The Patient
Bruiser, a 2 year old intact male Golden Retriever, came to see me after his owner noticed that he was acutely acting very itchy and his face began to swell up.
The Case
On examination, Bruiser had moderate swelling of his cheeks, lips, and around the eyes bilaterally. This is called angioedema and is a hallmark of an allergic reaction. He was also scratching at his face and body intensely and rubbing his face on the floor of the exam room frantically. I informed the owner that Bruiser must have been stung by a bee or had an insect bite which triggered this allergic reaction. I immediately gave him an injection of Benadryl which is an antihistamine as well as a steroid injection to halt the allergic response. I searched and searched Bruiser's body to find a stinger but I could not find one. There's a good chance it either fell out on its own or this was from an insect bite. He was so itchy that he was causing trauma to his skin on his face and groin region.
monkoodog *Disclaimer: This is not a picture of Bruiser; this is an example for educational purposes.
The Treatment Plan
I advised that I should keep Bruiser for a few hours for monitoring to make sure the swelling resolved and the itch subsided. Thankfully, he was much better in just a few hours. I instructed the owner to give him oral Benadryl for the next few days every 12 hours. Dogs can have different degrees of allergic reactions to bugs/bees. A mild reaction would just be pain and local swelling. Bruiser's reaction is considered moderate. A severe reaction would display as acute vomiting, diarrhea (that can be bloody), collapse, and even anaphylactic shock where the blood pressure drops dangerously low and the pet becomes severely lethargic and the gums are pale. These dogs need intense hospitalized care and can die if not treated urgently.
The Outcome
Thankfully Bruiser made a full recovery but since we don't know the exact cause of the reaction, it is impossible to know how to prevent this from happening again. Be careful with your dogs around bees this spring and summer. Don't hesitate to call us if you suspect your pet has been stung.
The Drake Center for Veterinary Care is an AAHA-accredited animal hospital located in Encinitas, CA. The Drake Center loves being a source of information for all pet owners across the country; however, if you have any questions regarding pet care and do not live in Encinitas, CA or surrounding cities, we encourage you to contact your local veterinarian.
