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In the list of ‘must try’ dishes for pets this summer, frustratingly a blue bottle jellyfish is near the top of the list.
And with strong onshore winds along the coast right now, they’re washing ashore in the millions. Laying in wait on the sand ready to tempt inquisitive mouths.
So if you’re holidaying by the beach, here’s all you need to know.
For starters, they’re soft, colourful but incredibly painful if they’re swallowed.
While their fur offers some protection, the bare areas on the belly, feet and mouth are left wide open to bluebottle sting. Most stings occur from either treading on the bluebottle or (most commonly) picking up the sting in their mouth.
But thankfully, it’s only the tentacles that can sting. The bubble (or float) is completely stingless and actually a completely different animal. In fact, a bluebottle is 4 animals working together.
Signs of a sting include sudden discomfort, local swelling and in extreme cases, breathing difficulties if the sting reaches the back of the throat.
So what can you do?
- Remove the sting if still attached. Your finger tips are usually thick enough to prevent being stung yourself.
- Don’t rub the area. It will only activate more of the sting
- Wash the area in the warm water initially
- If pain in still present apply an ice pack
- Get to the vet if signs progress or the sting has affected the back of the throat.
While breathing problems are incredibly rare, your vet can give anti-inflammatories and antihistamines to reduce the swelling and allergic reaction.
Thankfully, they’re not as appealing as the rest of the ocean fare that washes up on the shoreline. But a stray sting in the mouth can make provide an unwelcome twist to a beach day…
