Anaphylactic shock

[LilPeanut]

Yes, the run makes me a little nervous, but it is all cemented, no grass or flowers to attact bees or anything. I could leave her in the living/dining/kitchen area, and close off the rest of the house. My only issue then is the furniture gnawing. I've started to spray bitter apple stuff on the furniture before I go out. Then when she ripped up the couch, her ingenuity stumped me for a minute. But I just took out the bitter apple, and sprayed the stuffing (now in a million pieces, stuffed in our couch). :p

So, Carrie, good to know I'm not the only one who won't let her out without supervision anymore. I felt bad about doing that, because I'd rather her have quality of life over quantity, but I think you guys are right. It's just too dangerous with boxers. This has been sooooo helful!! One last question, what do you think of one preventative benadryl in the mornings, just in case??

 

[JulieM]

If she's having anaphylactic reactions one Benadryl probably won't prevent it, and while Benadryl is basically mild I can't imagine any benefit to giving it daily for non-existent symptoms.

I would re-try the crate training, personally. It may be difficult, but there are going to be situations where she may have to be in a crate, and since those situations are generally stressful it's better for her to be used to being in a crate - one less area of stress. Do a search here on crate training and separation anxiety. It will take a lot of time and a considerable amount of patience, but it can be done and you will all probably be happier for it.

As for the cement run and where she will eliminate - on the cement, of course. It's usually much easier to clean up, and you can hose the cement off. But be aware that some species of bees and wasps are attracted to urine and feces, so just because there aren't grass/flowers doesn't mean there won't be stinging insects.

 

[Thomas Liggin]

Rocky was allergic to many things. His symptoms could be mild to moderate. Only once did he have a reaction that caused heavy panting. Through that, his gums were always pink.

He had serious reactions to ground mold in the late summer and early fall during the years that were conducive to its growth. While it wasn't a life threatening reaction, it made him miserable. He was constantly licking at his paws, between the toes in particular and pawing at his ears.

Any prolonged licking will cause injury since there are digestive juices in saliva and the licking will cause serious irritation and more licking. It's a vicious cycle.

At the first sign of any reaction, Rocky was given benedryl. When he had stronger reactions that benedryl wouldn't touch, our vet had given us a prescription of predinsone or hydroxyzine.

Since you have had a severe, life threatening experience with Kayla, your vet might want to give you something more potent than benedryl. At the very least, it will buy you some time to get her to the vet. At best, it will arrest the reaction so a visit isn't necessary.

Your vet should instruct you on what to watch for, when to use it, and under what circumstances you should have Kayla seen.

Good luck taking care of your precious baby.


Tom

 

[ssleighter]

Here's my two cents from a serious allergy sufferer who owns a boxer that's prone to allergies as well.

Keep benadryl handy at all times, the liquid benadryl is a little harder to get down a boxer but it works faster. Benadryl will generally take care of itching and most cases of hives.

Get at least 2-4 prednisone tablets. Use these when you notice that there is any facial/tongue swelling or shortness of breath. Seek advice from a vet after giving the prednisone, a trip may be required.

Get your vet to prescribe an epi pen if possible. Hammer doesn't have one yet because fortunately we haven't even had to use the prednisone yet, and I keep forgetting to ask if they make one for dogs, but I am almost sure that they do.

I, personally, have had to use my epi pen twice this year. Once due to a sting and once due to an ingested allergy. I won't be taking Advil liquigels anymore, and I have used Advil Liquigels for over a year, but one day my body said that's enough. I can still take Advil, so it is some type of filler only found in the liquigels. It is true that allergies can pop up due to constant exposure to an allergin, so don't rule out something just because he's eaten that all of his life.

Good luck!

 

[Suzanna828]

Lilpeanut, Benedryl works for Jake, but his reaction is much milder than Kaya's. My sister's boxer had such a severe reaction that our vet actually gave her an epi-pen. Even with the epi-pen, she only had about 15 minutes to get Roxie to the vet. Definitely talk to your vet and see what he/she recommends. Perhaps carrying an epi-pen would work? Also, according to our vet, the first reaction is the least severe, and they get worse with the next few. I guess it takes a few stings for the antibodies to develop, which is probably why Kaya's reaction was worse this time than before (simply hives, etc.) Good luck!

 

[LilPeanut]

Thank you guys for all the notes!! I got an EpiPen Jr. for Kaya now... it was $76!!! But we are ready for our next battle! Suzanna, do you mean to say that they will develop antibodies to bee venom?

I now keep her inside at all times, and watch her closely whenever she goes out. She is now officially an indoor dog. At least it forces us to take her running twice a day now!! :p She is getting used to it, but I know it is the right thing. Today I pulled a dead bee out of her mouth, she just can't stay away from those tasty things!! :D Thank goodness I work at home, and can watch her!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!lovicon

 

[Suzanna828]

Originally posted by LilPeanut
Thank you guys for all the notes!! I got an EpiPen Jr. for Kaya now... it was $76!!! But we are ready for our next battle! Suzanna, do you mean to say that they will develop antibodies to bee venom?

Hi LilPeanut. Glad to see you've got everything under control now. According to the emergency vet who treated Jake, the bee sting reaction might get worse with the 2nd and 3rd stings, not better. I think he said it was because they develop the antibodies, but I may be completely misinterpreting him. I'm pretty sure with Jake that he'd been stung before because he definitely does not like bees, but you should be careful with Kaya because her reaction might even be more severe with the next sting. It's great taht you got the EpiPen! Good luck, Suz

 

[jaimie]

Britnee was a extremely sensitive dog! She would always get hives, one day she went into the weeds and went into shock just like Kaya. I kept her in the house, never ever let her outside when I wasn't watching her and put her in the crate in the house when I left. I would retry crate training for when you leave her. It will not only save you $$ but you will know she is safe when you are gone. Start with leaving the crate open when you are home and put a toy or treat in there for her, that is what I did for my girls now they see me head to the treat cubbard and meet me at the crate!

Good Luck,

 

[carole]

Star was covered with large bumps yesterday night. I think she was stung by something. Inside her mouth and gums were sore looking. and her eyes were a bit swollen. She has a habit of chasing bees and wasps. They are all dying off here and lying on the ground so she must have sniffed one.I gave her an anti-histamine tablet and today they are gone.

Her sister had the same reaction to a bee sting.

Can anyone tell me:

How long after the sting would the reaction start and will it become worse after the next sting.

thanks for any help you can give.

 

[1CRAZYBXRLVR]

LilPeanut,

It's been awhile since you had your traumatic event and I was wondering what you ended up doing to keep your baby from the insects. The reason I ask this is that my baby Giguere went into anaphylactic shock this weekend and I didn't even see him eat or get stung. He just began throwing up and all of a sudden collapsed. When I checked his gums they were white. Scared me to death. Now I'm afraid to leave him outside during the day when I'm at work and he's never been crated. My other boxer Kianna has had allergic reactions but has never gone into shock like that before. Let me know if you found a solution. Hope your baby hasn't had any reactions since.