewed 177,887 times. I don't feel 'interfered' with, I feel inspired, to do better bringing quality foods to tortoise keepers everywhere. One of these chemicals is formic acid, which causes the painful rash. . It affects their skin same as us when the points break off (sting , itch , burn , yadda) but I watch chipmunk , rabbit , squirrel , racoon , bear , really dumb dogs and even a human treat it most months like a buffet from Big Boy and they are fine and happy. Once you cook the leaves in boiling water, the needles will no longer be able to hurt you. Common signs to watch for: Erythema (redness) Swelling Intense itching Drooling Pawing at the mouth Vomiting Labored breathing Muscle fasciculations (twitching) Incoordination (ataxia) 8 Common Weeds Your Chickens Will Love. (for humans too!) The nettles sting is an adaptation to provide protection from predators. What system warns people of natural disasters? Typically we recommend a dose of one milligram per pound to reduce inflammation.. How do you get over him when he has a new girlfriend? We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. How do you treat a bee sting on the eye? Stinging nettle is generally considered safe when used as directed. Using dry weight comparisons, the nettle is 40% protein compared with 35% protein for soy beans. Tincture: 2.5-5mL three times a day (1:5 in 40%) Hot Tea Infusion: Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1-3 teaspoons of dried herb and infuse for 10-15 minutes. Or, you can rub the leaves of jewelweed on the affected area. The leaves, stems, and roots have been used for food, medicine, cordage, and dye for millennia. This succulent-looking weed is tasty and great for your flock. . Her recipes are simple, delicious, and healthy perfect for anyone who wants to cook like a pro! Yes, heat neutralizes. Finding mixed results on the Google. However, some plants have smooth stems so you should also check for leaves that are long, with coarsely serrated edges and a pointed end. Continue to apply treatments as long as the area is uncomfortable. % of people told us that this article helped them. If you have fresh nettles, just stuff a jar full (the stingers will vanish in the hot water) If you have it, you can add a piece of licorice root or a bit of ground root. nettle offers a variety of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, polyphenols and pigments many of which also act as antioxidants inside your. Agree x 1; longk, May 12, . wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. A bee stinger can continue to seep venom into the skin for several minutes after the sting is delivered.