This is as close as I've gotten so far:
BEE STING/ ALLERGIC REACTION / ALLERGIES
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During the summer time, curious dogs get bee stung on a frequent basis, especially on the nose. Usually, this is not a life-threatening event for your pet, more of a nuisance for them. You will notice your pet pawing at his/her face, or any part that may have been stung. Most times their muzzle and lips will swell, and you may also notice puffiness around the eyes. Rarely is the swelling so severe that it constricts the airways, but if you have access to veterinary care quickly, an injection of Benedryl works the fastest. If not, give your pet one adult Benedryl capsule for every 25 pounds of body weight orally, then repeat in 8 hours if necessary (see Skin Scrapes/Hot Spots above for more dosing instructions). If the swelling persists or you think your pet is uncomfortable, or having difficulty breathing, please seek immediate care.
Some pets have allergic reactions to vaccinations, which can be quite severe and life-threatening. Signs include facial swelling, pawing at the face, hives, wheals, red skin, or pacing. If your pet has been vaccinated within the last day, please give Benedryl (doses above and in the Skin Scrape section), then if the condition persists more than an hour, see your veterinarian. If at any point your pet is having difficulty breathing, vomiting, or seems to be weak or unconscious, seek immediate care. For mild reactions that you do not have to seek medical assistance, please remember to call the office so that we can put an alert on his/her medical record.
Cats that have vaccine reactions tend to have severe, immediate vaccine reactions - usually before you leave the office. If your cat exhibits these signs, especially vomiting- IMMEDIATELY return to the hospital.
Other allergic reactions are milder and can result from something they ate, or something they have come in to contact with. Food allergies can cause vomiting and/or diarrhea. Obviously, if you can isolate the problem, don’t feed it to them again. See the Vomiting/Diarrhea section for care. Contact allergies to things like wool bedding, shampoos, and sometimes even flea preventatives and the like usually irritate the skin locally. The skin may be itchy, red, or have hives. Rinse the area well to make sure all the irritant is gone, and give some oral Benedryl (see above for dosage) or if a small enough area, apply some hydrocortisone ointment every 8 hours as needed.
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Dogs and cats can be highly allergic to fleas. There are treatments now that are fast and effective, and very convenient- one dose on their skin can last for one month, AND should help break the flea’s life cycle. There is a huge difference between the types of products sold at our hospital and those you can buy over the counter. Call for information before purchasing an over the counter product. PLEASE make sure your product is labeled for cats before applying to your cat, because we see many very sick cats that have been accidentally treated with DOG Hartz flea preventative.
Lastly, pets can have seasonal allergies such as people, but exhibits as itchy, red skin for your dog or cat. These allergies can show up when your pet is 1-3 years old, and tend to get worse annually. You can give your pet Benedryl (see first paragraph in this section for dosing) to relieve their itching. Others things that are helpful are baths in oatmeal based shampoos, Omega-3 fatty oil supplements, or bathing your pet’s feet after playing outside (this prevents them from licking their feet, ingesting more allergens and persisting the problem.) We recommend scheduling an appointment if your pet is chewing raw places on their skin, constantly scratching and the Benedryl is not helping, or if they have had allergies in the past and you are seeing signs of allergies start up again. Sometimes if you can start them on antihistamines early, it will prevent future problems. Also, some pets will develop ear infections or skin infections secondary to their allergies, and these need to be treated with antibiotics or sometimes even prednisone.
- You can give your pet one adult Benedryl tablet (25 mg) for every 25 pounds body weight two or three times daily, as needed for licking or chewing at the site. For easier dosing of small pets, you can use the liquid children’s Benedryl which is 12.5 mg for every tsp. (tsp= 5 ml; 6 pound dog gets 1/2 tsp or 2.5 ml )
http://www.animalhospitalofeastdavie.com/homeCare.aspx