Allergies, Anaphylaxis, and Protecting Your Pet
Pets: They’re just like us! Well, not really.
In certain ways, however, our pets are susceptible to the same health problems that we are, and one of the most straightforward examples of this concerns allergies. The team at VetExpress Animal Urgent Care has dealt with many allergic reactions, and for the most part, our services are required when it comes to the most serious kind of all: Anaphylaxis.
The right information can help you be prepared for an allergic reaction crisis, and that means you’ll be able to act faster, potentially saving crucial seconds and even your beloved pet’s life. That’s why this blog will explain what tends to trigger allergic reactions before going into greater depth on what you should do in the event of anaphylaxis.
What Causes Allergic Reactions?
Allergic reactions can occur in response to a broad variety of triggers, such as:
- Insect bites
- Plant material
- Vaccines
- Medications
Most mild allergic reactions will present with symptoms like hives, itchy red skin, or facial swelling, and they often respond well to antihistamine injections of medications like Benadryl or steroidal anti-inflammatories.
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for anaphylaxis.
How Do I Know It’s Anaphylaxis?
First, know the causes, which can be wide ranging and might include:
- Insect Bites
- Snake Bites
- Medication
- Diet
- Mold
- Plants
Next, you’ll want to know which symptoms you should watch for in your cat or dog. Your veterinarian can draw on medical history, but clinical signs that present right away include:
Sometimes, cats and dogs can differ in terms of observable anaphylaxis symptoms. For example, cats might experience respiratory distress secondary to swelling in the throat, mucus production, or constriction, whereas dogs are far less likely to show the same signs.
What Can VetExpress Do to Help?
Quite a bit, particularly if you reach us in time. As an urgent care facility, we excel at stabilizing your pet and starting an initial workup or treatment plan.
We can also assist with transferring your pet to a 24-hour facility if that is required and financially feasible.
Critical cases of anaphylaxis might require more than one treatment, and medications are often used in stages:
- When anaphylaxis is first suspected, epinephrine or Benadryl are often administered.
- Pepcid might be used to decrease the production of gastric acid.
- Unfortunately, steroids aren’t as effective for patients experiencing anaphylactic shock, so they’re not the first-line therapy of choice.
- IV therapy helps with low blood pressure and dehydration.
- Liver protectants or even plasma might become necessary in the event of organ injury or failure to properly clot blood.
What’s the Prognosis?
The prognosis for a pet experiencing anaphylaxis is mixed, and from a pet parent’s perspective, outcomes depend primarily on how fast treatment can get started. With prompt treatment and timely arrival at an Urgent Care facility, however, a full recovery IS possible. If the worst occurs, we hope the info above helps you act swiftly and decisively to address the issue!
At VetExpress Animal Urgent Care, our customized treatment plans, surgical procedures, and aftercare support are always executed with compassion and thorough consideration of all relevant medical history. Your emergency is our top priority, so if your pet is in need, we’re here to help.
We’re looking forward to greeting you in person this June, but if you just can’t wait to learn more, please head over to our brand new website!
