Anaphylactic Shock in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

You've surely heard more than once about the possibility of your dog suffering anaphylactic shock, but what exactly is it and what causes it? Is it really serious?

In this SoyUnPerro article, we'll go over all the details you should know about this type of shock, what its symptoms are, how to respond, and, of course, good tips to prevent it. Ready?

What Is Anaphylactic Shock?

Anaphylactic shock is an allergic reaction that occurs as soon as the dog is exposed to an allergen. This must have come into contact with the dog beforehand for the hypersensitivity to be triggered. It's an emergency that, luckily, isn't very common.

The dog needs to be taken to a vet clinic immediately. We may notice symptoms both locally and throughout the body. The latter case is more severe, and the dog can die if it doesn't receive care.

Symptoms of Anaphylactic Shock in Dogs

Symptoms of anaphylactic shock can start locally. In the most severe cases, the clinical picture is generalized and appears both immediately and over the course of several hours. These are the symptoms that should put us on alert:

• At the point of contact with the allergen, pain, itching, swelling, and redness occur.
• Nervousness, excess salivation, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
• Trouble breathing/Stridor, a harsh, high-pitched sound produced by laryngeal swelling.
• General weakness.
• Circulatory collapse, seizures.
• Without treatment, the dog goes into a coma and dies.

How Does Anaphylactic Shock Occur?

The most common causes of anaphylactic shock in dogs are insect stings or taking certain drugs, especially antibiotics. Specifically, the medication linked to the highest percentage of anaphylactic shocks is penicillin. Another cause, though very uncommon, is a vaccine injection.

Insect Stings

Stings from insects such as bees, wasps, or ants cause swelling, pain, and redness in the area. This is usually hairless, such as the nose or feet. A single sting, beyond the local discomfort it causes, usually has no bigger consequences. In these cases, it's a good idea to try to identify the insect, just in case.

But, if the dog has been attacked by numerous insects, it can indeed suffer anaphylactic shock due to the toxins these can transmit to dogs already stung before. If we notice symptoms of anaphylactic shock, we need to see the vet immediately.

• What to do if a wasp stings my dog

Cuterebriasis

Cuterebriasis is another shock cause linked to insects. It's due to botflies whose larvae burrow into the dog's skin. They look like lumps with a small hole through which they breathe. They mainly appear on the jaw, sides, or abdomen, since the dog picks them up from the ground.

If this is the case for our dog, we can use fine tweezers to carefully remove the larva. We need to be extremely careful not to crush or break it, since that's what would trigger anaphylactic shock. If we're not sure we can do it properly, it's better to see the vet.

Treatment for Anaphylactic Shock

There are no home treatments to recover a dog suffering from anaphylactic shock. That's why it's essential to see the nearest vet clinic. The dog needs to be given epinephrine. Epinephrine acts as an antidote for allergic reactions.

It can be given via subcutaneous injection, but it's common to place a line to give the medication intravenously. In addition, this is used to start fluid therapy. Depending on each case's characteristics, the vet may also turn to oxygen support, antihistamines, or corticosteroids.

Can Anaphylactic Shock Be Prevented?

Anaphylactic shock is a serious situation and represents a danger to the dog's life. We won't be able to prevent every situation that could trigger this shock, but we can follow some basic rules to avoid putting our dog at unnecessary risk. These are the following:

• Don't let it play with insects or stay near hives or wasp nests. If we spot one near home or along our walking route, we need to alert the authorities to remove it.
• Never give the dog any drug that hasn't been prescribed by the vet, nor at a dose or schedule different from what they recommended. Even if the dog has already used it before.
• On the other hand, if our dog has already shown a reaction to a medication, we shouldn't give it to it again.
• We also shouldn't let anyone who isn't a vet vaccinate our dog. It's very rare, but if anaphylactic shock occurs, the dog needs to be at a clinic equipped with everything necessary to stabilize it.

• Possible side effects of vaccines

Bibliography Carlson and Giffin. 2002. Manual práctico de veterinaria canina. Madrid. Editorial el Drac.