The stinging hairs, called trichomes, are hollow like hypodermic needles with protective tips. This article has been viewed 2,200,919 times. Their high nitrogen content also makes them a natural compost activator. For cats that exhibit seasonal allergies to pollen, stinging nettle extract is effective. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. Ratings: +83,410. Even if she appears to have a mild, localized reaction, you should still call your vet right away. The tiny hairs on the leaves and stems of this plant can cause significant irritation and burning to any part of the body that comes in contact with this plant. 2. The leaves and stems of this plant are covered in fine, tiny hairs. Dogs have body areas with little to no fur, like their bellies. Yes, heat neutralizes. 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 . Stinging nettles are covered with countless tiny hollow hairs called trichomes. 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. The plant grows in height from 20 inches (50.8cm) to about 50 inches, and the leaves grow to be about 16 inches (41cm) long. Some anecdotal evidence shows strong doses of fresh stinging nettle made into a soup or strong tea can be helpful. Self-care for nettle stings Stinging nettle has been used for hundreds of years to treat painful muscles and joints, eczema, arthritis, gout, and anemia. The content of this page is not veterinary advice. Each hair is like a hollow needle filled with formic acid, the same chemical in ant saliva that causes pain to humans when bitten. . Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. You can either make a thick baking soda paste by mixing baking soda with water. Agree x 1; longk, May 12, . % of people told us that this article helped them. What do I do if my dog gets stung by nettles? 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. Hi Pamela. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,200,919 times. Left some stinging nettles out on the counter for dinner prep and found my cat in there eating them. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). A rash that extends beyond the exposed area, and can be all over the body. By using our site, you agree to our. First Aid for Insect Stings in Cats. In place of the sting, nettle root tincture or cream can also be used topically for this purpose. How long does it take for stinging nettle to go away? In this video we find out what really happens when you get stung by a stinging nettle. The swollen base of each tiny, hollow hair contains a droplet of formic acid. For drying/preserving for tea, it's best to wait until they start popping up in late winter / early spring. The high vitamin C content of the nettle extract helps the body absorb the quercetin, and they work together to bring down inflammation and support the immune system, among other benefits, listed above. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Apply the paste to the affected areas. Products are available over-the-counter that contain a mixture of anti-infective agents. Add some stinging nettle extract to your cats canned food or water to help relieve congestion and sneezing. his ankles and calves). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The actual science behind the use of plants to treat this condition is very limited. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Occasional side effects include mild stomach upset, fluid retention, sweating, diarrhea, and hives or rash (mainly from topical use). What should I do if my cat got stung by an insect? Who wrote the music and lyrics for Kinky Boots? Eating an overlooked plant that . 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. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Stinging nettles can cause a rash and other symptoms if people touch them. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. European Nettle is an erect perennial which spreads by rhizomes. If your cat comes into contact with a lily you should take them to a vet immediately. body. Just pick a few leaves (with gloves, of course, and no stems), crush and mash them really well to get them juicy, and to crush any stinging hairs, then massage into the affected area. 8 Common Weeds Your Chickens Will Love. 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. When the hair tip pierces the skin, the acid makes it into the skin causing anywhere from an annoying . wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. 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. Stinging nettle is generally considered safe when used as directed. Thankfully the symptoms usually do not persist longer than 24 hours. Cooked stinging nettles can be used in place of cooked spinach in many recipes. Useful x 3; Like x 2; wiseowl, May 12, 2015 #7 Quote in Conversation. Despite the fibrous stem of the plants, this food source is also easily digested by pigs, rabbits and poultry. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the sting site. To create this article, 21 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Nettle, also known as Urtica dioica or stinging nettle, is a plant that has many nutritive values. One of these chemicals is formic acid, which causes the painful rash. Hi Erma. After all, it is just like our hair, stings can still get through. They are an excellent source of nutrition. Interestingly, the cooked plant is safe to eat and is popular is some places as a vegetable. 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 . Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Having a higher free test will produce better erections and higher EQ. A bit of time with google turned up: "Nettle is the green vegetable rich in protein. Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from Pet Poison Helpline. Does vinegar help nettle stings? Capsules: Take 8-12g of dried leaf per day or 4-6g of dried root daily. The leaves and stems of the plant are covered with brittle, hollow, hair-like structures. It also has typically wider leaves (though shape ranges from oval to lance-shaped), and has pink, white, or variegated flowers growing from the base of the leaf. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". How do you stop the pain from stinging nettles? It is found in both wet and dry grounds and shade and open prairie. Idk about getting my jewels burned by the urtica dioica though :) And, in nettles, the amino acids are in balance. Apply any treatments gently to the area by using a dabbing motion to prevent further irritation. Boil the nettles. Stinging nettle grows in disturbed areas, wooded areas, and occasionally open grasslands, provided the soil is moist for seed establishment. There was poison ivy there as well, so was unsure what I got. When ingested, stinging nettle can result in profuse salivation, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, labored breathing, muscle fasciculations (twitching) and ataxia. If your cat has multiple stings or bites, a soothing oatmeal bath is the way to go. Do not handle this plant without gloves. 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. Minimize swelling. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Within about a minute the sting will be no more. Available products include agents such as cetirizine, or Zyrtec, loratadine, or Claritin, and diphenhydramine, or Benadryl. Took several days to get better. Then apply antibiotic ointment. It is considered either a subspecies of the common North . Soak the foot in warm Epsom salts water to relieve swelling. Typically, a dog will run by the nettle, and the hair tips theyre angled and hollowed will catch on to your dog, entering your pups skin and breaking upon contact. The bee stinger contains toxins that can cause inflammation. Do nettles sting cats? For tips from our Medical co-author on how to tell when you should seek medical attention for a nettle sting, read on! Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Stinging Nettle is a perennial herb growing nearly worldwide. Press J to jump to the feed. Your cat will experience some localised pain and irritation from the sting, just like a human, but this should go away after a short period of time. It is important to be careful when handling the nettle plant because touching it can cause an allergic rash. Without a photo etc we can't really help ID what you found, but stinging nettle does sting when small. Over-the-counter oral antihistamines might also help to counteract the reaction that is occurring in your body. Calamine or Caladryl lotion can help to provide a soothing feeling and help to reduce the itching and burning. (For use as a vegetable they need to be young. The coolness of the product will have a soothing effect, and the active properties of the cream or ointment can help prevent infection. Are these okay for cats to eat? Crush the nettles. Stinging nettles can cause a rash and other symptoms if people touch them. The chemical irritants from the plant can dry on the surface of the skin, then they can be removed by soap and water. Are stinging nettles poisonous? Stinging nettle is native to western North America, Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and introduced elsewhere. The fact that the sting does little other than mildly irritate is also very important. Or, you can rub the leaves of jewelweed on the affected area. This article has 27 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. Its preference for damp, fertile and disturbed ground makes it a good coloniser of places enriched by human activities, such as agriculture and development. Does stinging nettle help with cat allergies? The toothed leaves are borne oppositely along the stem, and both the stems and leaves are covered with numerous stinging and non-stinging trichomes (plant hairs). https://phc.amedd.army.mil/PHC%20Resource%20Library/StingingNettle_FS_18-086-0716.pdf, https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/105371.html, https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/stinging-nettle, https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/false_nettle.htm, https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/collinsonia/canadensis/, https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=a747, http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/wood_nettle.htm, http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/north_bugle.html, https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.119607, https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/spearmint.html, http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/clearweed.htm, https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/selfheal, https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/marsh-hedge-nettle, An image and information search of "Stinging Nettle" or. If your cat has multiple stings or bites, a soothing oatmeal bath is the way to go. Apply the antibiotic cream or ointment directly to the areas involved. This will usually settle down within a few minutes or a few days and you can often treat them yourself. Flowers of clearweed are in narrow racemes that are shorter than stinging nettle, at only about 1 inch (2.5cm) long. She believes that food should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their budget or dietary restrictions. ", a child I ended up with stinging nettles, they put mud on me from the lake. ", How to Treat a Sting from a Stinging Nettle, Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, http://wildflowerfinder.org.uk/Flowers/N/Nettle%28Stinging%29/Nettle%28Stinging%29.htm, http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/accidents-and-injuries/bites-and-stings/stinging-nettles, http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/skin/pages/Splinters-and-Other-Foreign-Bodies-in-the-Skin.aspx, http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/2011/homolka_kail/cure.htm, https://luontoportti.com/en/t/2328/broad-leaved-dock, curar el sarpullido causado por la ortiga, Verbrennungen durch Brennesseln behandeln. As, "This has happened to me a couple of times in the last few weeks. If your cat has multiple stings or bites, a soothing oatmeal bath is the way to go. Last Updated: December 22, 2022 Some stinging nettle subspecies may have green stems, whereas other subspecies may have purple stems. My Russian won't eat them so far but that's okay. Because nettles grow very easily, there are many different varieties. They will eventually form a crust once fully dry and begin to heal. The following stinging nettle dosage is recommended for most inidvduals. I've eaten plenty of cooked nettles. This is great for recipes that use cooked nettles, and for making fresh herbal infusions. Remedies for this sting include a plant that often grows next to it called jewelweed. Urtica dioica has heart shaped. Approved. Enjoy! 4 Would you go blind if a bee sting you in the eye? {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f6\/Treat-a-Sting-from-a-Stinging-Nettle-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Treat-a-Sting-from-a-Stinging-Nettle-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f6\/Treat-a-Sting-from-a-Stinging-Nettle-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid7822-v4-728px-Treat-a-Sting-from-a-Stinging-Nettle-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"