Hoping someone can shed some light on this! (rash/hives related)

[BeachBullyPC]

I don't know where to turn at this point, the vets are stumped and we've gone over a million scenarios and it just doesn't make sense.  Two days ago, in the span of one hour, PC went from happy/playing, to getting a rash on his belly, hives, his eyes were swelling and he was having trouble breathing.  We thought he might have gotten stung by something and rushed him to the e-vet.  They gave him a shot of Benadryl and steroids, and said that it was probably a bee sting.  He was fine shortly after and most of the next day.

Last night, same thing, but not as bad. We were able to give him Benadryl and it went away after about 30 minutes.  So, it's clearly not a bee sting.  MB is fine, so I'm doubting it's the environment if only one dog is so badly affected.  His diet hasn't changed in 2 years, no new detergents, no new cleaning products.  The only thing that changed in the last week is that we moved to a house.  We moved exactly a week before the first episode, but we cannot find anything here that would cause such a reaction.  They're never unattended in the backyard and are always near us inside, what could be causing this?

If anyone can shed some light on this, I'd greatly appreciate it.  We're going to a different vet later this week, but I have a feeling they're going to be stumped as well.  Here are pictures I took of him on Sunday, at the e-hospital.  You can see his leg completely covered in hives and his belly all red from whatever irritated him. 

[MissMolly]

Holly hives!  Geesh...when Molly got bit by something and got hives they were never that pronounced.  Poor PC.   

[brumzoo]

Oh my goodness! Poor baby! Is there a vet who specializes in dermatology near you? They may be able to find out what is causing that poor baby to have the rash and hives faster than a "general practice" vet. Kissesto that poor baby!  Please let us know what you find out.

[reeder1718]

check the flooring hes laying on. We moved into a rental and the people before has use a swifter mops and he had bag reaction to it.  His poor tummy and legs were all broke out and until we cleaned  the floors and house our self's it didn't go away.  try cleaning the whole house top to bottom with the cleaners he used to.  its a long shot but it stumped us for two weeks before we went cleaning crazy in the rental house.


Hope he gets better!

[winwinsmom]

Ouch that looks sore  I agree it must be something maybe in the carpet?

[Susan & the bullies]

Is there anything new like plug in air freshners? Candles? Room spray? Inhalants are frequently the cultprit. Auggie had major hives from a plug in air fresheners.

[kavrno]

I'm thinking its something they cleaned the rugs or floors with and you need to try cleaning with products he is used to like someone else suggested.  You might want to shampoo the rugs with a vinegar and water mixture, no soap at all, same as the floors with no rugs.  Poor baby.

[BeachBullyPC]

There are no carpets in this place, it's all hardwood floors.  Before we moved, I steam cleaned with my steam mop, using only water like I did at our old place.  We don't use plug ins or any other artificial scent things (candles, sprays, etc) because we don't want them (or us!) to inhale chemicals.

We saw his regular vet today (per the ER doc's instructions, after I spoke to them this afternoon) and he said that because his swelling was only on one side of the face, it was most likely a bug bite.  He said allergies or reactions to his environment would have shown symmetrical swelling.  Not sure if that's true, but that's what he told us.  He's going to be on Benadryl for a few days, and we'll see if he gets better once he's off of it.  He's ok tonight, probably because he's been taking the pills every 8 hours.  

I just wish I knew what the culprit was so that I can remove it from his environment!  We've thought of everything it seems, but other than the move, nothing has changed in his environment.  And, his brother is completely fine!  The only thing that was different is PC was diagnosed with an ear infection last week and the drops they prescribed are ones he never used before.  He didn't take well to them from the beginning, and would itch more after I put them in his ear than when he had gunk in there.  From my research, I found a lot of complaints of rashes/hives with this drug and the vet said it's possible, but not very probably since it wasn't symmetrical swelling. So, he was taken off the drug today, but I'm not sure such a reaction would appear 4 days after starting the medication.

[BeachBullyPC]

Duplicate!

[emmabull]

I had this happen with Emma. She was on a grain free diet that was chicken based. She had no issues with it for a year.  Suddenly she is covered in hives. She had developed an allergy to chicken.

Poor baby, I hope you can find out soon what is causing it soon. That looks so painful. Hugs to PC  .

[ksdstny]

Reactions to meds or foods can happen at any time as terry  has mentioned above.

[Jerr_N_Tiff]

could easily be the meds - yes you'd normally expect to see symmetrical swelling, but that isn't always the case.  As for the old drops and discontinue the new ones.  Also, it still could have been the sting in his system causing a reaction and the benedryl and steroids wore off.