Hoping I'm doing the right thing...

[zoenmoe]

About 4 days ago, my dog Zoey had an allergic reaction to an anti-itch spray "Sulfoderm" within the hour: large hives over entire body, swollen eyes, rash, lesions, & itchy skin. Gave her benadryl per her body weight. Symptoms seemed to have reduced, flared up again the next night but not as bad. Come 3 am, I've already thrown away 3 vomit filled rugs. She attempted (more than 10 times) to pass a bowel. When she did, small amount of yellow/brown mucous (small intestine) following into the next day, she started the restlessness, panting, obviously distressed. I had an appointment scheduled with her vet the following day. Until then, she refused to eat and when she did drink water she would throw it back up. I kept her hydrated with ice chips and chicken broth. Went to her appt: allergic reaction to the spray and had also developed a gastrointestinal infection. Metronidozale 500mg, Cerinia (anti-vomiting) Hills Prescription Science Diet I/D & probiotics. After her meds she gets loopy and tired. I nervous about her being misdiagnosed. Plus the side effects of this antibiotic, it is very potent, especially it being the highest mg(500) I'm keeping an eye on her, and so far it's just the tiredness. I don't want this to spiral downhill and cause more problems. Any opinions or advice? Thanks in advance

[Ghilly]

Here's an interesting article I found re: sulfodene.  It really doesn't paint the stuff in a very good light.

http://www.flakehq.com/archives/0710c.htm

How is your baby, by the way?  Any better?

Ghilly

[zoenmoe]

She was taken to the emergency clinic twice over the weekend & to her primary in Monday. I wrote in the comments below as to what they prescribed and what I'm worried about.

[zoenmoe]

Sorry for the late response. The product is called Sulfodene (medicated anti-itch spray) she was seen twice over the weekend for fluids & went to her primary doctor on Monday. They diasgosed Giardia, intestinal infection and she had just happened to have an allergic reaction to the Sulfodene at the the same time. She's been treated with anti-vomiting, antibiotics, probiotics, and a prescription food for the next 10 days. She seems to be doing fine. Eating, drinking, and going to the bathroom. I'm just worried that maybe the two were connected as opposed to them coincidentally happening at the same time.

[Ghilly]

Cancel that request for info on Sulfoderm.  I found it, but apparently it's not something that is sold here in the US, it is a European product, am I right?

I cannot read any of the accompanying articles as they are in a foreign language so I am going to have to translate them first.  I just wanted to let you know that I did find something for Sulfoderm, though, but I just can't tell yet what type of product it is because of the language gap.

Ghilly

[Ghilly]

I tried to Google the product Sulfaderm but there was nothing, it kept trying to steer me to something called Sulfatrim.

In any case, it sounds to me as though your dog has experienced sufonamide toxicosis.  It's a very small percentage of dogs that are sensitive or allergic to sulfonamides, HOWEVER, in that small percentage, hypersensitive individuals need only trace amounts of sulfonamides to experience a reaction that could even be life threatening.

I wouldn't wait for more symptoms, I would go to an emergency vet TONIGHT because, while the initial reaction came within 24 hours (as it often does) there can STILL be reactions up to between 8 and 18 days AFTER using a sulfonamide product.  

Because the initial reaction was so severe, I would be afraid that the body would still have some reaction since trace amounts are all that are necessary to cause a reaction.  Please don't take chances.

Also, would you please double check on the name of the medication and post back with it?  I would like to study up on it because this is a very scary thing and I would like to be a bit more well-versed should we get any more cases like this here.

Please let us know what your vet says, or what the new vet that you take her to says.

Ghilly

[JanisM13]

I'm sorry I just saw this... If you are worried
about a "misdiagnosis" take her to a different
vet clinic ASAP. It may be night where you are
and your clinic is closed but she needs to see
a vet right away.
Jan

[WeLoveOur4Dogs]

Check dog food recalls. That dog food has been recalled several times for serious matters. Best wishes.