Anaphylaxis; the good, the bad, and the itchy

Anaphylaxis is a common and potentially life-threatening emergency room presentation for dogs and less commonly cats. Prompt recognition and appropriate management are required to ensure a good outcome. Hymenoptera envenomation is the most common presumed cause of anaphylaxis dogs in Australia, however a stinger isn’t always located. Anaphylaxis can be associated with a variety of systemic manifestations; dermatologic signs are expected such that their absence can make diagnosis of anaphylaxis difficult. Less common signs are cardiovascular collapse, gastrointestinal, and respiratory symptoms. This webinar will review the pathophysiology of anaphylaxis, diagnosis, including the use of abdominal ultrasound, and the evidence for various treatment approaches. Specifically we will review the use of adrenaline for anaphylaxis, evidence for and against antihistamines and glucocorticoids, as well as treatment of associated coagulopathy. The webinar will conclude with a discussion of how to prevent future anaphylaxis episodes in at risk patients with desensitisation immunotherapy.

Recording from 4 December 2019