Bees In Your Bonnet or Hypersensitivity Reactions In Dogs

Dear Art:

My year old “Flush and Fetcher”, Jo, met her match a couple of weeks ago when she apparently tried to eat a bumble bee. I laughed at her swelling upper lip and told her that it served her right, but within a few minutes, she began to stumble and become disoriented. At this point I was no longer laughing. I opened her mouth and her gums and inside of her mouth were white as snow and her breath was shallow, fast, and irregular. I though I was going to lose her. Of course it was Sunday afternoon, but I grabbed her up, shouted for Judi to call the vet and meet me at the animal clinic. The clinic is about three miles away and by the time we arrived, and the vet got there, about twenty minutes had elapsed. The pup was limp as a rag, but still breathing. He administered three shots rapidly in the skin of the back of her neck. Adrenalin, Antihistimine, and Cortisone, in that order, and in about ten to twenty minutes she was up and around getting back to her old self.
Now for the dilemma, the pup is out of fine field trial stock, she loves to hunt, I love to hunt, bee stings dogs on hunting trip, and we are out of business. The veterinarian in our area has no bee sting kit for dogs, and recommends that I carry Benedryl capsules and empty a couple in her mouth if she tangles with a bee again. This may help, until I get her to an animal clinic, but I hope there is a better way!
I’d sure like to hear about any available preventative that can be carried and administered in the field. Meanwhile, I will carry a bug bomb and a fly swatter, as well as my shotgun when we go afield.

Ted Anderson Sparta, Michigan

Bees In Your Bonnet or
Hypersensitivity Reactions In Dogs
( In response to Ted Anderson’s letter above)

(Published in Spaniels In The Field Fall 1992)

The adverse reaction a dog suffers due to an insect bite, sting or more infrequently a poisonous snake bite is one of the occupational hazards of training, trialing and hunting. Since insects such as wasps, hornets and bees are much more likely to be encountered this article will address the problem of hypersensitivity reactions caused by contact with insects and touch briefly on the problem of snake bite.

A hypersensitivity reaction is over response by the dog’s immune system to the exposure of an antigen or allergin. Allergins can be inhaled, consumed or contacted (touched) like the sting of a bee. In this situation the reaction is to a protein (allergin) in the toxin of the bee stinger or saliva of the insects bite. The animal that has a reaction to this type exposure, a rapid response or type 1 allergic hypersensitivity, is a major concern in the field. Type 1 reactions occur within minutes and simply don’t afford you time to react without a plan. A dog with this type reaction will require advanced preparation because of the remoteness involved in hunting, as well as the availability of veterinarians in certain areas.

In a nutshell the substances involved in the reaction cause inflammation by affecting the integrity of blood vessels by relaxing their tone, causing them to leak, thus causing a dramatic drop in blood pressure in the vasculature, resulting in shock. The net effect is extensive swelling at the area of insult and shock. They also alter the resistance in the airways by decreasing the diameter which in turn makes it difficult to get air into the lungs. Histamines and the leukottienes C4, D4 and E4 are believed to cause this phenomenon in dogs.

A type 1 reaction may occur so quickly that you simply do not have time to react or get your dog to a veterinarian in time to save its life. So what can you do? First and foremost is to keep calm. Know where the nearest help is located and transport the dog as quickly as possible. Carry the dog, don’t expect it to be able to walk to your vehicle.

Administer antihistamines as soon as you can, carrying them on your person while in the field may ultimately save the dog’s life. Kits are available with Chlortrimetron R4 mg tablets, but if the animal is in extreme distress a liquid BenadrylR or ChlortimetronR syrup is available over the counter at pharmacies. This would be more rapidly absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract. Ideally the medications will circulate throughout the body and prevent all major systemic effects or reverse those that have already been initiated.

Try to remove the stinger if you can locate it as this will stop additional toxin from entering the patient. Allow the area to bleed cleansing the wound and hopefully flushing some of the toxin from the site.
The application of a cold compress to the area of insult will slow the circulation in the region and prevent continued swelling. It may also slow the spreading of the toxin via the vasculature to other areas of the body. A cold compress is also useful in slowing the spread of venom in the case of snake bite. Overzealous use of a cold compress, particularly ice, is to be avoided as tissue damage is possible due to freezing.

You will need to evaluate your dog’s response to the administration of medication. The color of the gums are a direct indication of how the heart, lungs and circulatory system are maintaining or responding to treatment. Pink is the desired color while white or blue is an indication of serious problems and immediate treatment is imperative. The adminstration of adrenalyn (epinephrine) may be necessary if the dog’s condition is worsening. Several kits are available through your pharmacy including Epipen which contains an auto injector with epinephrine. This is a device you slap against the skin and the medication is administered. Ask your veterinarian for the proper dosage for your dog. AnakitR is another product containing a syringe of epinephrine and Chlortrimetron, again obtain the proper dosage before you go afield.

Snake bite is generally considered a more serious problem in that all dogs will be affected by the venom while not all dogs will have a hypersensitivity reaction to insect bites or stings. Many of the same procedures previously mentioned are applicable to snake bite. A snake bite kit carried in the field which includes a good extractor or suction device may be your best defense. Follow the instructions provided in the kit. A large syringe also works extremely well to withdraw venom through the puncture sites. DO NOT use your mouth to suck venom because the venom can enter your system via any lacerations you may have in your mouth. The application of a cold compress will help slow the spread of the venom. Keeping the dog as quiet as possible and transporting it to a veterinarian for an intravenous injection of antivenin is of the utmost importance. Antivenin is available although it is relatively expensive and is quickly outdated. It must be kept refrigerated or cool so it is somewhat difficult to carry in the field. The administration of the antivenin can also cause a hypersensitivity reaction complicating an already difficult situation.

Many dogs are struck in the face by the snake due the dog’s investigation of this strange creature. This results in the problem of asphyxiation of the dog due to restrictions of the airway caused by the acute swelling associated with snake bite. If you are in a very remote area you may be faced with the real possibility of performing an emergency tracheotomy. Although many people will disagree with the procedure being performed by a layman this could be your only hope of saving your dog. Have your veterinarian instruct you in the anatomy associated with the procedure and to thoroughly lecture you until you are confident with the operation. Writing the procedure on a 3 x 5 card and placing it in your first aid kit will make the operation go more smoothly during a stressful period while afield. Although generally associated with snake bite, asphyxiation can also occur during hypersensitivity reaction.

A dog that has suffered from a hypersensitivity reaction may react much more quickly to subsequent insult. The progression of the symptoms will be more rapid due to the immune systems ability to remember allergies resulting in shorter time frame in which to treat the animal. This dog may be better left at home depending on the remoteness of the hunt. Antihistamines given prior to the hunt may slow the dog or even cause drowsiness limiting its effectiveness in the field. As a result pretreatment may not help
and is usually not recommended.