Bitten/Stung

lmfoltyn

New member
Saturday night at bedtime, my husband took LuLu Belle out to potty...she peed and pooped and bolted through the door up the stairs and jumped into a chair...he of course promptly followed and yelled at her to get down...when she did, I noticed her eyes were both completely swollen shut and her muzzle was about twice as large as normal. Her poor little eyes looked bald as they were swollen so large...we immediately took her in the car to the store for benedryl as we were out...I gave her 3 tablets and drove back home. When we got home she was panting hard and her eyes were still swollen so off to the emergency vet we go...there her temp was 102.5 and her heart rate was quite high...they gave her a shot of steroids and sent us on our merry way. She barked the entire night...not just a bark and stop but continuously and now she doesn't want to sleep in her crate but has to be by our sides...plus she isn't playing with the other dogs at all...she seems to be drinking a lot also, but eats and potties fine. I wanted to take her to the reg vet today but she has a rabies appt. tomorrow and they said just to keep that appt. I don't feel good about giving her a rabies shot since she reacted so horribly to what ever bit her. But I also don't want not to give her a rabies shot...the vet also said to give her 4 benedryl tablets before I come. What do you all think? My poor little girl is not herslef and I am worried....
 

Angela

Super Moderator
I think I would go to the vet, but, put the rabies shot on hold at the moment until you get this all straightened out.
Do you have any idea what bit her?
 

lmfoltyn

New member
NO, I have no idea what bit her...she wasn't outside for more than 5 minutes...our lab was stung by a bee once but he only swelled where the bee stung...side of muzzle. Her whole face swelled...eyes completely closed...and muzzle was huge...I was worried a snake bite but there wasn't any blood that we could see.
 

AngusMcDubhsMom

New member
I agree with Angela. I'd keep the appointment but put a hold on the rabies vax until she's better. I've done that with my dogs and the vet was always in agreement to hold off until the current problem was handled. Good luck.
 

Bailey Boy

New member
Poor baby girl I can only imagine how afraid she was when it happened. Agree I would continue with the benedryl but not let them give her a rabies shot until all the swelling has gone down.

I know if you are going to have a lump checked they will as you to or will give benedryl to help contain the cells not sure why she would want you to give her something before a rabies shot.
 

lmfoltyn

New member
The swelling has gone down...back to normal really...she is just not acting her usual self...sleeping way more and just not playful. She is my baby girl and I just don't want to take any chances...do you think there could residual venom from something? Or would that cause more swelling? Also, how long do rabies vax last? She has only had her 1 year vax...this would be the 1st 3 year one.
 

wrknnwf

Active member
If you're worried about the shot, have the vet do a titer. That should tell you if she is still protected.
 

Newfs Forever

New member
To me, titers are the way to go. Unfortunately, you need to get an act of congress to get an exemption here in the state of NH, for rabies.
 

NinaA

New member
Been going through the same thing here - yellow jackets. They got me first on Saturday - 7 stings. Sprayed but not down in the hole in the ground. Didn't even phase them. Before I could do anything else, Rory (14 year old chocolate lab) stuck her face into the nest as I was yelling at her to get away. Didn't get her face but about 15 of them got her on the hind quarters. I grabbed her and threw her into the pool. Worked beautifully. Loaded with Benadryl and was up all night checking her. Emergency vet is about 5 minutes away. Today, typical of this dog, you'd never know anything was wrong with her. Still keeping an eye on her and have vet's cell on speed dial.
 
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