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Client Library Article
ACUTE ALLERGIC REACTIONS
| Acute
allergic reactions are most commonly caused by bee or
wasp stings, fly or ant bites, vaccines, and some drugs in sensitive
individuals. |
| In dogs & cats, allergic reactions most commonly manifest by
changes in the skin. Dogs commonly develop urticaria or hives on the body within
minutes of exposure to an allergic substance. Hives are small raised itchy
lesions of localized skin swelling. Hives are found mostly on the trunk.
And generally resolve without treatment in 2-4 hours. After the hives
form, the dog will develop a severely swollen face, especially around the
eyes and the muzzle secondly to angioedema, or swelling and leakage of the
small blood vessels in the face. The swollen muzzle, eyelids, and lips of
the affected dog will often look similar to those of a normal Shar Pei , and can
be painful when touched. The swollen face usually appears within a few
hours of being stung or receiving a vaccine and can last for several days
before completely resolving.. The legs can also become very
swollen and painful. Cats mostly develop a swollen face, although they
can develop hives as well. Occasionally, pets may vomit-especially if they
are having a reaction to a vaccine. Pets with severely swollen faces, hives,
or vomiting after a vaccine should be seen by a veterinarian who can
administer potent antiinflammatory medications to ease the comfort and
reduce the swelling and itchiness quickly. **
Anaphylaxis is a very severe type of allergic reaction that
is a life threatening condition. In anaphylaxisis, the blood
pressure plummets, the throat can swell to the point of closing, and the
animal goes into acute shock. Fortunately animals rarely suffer anaphylactic
reactions, although it is always a possibility. |
| Symptoms: |
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Swollen face, lips, muzzle, & eyelids (facial
angioedema)
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Hives (urticaria)
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Red itchy inflamed skin
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Swollen legs (pitting edema)
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Body rash
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| Diagnosis |
| Diagnosis is usually based on the history of exposure
to insects and the clinical signs, specifically a swollen face and possibly
hives. The legs swell secondary to blood vessels becoming leaky which
allows fluid to move from the blood into the tissues. The veterinarian
identifies pitting edema by pressing a thumb into the swollen leg- if the
thumb print remains indented for a time, the selling is pitting edema. If
lesions remain for some time or do not respond to treatment., a biopsy may
be performed to rule out other causes of skin disease. |
| Treatment |
| Veterinarians will use a combination of
steroids and antihistamine injections administered either in the muscle or
in the vein for the fastest therapeutic effect. Oral therapy is usually
prescribed for the next 1-3 days or until the swelling resolves.
Occasionally, the swelling & hives resolve within hours, but if therapy is
not continued for a few days, the swelling comes right back as the initial
medications wear off. |
| Prevention-
try to avoid exposure |
There is little one can do to decrease the
risk of allergic reactions other than try to avoid exposure & pre-medicate
to reduce risks.
- Consider fly spray during the warm months if your dog is going into
the woods, especially during May fly & Deer fly season.
- For a prior vaccine reaction, most veterinarians will recommend to pre-treat the
pet with a prescribed antihistamine before the
pet receives any vaccine
- Give only one vaccine per veterinary visit in sensitive pets.
- Always tell new veterinarians of prior drug or vaccine
reactions.
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