Survival After Anaphylaxis Induced by a Bumblebee Sting in a Dog

Abstract

A 3.5 yr old castrated male miniature schnauzer was referred with a history of collapse after a bee sting to the left hind limb. At the time of presentation, 14 hr after the sting, the dog was hypotensive, comatose, seizuring, and had a brief period of cardiac arrest. Over the following 48 hr, the dog developed azotemia, severely elevated liver enzyme levels, hypertension, hematochezia, hematemesis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The dog's neurologic status improved slowly, but significant behavioral abnormalities remained. The dog was discharged after 7 days with ongoing polyuria, polydipsia, and behavioral changes. The polydipsia and polyuria resolved within a few days, but the behavioral changes continued for 6 wk. Reports of anaphylaxis from any cause are sparse in the veterinary literature. This is the first report of suspected anaphylaxis following a bee sting. There are no previous reports of behavioral changes after physical recovery from anaphylaxis.

Spontaneous hemoperitoneum and anaphylactic shock associated with Hymenoptera envenomation in a dog

“…Bee venom is known to induce anaphylaxis‐related hemorrhage and coagulopathies in people, with reports of pulmonary, intracranial, and uterine bleeding . Disseminated intravascular coagulation and thrombocytopenia with secondary hemorrhage have also been reported with Hymenoptera envenomation in a dog . Given the documentation of a bee stinger in the dog in the current report, lack of known trauma and absence of a clear causative intra‐abdominal lesion on ultrasound, the hemoperitoneum in this case is suspected to be associated with alterations in hemostasis associated with anaphylaxis and bee envenomation.…”

“…Consumptive coagulopathy is a noted complication of both Hymenoptera envenomation and anaphylaxis in the dog . In a clinical practice setting, a combination of PT, aPTT, platelet count, plasma fibrinogen concentration, and plasma d‐dimer concentration are used to make a presumptive diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation .…”

Massive attack by honeybees in a German shepherd dog: description of a fatal case and review of the literature

“…However, massive envenomation may also kill those individuals that are not allergic to bee venom. In one study, bumblebee sting associated with anaphylactic shock has been reported in a dog [ 18 ]. Anemia, pale and congested mucous membranes, tense abdomen, obtundation, generalized seizure and episodic cardiac arrest were prominent findings in the affected animal.…”

“…Anemia, pale and congested mucous membranes, tense abdomen, obtundation, generalized seizure and episodic cardiac arrest were prominent findings in the affected animal. The dog was treated symptomatically along with supportive therapy and recovered completely after six weeks [ 18 ]. Similar findings were presented in our report so the possibility of fatal honeybee sting associated with anaphylactic shock cannot be overlooked.…”

Venomous and Poisonous Australian Animals of Veterinary Importance: A Rich Source of Novel Therapeutics

“…The dog was discharged after seven days with ongoing polyuria, polydipsia, and behavioral changes. The polydipsia and polyuria resolved within a few days, but the behavioral changes continued for six weeks” [38]. In another case, a dog presented for respiratory stress and shock after being stung by >100 bees; acute lung injury/acute respiratory syndrome was diagnosed and after eight days of treatment with oxygen, steroids, antibiotics, and bronchodilators, the dog recovered [39].…”