Why You Should Never Play with Bees

It’s a sad fact that some dogs like to play with bees. I don’t know whether they do it because they think it makes them look hard, or for the adrenalin rush, or even the endorphin rush when they get stung; but I do know it’s not a cool thing to do. Bees are an endangered species, and the consequences for the dog can be most unpleasant.

I’ve tried to give Pearl some sisterly advice about the dangers of playing with bees, but she’s taken no notice. The other day I caught her sitting up on her haunches so she could use her front paws to catch a bee in mid-flight. She thought she looked big and brave but in my view she just looked like a cat, which is not a good look for a dog. As for the bee, it got her right between the toes.

The next day we had to go to the vet and get ointment because she’d licked her pads raw in the night. She was off walks for three days and she had to wear the Cone of Shame to stop her licking.

I felt sorry for her, but I was cross as well because while we were at the vet’s Annabelle decided I might as well have nail trim. I hate my paws being messed with, because I’ve got an auto-immune condition that means my nail beds get inflamed and my nails actually peel off the quicks. It also means I have to go for a nail trim quite often, because the nails grow back at weird angles. The condition is called – drum roll, please – Symmetrical Lupoid Onychodystrophy, or SLO for short.

It’s ironic that a dog like me, with a reputation for being fast, should have a condition called SLO. Most of the time, I don’t let it slow me down – but you can see why I don’t have much patience with dogs who abuse their health, particularly when it involves their paws.

Playing with bees is not big and it’s not clever. Balls are safer and much more fun.