Robert Coe and his wife Sandra of Santee, Calif., thought they had seen the last of the bees buzzing around their home after exterminators sprayed a hive in their yard. That is until later that night when Sandra noticed the family’s 1-year-old Labrador retriever wasn’t acting like herself.
“My wife saw Ellie throw up several times,” said Robert. “There were hundreds of dead bees in each pile.”
Unbeknownst to the Coes, Ellie had discovered and eaten the beehive after the exterminators had left. Frightened by the volume of dead bees Ellie was vomiting, Sandra decided the dog needed to go to the veterinary hospital
The emergency veterinarian on duty examined Ellie and determined she had most likely only ingested dead bees and hadn’t been stung. Additionally, Poison Control indicated the pesticide did not pose a significant risk of toxicity. After a dose of anti-nausea medication and a few hours of observation, Ellie was on her way back home.
For the next week, the Coes administered over-the-counter antacid tablets and put Ellie on a diet of plain white rice and chicken. “She was eating better than we were,” joked Robert. “She acted just fine that week, really, but every time she went to the bathroom, she pooped bees. Thousands of bees. I don’t know where they all came from – the hive wasn’t that large.”
The Story Continues
Watch the video follow up and see how Ellie is doing today.
But Wait! There's More!
Watch Ellie receive the 2nd Annaul VPI Hambone Award.
sandra woodhouse said: Ellie, Ellie, Ellie!!!! My goodness!! (slowly shake head back and forth as I say it)! She's a beautiful dog by the way:)!
Katie Robert said: Yikes! Ellie was very lucky the pesticide did not pose a threat to her health.
january Herron said: Ellie,
To Bee or not to Bee?
I think you found the answer!
DONNA REED said: WOW YOU ALL HAVE BEEN BLESSED THIS HAS CONVINCED ME TO TAKE OUT THE INSURANCE
Linda Grady said: Ellie has my vote!
Jaynelle Stichler said: I love Ellie. She looks like our big yellow lab, Chancellor. Labs are the best, but definitely inquisitive and will eat anything! I am so happy she has recovered. Many blessings and you have my vote!
Jaynelle Stichler said: I love Ellie. She looks like our big yellow lab, Chancellor. Labs are the best, but definitely inquisitive and will eat anything! I am so happy she has recovered. Many blessings and you have my vote!
Joanne DiVico said: Ellie ate my vote - no, wait, Ellie gets my vote
Maggie's Mom said: Just like a lab, mine will eat the craziest stuff that she finds in the yard - Maggie keeps me on my toes! Glad that Ellie was ok!
Darcy MacGregor said: Thank goodness that the bees were dead & didn't sting the poor girl to death. Bee sure that the bees don't return next year as they many times return to where they had a nest/hive previously. This could have been a deadly situation for all.
Janet Gamble said: It's amazing that she ate that many bees and pesticide and lived! She's got my vote. I admit that I am bias, because one of my comic strip characters is a yellow lab!
Linda Kizer-Paquette said: I've always said that Labs will eat anything and everything. Our Lab-Cocker mix ate small rocks, among other things. He never had any digestive troubles, but I'm not sure why. Guess it's those tough Lab genes, right Ellie?
Tanner Coe said: Tell all your friends to vote please. We want to win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clayton Hartog said: Maybe she wlll eat Tanner's Chargers jersey next!
Go Broncos!!!!!
Mary Beth Long said: I have a rat terrier that will also eat anything, but I'm not sure about beehives.
Anyway, Ellie has my vote.
I'm glad her story has a happy ending.
Barbara Adams said: My Benjamin, an American bulldog, got stung by a bee and that was bad enough for us!! Ellie you're brave and so our your people.
Mary Miller said: Our lab is allergic to bee stings, he puffed up one day, emergency vet and steriod shots, the next day and every day for a week, he looked like he had mumps all over his body and they spread a little more each day. And the benedryl, supposed to make him sleep, uh no, made him spin around more than usual. Gotta love your lab.
JB Lewis said: I'm glad the dog's okay, but it's a shame about the bees. They face enough threats every day without being poisoned. If they were bothersome, all anyone had to do was call a beekeeper.
Jen Hor said: To bee or not to bee, that is the question
whether 'tis nobler to suffer the stings and buzzes of outrageous poison
or take up jaws 'gainst a sling of hornets
and by opposing, swallow them.
Concerned Doglover said: I hope they weren't really bees, that you killed. Bees are in terrible trouble & we need them. If they are unwanted, a beekeeper will come get them. A lot of people call any stinging flying insect a "bee" so I hope they were hornets or some such.
Glad Ellie is ok!! But sad the bees aren't.
Nellie Graham said: We have two big yellow lab boys. Oscar (for Oscar Madison of the Odd Couple) has a thing for grass clippings. He has been to the emergency vet twice in his 5 years for the misery this delicacy gives him. I am going to get insurance for him and his bud, Charlie- the million dollar dogs!