Stressed out over allergy (very long)

[DiverDiva]

Last weekend was my club's agility trial. Oscar did two runs on Sunday morning, and about 2 PM I called DBF Steve to come get him, because I was working teardown.

I got home about 6:30 PM, and Oscar's eyes were so swollen that one of them was completely shut. I tried holding a cold pack on his face, but he was not happy with that, so at 7:30 PM I gave him 2 benadryl tablets. That seemed to help and both eyes looked better, but he was rubbing his body against the sofa. His sides, legs, chest and neck were covered in hives. He was otherwise OK so I decided to wait until morning and take him to his regular vet.

This was the start of a long night for us. He would try to sleep but the itching must have been unbearable. Then he would cry to go outside. The only time he seemed to be comfortable was when we were out walking. So we went for 4 or 5 walks. Luckily, the weather was nice and it was a beautiful night. At about 5 AM we both finally went to sleep. Oscar's hives seemed greatly reduced.

I got an appointment for him at 1:50PM Monday. I could have had an earlier appointment with a different vet, but I wanted Oscar to be seen by his regular vet. By the time I took him in, the hives were almost gone. His fur felt different, but the vet told me to simply continue with the benadryl for two more days. There was also a veterinary student intern who attended Oscar's exam.

I left for work just before 4 PM Monday. Oscar seemed all right, with just a few small hives here and there. At 4:30, Steve got home and called me at work. Oscar was full of huge hives. I called the vet office, and Oscar's regular vet had left, but I got an appontment for him with another vet as soon as Steve could get him there.

Oscar got subcutaneous fluids to flush out the toxins, a shot, and prednisone pills. We were also to continue the benadryl. Steve said that when the same vet sudent saw Oscar, who had seemed fine about 3 hours earlier, she had a look of horror on her face.

My poor Oscar did nothing but sleep for 2 days. He usually has agility class on Tuesday, but I left him home. I went to watch the class and took Mali because she has Rally Obedience class after Oscar's class. I could not bear to watch agility class. I was worried about Oscar. We left before Mali's class even started.

Oscar is pretty much back to normal. He finished the prednisone but still needs to go out more often than usual. I hope this episode was not triggered by something at the training club facility, but that is not likely. He has been taking classes there, off and on, for 4 years. I am stumped as to what else could have brought this on. My best guess was a spider bite, but I don't understand how he got better and then worse. Has anyone experience something similar? If so, did you ever figure the cause?

 

[Gatorblu]

It still could have been a bite of some kind. If it was a spider or insect it could have been in Oscar's bedding and he could have been biten twice. I would wash all bedding and thoroughly vacuum every where that he lays that can't be washed. My hubby's man cave had a spider invasion about 2 weeks ago. I think he said he killed about 6 spiders.

 

[Cami]

Allergic reactions are very mind boggling!
The coming and going part could be due in part to the meds WORKING and then wearing off. Suppress the histamine production (anti-histamine) and the symptoms fade (hives, swelling, itching, etc...). Once the meds have reached their peak performance (so to speak) one can fully expect for the original symptoms seen to resurface after a certain amount of time after giving meds, hence having to administer every 8 hours or so. It can take days if not at week plus to fully rid the body of an allergen especially one that they are highly allergic to. Less allergic would mean getting over the reaction sooner. Not uncommon at all to be HIGHLY allergic to "something".
The facility could very well have introduced something new to the environment that you would not have even noticed. Not out of the realm of possibility. Could also have been a bite or sting.
Hope he is on the mend and stays allergy free!

 

[djheitz]

We've only had to deal with hives with Roxi. The first time was awful and we had to get her to the vet for subcu-fluids and Benadryl. We thought it may have been from the cephalexin she was on, even though she'd had it previously with no problems. Once the hives cleared up, we started on the meds again and just that quickly, they were back. Her chart is now noted for no cephalexin.

 

[Cleo's Mom]

Allergies are the worst. We have spent thousands of dollars taking Cleo to specialists and emergency vets in the middle of the night. They put her on Hypo allergenic prescription diets it got better but not completely. We gave her 2 Zyrtecs a day and when she had break outs a steroid . This did not happen until she was 4. She just did not act herself( tired)on the zyrtec. It broke our hearts. Finally my husband said lets try the raw patties again. It is very expensive but about the same as the prescription maybe a little more. The hives went away. All that money and WE solved the problem. We stopped the raw originally because our vet was not a fan now I don't care what they say we are feeding her the Raw pre-made patties. I guess she is allergic to the gluten in dry food. Good luck!

 

[LILYLARUE]

We've only had to deal with hives with Roxi. The first time was awful and we had to get her to the vet for subcu-fluids and Benadryl. We thought it may have been from the cephalexin she was on, even though she'd had it previously with no problems. Once the hives cleared up, we started on the meds again and just that quickly, they were back. Her chart is now noted for no cephalexin.

You are the only other person I have heard had a negative reaction with Cephalexin. My staffy had seisures within 4 hours after a dose and it took my persistance in having the vet check the side effects to see if seisures were actually one. And to his suprise, it was a very minimal reaction listed. I shy away from it now......for all my dogs.

 

[karens]

I'm on my second boxer with allergies. My last boy would have hives and flare ups like you describe. Once, I attributed it to something as simple as paint fumes. It didn't happen very often, so I never did figure out what else might be causing it.

My boy Myles now has seasonal allergies and it's been a nightmare trying to find a vet who believed me that it wasn't a food allergy! We've got a great vet now as I found a doggie dermatologist that has been nothing short of fabulous. You might want to find yourself a specialist to help out as his reactions sound pretty severe. If they are lasting for a few days, you could at least bring him in when he's actually having one.

You might want to keep a journal of everything he comes in contact with as in surfaces and eats. It would be a total pain, but you might find something. Not sure what your family life is like and if you have a lot of other people in the house feeding him or taking him places.

 

[DiverDiva]

The good news is we went to class yesterday, held at the same place as the trial, and Oscar was fine. He was excited to get back on the agility equipment, which is great because I had a hard time getting him motivated at that last trial. I wonder if he was feeling itchy at the trial, even though the hives didn't show up until later.

I have some ideas as to what brought on the terrible hives.

The area where the practice jumps at the trial were set up had been newly 'finished' and smelled of some kind of chemical. I don't know if it was paint, adhesive, or something else. We don't go near that area during regular agility class.

I used a very small amount of a Natural Balance lamb roll as a treat at the trial. It was about 1/4 of one of those teeny rolls that I got as a sample. I gave the rest to Mali during a training session and she LOVED it, but I will not ever be buying any more of that.

I bought a small bag of California Natural Chicken and Rice for Oscar because I thought that his current food might be giving him the start of itchy feet. Instead of transitioning him, Steve gave him a full meal of the Cal Nat on that Sunday evening. I think this is the least likely possibility, but I have been afraid to feed him any more Cal Nat to see if the hives return. The dogs have been fed mostly RAW with a few meals of kibble since the hives appeared.