HIVES - help!

[ChristyA]

Hi all,
I am having a hive dilemma. Lulu is a boxer mix, she broke out in hives Wed. night I gave her benedryl. I took her to the vet in the morning he kept her for the day and she was fine when I picked her up. He seems to think it is her food, but she's been fine on this food for a while now. Then all Friday she was fine until last night (Sat.) at 10pm she started getting hives again. I gave her benedryl but she was up all night scratching. I mean hives all over,,anyplace she has hair, face, head, back, flank, tail, legs, chest. I've not seen any on her belly, but she doesn't have a hairy belly.

The only 2 things I can think of that are new in our environment is the Scott's grasspatch in the yard. My daughter had a pool and it killed the grass in that area so we put up a little fence and put the grasspatch there. I've not seen her in the area, but she could have gotten some on her hair just from wind etc.. The only other thing is that Isabelle took a bath and Lulu licked the Dial soap bar before we could get Lulu out of the bathroom. That happened on both nights that she broke out in hives.

Do you think it could be the soap or grasspatch? She was in the yard with the grasspatch all day Friday and had no problems. This has only happened twice both times on the nights Isabelle takes a bath.

Thanks for your time. I really appreciate any input anyone can give me. I am at my wits end trying to figure this out and I feel so bad for poor little Lulu she is miserable.
Christy

[littleone1]

Hi Christy,

It could be the Dial soap. I couldn't use that or Lever Brothers since I was a kid. I was allergic to them. There was something in them that just didn't agree with me. I can't even use Dial soft soap to this day.

Terri

[ChristyA]

Thanks Terri,
I am suspecting the soap also. She is in a cool shower with my husband right now, with Johnson's Baby Shampoo.
Christy

[Squirt's Mom]

Hi Christy,

Nothing to add except I hope Lulu feels better soon. Hives are miserable! If they continue, don't count out the food just yet. It is possible for her to develop and allergy to one of the ingredients after having none prior, as you know. Maybe she had enough meds onboard from the vet that she didn't react for a day or two after being back on her reg food when she got home.

I hope it's the soap, tho. That would be much easier to deal with! LOL

Hugs,
Leslie

[labblab]

Hi Christy,

Oh, I feel so badly for poor Lulu!! By any chance, do you have any prednisone on hand? Because that might give her some relief overnight until you have the chance to consult the vet again tomorrow.

Our Peg has suffered from allergies from the time she was a baby. We give her daily antihistamines, but she's had at least one hyper-allergic episode during which she had hives all over her belly, and her face and private parts were all horribly swollen and distended. She was miserable!!!! The vet gave her an injectable steroid, and also sent us home with oral prednisone for a few days. The daily dose was high -- 20 mg. But she is also a big girl -- 85 pounds. Normally I would NEVER recommend any prescription medication without a vet's express recommendation. But if Lulu is really miserable and you have any prednisone on hand...you might want to try giving her a dose to settle things down until you can see the vet tomorrow...

Marianne

[AlisonandMia]

I'd bet it was the soap too. I hope so anyway. Grasses typically cause most problems when they are flowering.

The other possibility is that it was something else - an insect bite maybe. I had a horse who came out in terrible hives one day in the paddock - even his face was all swollen. Never found out what it was and it never happened again - so I assumed it was something like an insect bite triggering an all-over allergic reaction. Fortunately he wasn't particularly itchy and it was all gone within 12 hours.

I think the pred sounds like a good idea if it causing distress.

Alison

[ChristyA]

Thanks to all of you! I'll be in touch with the vet again tomorrow. Another friend of mine said her pup experienced the same thing and it was poison ivy!! :eek: She is still eating fine, and went on a walk. I have to load her up with Benedryl again soon. It does help but not enough.
Christy

[ChristyA]

Lulu ended up in the ER last night at 1AM. Her throat was swelling shut. And the whites of her eyes were swollen. That scared the bejeebers out of me. I didn't even know that could happen!

She got a shot of cortisone and we were sent home with some pred. and a $60 bag of dog food. :eek:

Today she is doing well. She seems a little tired. I am exhausted,,worry sure does wear me out.

Thanks to all of you who responded I always appreciate your input.

Christy

[sunimist]

OMG! So glad she is better. So they think it was the dog food? And what was in it to cause such a drastic reaction? I have read of Rosemary causing problems. Made me take a closer look at Suni's Fromm Duck and Sweet Potato dog food.

(((HUGS))) to Lulu

Shelba and Suni~~

[Squirt's Mom]

HOLY COW, Christy! :eek: How scary! :eek:

I am so glad you were able to get her to an ER and they could help. Bless her heart! I hope she is feeling better today.

Hugs,
Leslie