Last week we had a lovely little dog called Sky rushed in to us as an emergency case because he was struggling to breathe. Sky had been out on a lovely walk with his owner when he began to develop breathing difficulties. Luckily, his owner recognised something was wrong and brought Sky to us immediately.

Sky was suffering from a serious medical emergency called anaphylaxis, which is a severe allergic reaction to an unknown substance. In Sky’s case, he was developing severe respiratory compromise, but in other cases, your pet may experience a whole range of signs. This week’s article is about recognising the key signs and what we can do to treat this frightening condition.

Symptoms of Anaphylaxis

In summer time one of the common triggers of anaphylaxis is insect stings/bites. However, as anaphylaxis is caused by any foreign substance to the body, even certain food products or medications can cause it. Symptoms you may notice include the following:

• Facial swelling

• Vomiting/Diarrhoea

• Wheezing or breathing difficulties

• Excessive salivation

• Rapid heart rate

• Pale/Blue gums

• Cold limbs

In extreme cases, and if untreated, anaphylaxis can progress into seizures, coma and ultimately death.

Treating Anaphylaxis

It depends on the severity of the clinical signs in your pet as to what treatment is required, but ultimately, time is of the essence. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency.

In the case of Sky, he was struggling to breathe due to the swelling around his throat so a Steroid and antihistamine were administered intravenously. These are common drugs used in anaphylaxis. In extreme cases, as was the case for Sky, your pet may require intravenous fluids and need to be placed under anaesthetic and intubated in order to provide oxygen.

Thankfully, Sky made a full recovery and is back enjoying his walks. If you have any concerns that your pet may be entering anaphylaxis you must ring us immediately. There is not much that you can do at home, other than try to keep your pet calm, sitting upright, and getting them to us as soon as possible.

If this article has raised any questions, then please ring us on 01665 252250 or email us at info@coquetvets.co.uk