With dogs allowed on a growing number of beaches in the Balearics, more owners are asking what to do if their pet is stung by a jellyfish. The answer is simple, but some common remedies can make things worse.
Even a dead jellyfish can sting
A jellyfish washed up on the sand may look harmless, but its stinging cells, called nematocysts, remain active for some time. If a dog sniffs, licks or steps on one, the cells can fire and release venom, causing pain, redness, swelling and itching.
Dogs are most often stung on areas with little fur: the nose, mouth, ears, belly and groin.
Two mistakes to avoid
Fresh water. Rinsing the sting with tap or bottled water causes the nematocysts still on the skin to burst and release more venom. Only use seawater.
Vinegar. Vinegar helps with some species, but with the mauve stinger, the most common jellyfish in Balearic waters, it can trigger more stinging. Unless you know exactly which species is involved, avoid it.
First aid that helps
- Stop your dog scratching or licking the area, which spreads the venom.
- Remove any visible tentacles carefully, wearing gloves or using a plastic bag over your hand. Lift them off with the edge of a bank card or something similar; do not rub.
- Rinse with plenty of seawater.
- Apply cold — a cold pack or ice wrapped in a towel, never ice directly on the skin — for 10 to 15 minutes to ease pain and swelling.
Then contact your vet, particularly if the pain or swelling does not improve.
If your dog swallows a jellyfish
Watch for drooling, vomiting, retching, and swelling of the mouth or throat. Difficulty breathing is an emergency: get to a vet straight away.
Prevention
Check jellyfish warnings before heading to the beach — apps such as MedusApp show recent sightings — and look at the flags and notices posted by lifeguards. Keep an eye on your dog along the shoreline and steer it away from anything gelatinous on the sand.
