Dr. Janet -- how common is this -- do you know?
Bug bites and stings producing immediate and hugely swollen faces (and sometimes feet) are very common in dogs and cats (both indoor and outdoor). Dogs typically get facial and lip swellings because they are more prone to bite at an offending insect. Cats usually get hugely swollen paws from batting at it. The key to knowing that these are allergic reactions are that the swelling is "out-of-nowhere" immediate, non-painful, and usually HUGELY swollen. An infection takes a while, is hot, painful, and usually a "tighter" feel than the allergic swelling, which is soft and squishy -- unless in a skin restricted area like a nose or a paw that is very swollen.
The location of the bite/sting is also important - head/face/neck can be an immediate emergency if the person or animal is allergic - the airways can become cut off very quickly
Wendy: My initial thought was she had been bitten and was having an allergic reaction but I really wasn't sure if I should give her Benadryl until the vet told me to, and what dosage I should give her.
Would it be good advice to tell other dog owners to always carry Benadryl if you have your dogs out in the woods?
Benadryl is a very useful emergency drug -- both for humans and for pets. My advice is to do just what you did: call your vet, arrange an appointment to be seen, or if that is not possible, discuss the situation with your vet and if Benadryl would be appropriate. If possible, speak to your vet about possible emergency insect bite/bug sting scenarios with your vet before they happen -- in case your vet cannot be immediately reached. Minutes count!
Benadryl, while a fairly safe drug, DOES have potential adverse effects and is not for every pet. Benadryl is to be used with extreme caution in patients with glaucoma, prostatic disease, cardiovascular disease, and hyperthyroid, among other conditions. It may also interact with drugs that your pet is taking, so be sure to discuss use of ANY drugs for your pet with your vet first. (Sidenote: some human over-the-counter drugs are toxic or fatal to pets; always discuss with your vet before "self-medicating" for any condition.
*Benadryl® is the registered trademark of Parke-Davis. The non-trade name of this antihistamine drug is Diphenhydramine HCl. Benadryl® is the most commonly recognized trade name of this drug (at least in the US) and is used in this story because it is an actual case report. There
are many other antihistamines available and on the market. Speak to your veterinarian or human physician about what antihistamine is right for your pet should s/he need one.
Diphenhydramine HCl/Benadryl® reference: Veterinary Drug Handbook, 3rd. Edition, Donald C. Plumb, pp 248-250
Text: Copyright © Janet Tobiassen Crosby. All rights reserved
