Allergic Reaction

[Luvs]

Keil gave us quite the scare yesterday. We were at one of the local schools yesterday with the Schutzhund club doing some training. Keil was laying down next to my daughter when I noticed his left eye was slightly swollen. It looked like he had been stung or bitten by some kind of insect. We stood there talking for a minute or two after looking at his eye and then decided to get him up to work on recalls. Keil got up VERY slowly. He was standing there kind of wobbling. His back end was barely supporting him and he was hanging his head way down. He didn't even notice my daughter who had started to walk away from him before he stood up. His eye had gotten even more swollen and when we looked at his gums they were an ashy grey with no pink at all. As soon as we realized how poorly he was doing my daughter ran to the truck to call the vet. I grabbed our training bag and Akasha and our instructor started walking Keil back to the truck. I thought that we were going to have to carry him, as he was barely walking. We finally got to the truck and lifted him in where he lay down not moving and barely breathing. I have never seen him lay so flat like that. Unfortunately our cell phones do not work in the area we were at so we drove down the store at the end of the road to call. My daughter left a message for the vet to call us as we headed for the clinic.

My daughter is usually very calm and level headed in an emergency situation but she was almost hysterical yesterday, that is how bad Keil was.
Thank goodness the vet called us back right away and was able to meet us not long after we got to the vet clinic. He gave Keil an Epi shot and a shot of steroids. By the time the vet examined Keil he had improved quite a bit and was able to walk, altho he was still somewhat unsteady. The swelling on his eye had gone way down and his gums had some color back in them.

The vet said that Keil must have an allergy to whatever it was that stung him. I really wish I knew what it was so that we could try to avoid it. I did see quite a few bees out there so I think that may have been what it was. The vet thought it was most likely a bee or horsefly. He gave us a prescription for an Epi pen to carry around with us. He said that we need to keep it with Keil wherever he goes because it could be worse next time.

Keil is staying in the house today until I can get his prescription filled tomorrow when the pharmacy opens again.

I have never been so scared that I was going to lose one of my dogs before. There was absolutely nothing we could do for him, other than try and get him to the vet in time. We didn't know that he was having an allergic reaction, altho that is what we suspected, never having experienced one before we weren't sure. Now at least we know he has an allergy and will know what to do next time. When we were talking to the vet he said that his dog did this last year and even tho he is a vet and has seen many different injuries and illness' he has never been as scared as he was when his dog went thru this last year. I am really glad that it was our vet we got to see yesterday and it was my favorite one. He was wonderful with Keil and we felt so much better by the time we left.

Has anyone else experienced an allergic reaction like this with their dogs? Is it something that we need to watch for with Akasha as well since they are sister and brother? What are the chances that it will be worse next time? I know with people allergy reactions usually get worse each time, I assume it is the same with dogs? I had an allergic reaction to shellfish and was told never to eat it again. Are there any other insects besides bees or horseflies that can cause this kind of reaction? I just want to know if there is something else we should watch out for. How much Benadryl do you give dogs? We went and got some yesterday but forgot to ask the vet how much we should give him.

We really thought that we were going to lose Keil yesterday. It is probably the scariest thing I have ever gone thru with one of my dogs. He was back to his normal happy self last night and we couldn't even tell how sick he had been earlier. We still made him take it easy last night no matter how good he was feeling. He got lots of kisses and snuggle time last night from my daughter, husband and I

Do you think that dogs know when other dogs are sick? Akasha kept licking Keil yesterday on the way to the vets office. She was sitting in the back seat with him (there was no where else for her) and she kept very gently licking his eyes. I have never seen her be so gentle with him before. Usually she is biting and chewing on him. She even sat up for the entire ride, letting him lay on the back seat without laying on him or trying to make him move (which is unusual for her).

[LavenderRott]

I have never had this happen with a pet, but my oldest daughter is allergic to spider bites. She carries an epi-pen and benadryl at all times. The first time was the worst. Now that we know the warning signs, she is pretty quick with the benadryl.

Sorry you had such a fright and glad to hear your young man is ok.

[aquarius3079]

Carol-

That is horrible! I can't even imagine what you must have gone through. Thank God you guys were quick to get to the vet and the vet was quick to assess the situation. I am glad to hear Keil is doing well.

A similar situation happened two weekends ago. Jer and I went to the beach and Link went to Grandma's. My mom was home alone and had her 2 and Link there. All of the sudden her Golden (4 yrs old) jumped up on the bed and started shaking and lost control of her bladder all over the bed. My mom was scared to death and immediately called the vet. The vet confirmed her worst nightmare, she was having a seizure. The dog proceeded to fall down 10 steps in the middle of the seizure (my mom recently had a knee replacement and is not too quick on her feet). Link and my mom's basset were scared to death and were standing over Butterscotch looking at my mom to fix her. Luckily the seizure only lasted a couple minutes and she was able to walk again and my mom got her in the car and took her to the vet. All of her bloodwork came back fine and the vet thinks it was a freak happening. Of course my mom came home and started reading seizure horror stories on the internet (sometimes I think we have access to too much info). Butterscotch is okay, although we all think she is not quite herself and I took her back to the vet again to be sure.

Anyway, my mom said this was the scariest thing she has EVER seen. She was crying on the phone hysterically and at the same time trying to talk to the vet. I can't imagine how scared you and your daughter must have been. I am glad to hear all is well (sorry for the long story ).

[Judy Chrusch]

I never had it happen to me but my parents boxer got stung and within minutes Bruno's face was 3 times the size it should be . It just kept swelling and then he got real lethargic. My dad couldn't get his vet so he called me and bc he knew it was a bee sting I told him to give a dose of Benadryl and thank God by the time he got to my vet his face had gone down considerably so I told my dad to keep it on hand in case it ever happens again.

My boy has never gotten stung but I keep Benadryl on hand just in case. I'm so glad your boy is better and it might be a good idea to keep Benadryl on hand too, you never know. Take care.

Judy

[Black Tie Mom]

Hi Carol:

I went through this last year with Tie when we were camping. Her reaction wasn't as severe but it scared the crap out of me just the same. I can't remember last time I was that scared. Even my kids never put me into that kind of panic!!

The way Tie was freaking I thought she was having trouble breathing but as it turned out that wasn't the case. Her face, ears and muzzle were terribly swollen. Once the vet examined her they gave her a shot of antihistamines and steriods. There didn't seem to be any bees or horseflies around but where we were camped there were a large number of deerflies. So I assume that is what she reacted to. I now carry with me at all times a supply of benedryl. My vet said that if she was stung again and there was similar reaction that I should give her 2 benedryl capsules and get her to vet to be on the safe side. She could also have the same amount of benedryl every 24 hours thereafter.

We live in a rural area and we are out walking the property everyday. There is no way to avoid running into the same scenerio again. We have had no other instances of allergic reaction since. I begin to wonder if the reaction was caused from just from one bite or was the problem that there were multiple bites?

I guess the best course of action is to be ever vigilante and carry your epi pen and benedryl with you at all times. I'm asthmatic and carry inhalers every where I go. It just takes some getting used to.

Lori

[flyballmom]

Oh God Carol I just saw this. How terrifying!! I'm so glad to hear he's OK now...you guys have had too many vet visits lately. The best thing to do would be for both you and your daughter to carry EpiPens, there's too big a risk that you won't remember to pass ONE back and forth if only one of you takes him somewhere. Can you get another? That was a nasty reaction and not something to be fooled with. Not that you don't know that. Whew.

[frontierrots]

My friend's Vizsla has that same reaction to spider bites and they carry an epi pen around for her

My late Darla woke me (by jumping on my body) up one night and her face was all swollen. There was a dead large carpenter ant n the floor so we guess that's what it was. We gave her Benedryl every hour til am and then talked to the vet who prescribed more Benadryl every 3hours for another day

[MontanaRott]

Holy cow! What a scare. We have not had a reaction like that with our dogs but we do have grass allergies and give them 1 Benedryl caplet for the pugs and 2 for a large dog. I like the liquid too without the dyes and the pugs get 25mgs of that. I hope Keil is lucky and does not get stung again!

[Judi W]

Get a product that repells insects and put it on the dog when going where there is a possibility of contact. Make sure it is a product made for dogs and not people. That should help greatly in limiting exposure. When there is a severe reaction, the next one is usually worse although I don't know how it could be worse than what you went through!!

[Luvs]

Originally Posted by flyballmom

Oh God Carol I just saw this. How terrifying!! I'm so glad to hear he's OK now...you guys have had too many vet visits lately. The best thing to do would be for both you and your daughter to carry EpiPens, there's too big a risk that you won't remember to pass ONE back and forth if only one of you takes him somewhere. Can you get another? That was a nasty reaction and not something to be fooled with. Not that you don't know that. Whew.

We have definately had way too many vet visits lately I am getting to know my vet very well. I told him yesterday that I appreciate all he has done for us but, I REALLY hope I don't see him for a while
He gave us a prescription for the EpiPen with 3 refills. We are going to get one for me and one for my daughter to carry along with the Benadryl (which is already in my coat pocket and my daughter's purse). Since I really should have an EpiPen for me because of my shellfish allergy I am going to get a prescription from my doctor for the one I will carry around. That way my insurance will pay for it and if either of us need it we will have it

I will definately get some bug spray for them as well. Can the dogs use the same stuff that the horses use or do they need their own?

I just recently found out that the dogs could be given Benadryl (thanks to you all here) and now again thanks to you guys I know how much.

I have to admit that after what happened I have been afraid to take him outside for anything. We had him outside for a potty break and a bee flew near him and I totally freaked out trying to get it away from him I am probably going to end up making things worse by doing stuff like that but I couldn't help myself I can't wait to get his EpiPen later today so that we can relax.

[BostonRott]

I am so glad to hear that he's ok, I do know how scary something like that is (Frol went into shock from nasty mastitis, in a period of about 20min..........fine to almost dead......makes ya need a fresh pair o' pants!).

Just a few info points:

For others, reactions like this do NOT happen on the first sting, a body can NOT mount an anaphylactic rxn on the first sting.........it needs time to form antibodies to the strange protein (venom), it's the second and subsequent reactions that are severe. So please don't run out and get Epi-pens to fend off bee stings (we see this in people frequently.........what I call the Ferris Beuhler phenominon "My brother's cousin's sister's boyfriend's nephew said that.........").

Regarding Epi-pens: people tend to store them in their glove compartments. DON'T!!! It will cook in the summer heat, freeze in the winter bitters and be completely useless. It's also useless in the car when you're 100-200yds away. Keep it WITH YOU! It needs to live in a temperate climate. If you have a pen that you've already temperature stressed, go to the pharmacy, explain how badly you've mistreated the poor beast and trade it in for a new one.

Finally, remember that when giving it, you MUST hold it in the leg (muscle) for 10 seconds. Stab / in / out will not get enough epi on board to have the desired effects (peripheral vasoconstriction, bronchodilation). I had to re-stick a kid last week after his mother slammed the pen in/out and he didn't get enough epi. Nothing like yet another needle to add insult to injury.

Also, tagamet helps shut down systemic anaphylaxis by turning off the histamine receptors in the GI tract (H2 receptors). We give epi/benadryl in the truck, and upon arrival at the ED, they'll usually get a steroid dose and some tagamet. Tagamet is safe for dogs.

Please give Keil a big hug and tell him to stop playing with bees!! Banja highly recommends moths, they're much more benign.

[Luvs]

Originally Posted by BostonRott

I am so glad to hear that he's ok, I do know how scary something like that is (Frol went into shock from nasty mastitis, in a period of about 20min..........fine to almost dead......makes ya need a fresh pair o' pants!).

Just a few info points:

For others, reactions like this do NOT happen on the first sting, a body can NOT mount an anaphylactic rxn on the first sting.........it needs time to form antibodies to the strange protein (venom), it's the second and subsequent reactions that are severe. So please don't run out and get Epi-pens to fend off bee stings (we see this in people frequently.........what I call the Ferris Beuhler phenominon "My brother's cousin's sister's boyfriend's nephew said that.........").

Regarding Epi-pens: people tend to store them in their glove compartments. DON'T!!! It will cook in the summer heat, freeze in the winter bitters and be completely useless. It's also useless in the car when you're 100-200yds away. Keep it WITH YOU! It needs to live in a temperate climate. If you have a pen that you've already temperature stressed, go to the pharmacy, explain how badly you've mistreated the poor beast and trade it in for a new one.

Finally, remember that when giving it, you MUST hold it in the leg (muscle) for 10 seconds. Stab / in / out will not get enough epi on board to have the desired effects (peripheral vasoconstriction, bronchodilation). I had to re-stick a kid last week after his mother slammed the pen in/out and he didn't get enough epi. Nothing like yet another needle to add insult to injury.

Also, tagamet helps shut down systemic anaphylaxis by turning off the histamine receptors in the GI tract (H2 receptors). We give epi/benadryl in the truck, and upon arrival at the ED, they'll usually get a steroid dose and some tagamet. Tagamet is safe for dogs.

Please give Keil a big hug and tell him to stop playing with bees!! Banja highly recommends moths, they're much more benign.

I think that Keil would definately agree with Banja about the moths

Gretchen thank you very much for all the information! I really appreciate it! I had no idea that you had to hold the pen down for 10 seconds. My sister carrys an epipen around for my niece (for a severe peanut allergy), I will have to talk to her because I don't know if she was made aware of that fact or not. I know that it was never mentioned to me when my niece came to stay with me.

I was wondering about if he had ever been stung before or if this had been the first time. I am glad to know that this kind of reaction doesn't occur the first time.

We will be getting some Tagament today as well as the EpiPen. My daughter will be carrying hers in her purse and mine will be in my coat (which is like my purse ) so they will always be with us.

Thank goodness the bees/bugs are only out during the spring and summer and when things start to freeze we won't have to worry about him getting stung, which will be great! I never thought I would hear myself say something good about winter

[rottienana]

MY Bear is allergic to something when he is outside his eyes swell, we've had a lot of rain i guess the molds and stuff in the air