wyatt: update and new stuff

    • Gold Top Dog

    50 mg is really an under-dose since he's 90 pounds.  A lot of vets are terrified to give the full dose of benedryl simply because it makes the dog sleepy and then clients object to the dog being 'zoned'. 

    Honestly I would call the vet again.  If it's a spider bite (look him over REALLY well for any sort of a small sore spot) - it may actually require antibiotics.  I've been bitten by browns twice myself and it's miserable and won't clear without an antibiotic.

    If the bed was in with storage stuff then a spider sure as heck is likely.  What kind?  who knows ... but your vet ought to know what to look for or what's indiginous.  Hives are scarey as heck -- and if it's already acted like it was attacking the airway you don't want him getting bitten again (or having it flare up again) when you aren't home. 

    But as she said above, it is really important that you continue the treatment.  The Dex only lasts about 24 hours -- it's a very short term kind of steroid and if the body isn't dealing with the problem (OR if there is another spider and it's bitten again) it could be nasty. 

    Gosh, good luck.  Scarey stuff!

    • Gold Top Dog

    OK, hope the boy is feeling better!

    And just one more thing, have you moved his kennel to make sure some creepy crawly has not set up housekeeping? It's all I can think of, sounds more insect induced than environment.

    Oh and I totally understand the allergies, it's bad, real bad right now.

    Hugs!

    • Gold Top Dog

    I hope Wyatt is feeling better now. I'm sending good vibes for him and to you too!

    • Gold Top Dog

    Healing and diagnostic vibes heading Wyatt's way!

    Also a big thanks to your room mate for doing so much for Wyatt while you were OOT (out of town).

    • Gold Top Dog

    calliecritturs

    50 mg is really an under-dose since he's 90 pounds.  A lot of vets are terrified to give the full dose of benedryl simply because it makes the dog sleepy and then clients object to the dog being 'zoned'. 

    I totally agree. I give Sassy 75 mg 2x a day and she weighs 75-78 lbs. When she's had really bad allergies, I've given her 100mg and it worked fine. I'd think with a 90lb dog, a dose of a 100mg would be perfect.

    I know that when I broke out in hives last year, I was on a 2 week dose of pred and it took almost the full 2 weeks for the hives to go away. I can't help but think that the first treatment helped to start clearing it up but not enough to make it completely go away and so the reaction has just resurfaced. I could be wrong though and I'd have tossed the bed to be safe also. I hope Wyatt feels better soon.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Oh maaaan, I have no advice for you just good vibes for you & Wyatt.

    • Gold Top Dog

    I can't help but think that the first treatment helped to start clearing it up but not enough to make it completely go away and so the reaction has just resurfaced.

    That is what it sounds like.  The thing about giving more than two larger doses also, is that you evenly distribute the med into doggies system, so the benefit is round the clock in even distribution...The reaction is still there , the dogs system is simply being tricked by the antihistamine to stop reacting...So stop giving med, reaction is still occuring as the dogs bod still has the allergen/reaction happening in his system...Once a hot reaction is in the makings, it is more to most difficult to stop it.  Why the blast of antihistamine initially and then maintaining round the clock hits of antihistamine...The emergency vet can give a nice shot of decadron to reduce swelling ...But you can start the stopping of the huge reaction at home by nipping it in the bud w/ a good strong initial dose of the benadryl (or its generic equivalent)..

    Get  the system down by talking with vet regarding dose/body weight/ to fight the strength of that reaction being suffered by Wyatt.

    I havent' had to deal with throat swelling but that one there worries me. It is a cardinal sign of anaphylaxis which will lead to death if untreated.

    The other thing about allergies is that a body's system may develop them over time. You may get an allergy to something later in life, due to the repeated exposure of it..the body identifies it over time as an "enemy" and goes into hyper inflammatory mode.

    Lots of times allergies progress slowly, other times, quite fast.

    The treatment is routine though, and that should help a person dealing with it feel good...Keep the med on hand at all times. When you need it it is there and you know that it will work.

    • Moderators
    • Gold Top Dog

    Meg I am so sorry to hear this and I hope he is doing better now!!  (sorry I've been away and didn't read this until now)

    Definitely give him 100mg Benadryl - he is only a little smaller than Bugs and he gets 100 2x daily just to deal with his normal allergies - sigh.  Initially it will keep him asleep but he will quickly get past that.  Bugs gets hives and throat closure from some proteins and it is very scary - however he has never had his face swell so I wonder if it is a bite that it is somewhere on his face or in his mouth.

    I feel terrible for poor Wyatt and hope that he is better very soon.  Very scary!

    Our best healing vibes

     me and Bugsy 

    • Gold Top Dog

    Again, thanks so much everyone! The good news is that Wyatt is doing fantastic. He hasn't developed anymore hives or had anymore swelling. He is 100% back to normal!!

    • Gold Top Dog

    I'm so THRILLED to hear this!!!!  Yay Wyatt!  Stay away from whatever caused you your itchies and swelling....

    • Moderators
    • Gold Top Dog

     great news Meg!

    • Gold Top Dog

    Yay!  That's great news!  Now, Wyatt no more eating things that might make you itchie & scare us like that.

    • Gold Top Dog

    Dogs tend to get rid of hives easier than we do.  Someone snuck chipotle in my burger about 3 months ago -- I specifically ASKED for it without the chipotle sauce (I know I odn't like it and suspected I was allergic).  It took me to the third BITE to get to the sauce but that one bite caused me to break out in massive hives all over my WHOLE body. 

    It took **weeks** for them to go away -- like almost a month!  I can't take pred and it literally almost scarred my skin.  Itch?  lordy -- like I've never itched before -- my skin was almost one big sore welt. 

    Benedry?  I was taking 75 mg four times a day (that's a max human dose).  But when your body is *using* it ... you don't feel sleepy!  I never even knew I was taking it!

    Soon as the hives began to go away -- THEN it started making me sleepy. 

     Wyatt honey -- tell Mom you gotta stop sharing your crate with 8 leggers or whatever, ok?  Mom can't handle being scared like that!!

    • Gold Top Dog

    Wyatt, buddy, glad to hear you're better...

    Talus says take it easy ....