Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bee sting caused immune anemia and seizures in two dogs
By Noble, S J & Armstrong, P J·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1999·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Bee sting envenomation resulting in secondary immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in two dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old mixed breed dog developed severe lethargy, blood in the urine, and seizures after being stung by a bee. Unfortunately, one of the two affected dogs did not survive. The surviving dog was treated with high doses of corticosteroids and supportive care, which initially helped but led to a return of symptoms when the medication was reduced. Eventually, the dog's condition improved with continued corticosteroid treatment. If your dog shows signs of anemia and has been exposed to bees, it's important to consult your veterinarian about possible bee sting reactions.
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Abstract
Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia secondary to bee envenomation developed in 2 dogs. Clinical signs included lethargy, hematuria, ataxia, and seizures; 1 dog died. Clinicopathologic data included nonregenerative anemia, spherocytosis, positive results for Coombs' test, and occult hematuria. Treatment included oral administration of corticosteroids at immunosuppressive dosages and supportive care. The surviving dog initially responded to corticosteroids, but hemolysis recurred as the dosage was tapered. Hemolysis resolved with prolonged administration of corticosteroids. Bee venom contains hyaluronidase, histamines, and hemolysins that cause toxic and hemolytic effects. Envenomation should be considered in any dog with hemolytic anemia in which other causes are ruled out and exposure to bees is known.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10200797/