08/18/2026
Meet Strawberry, a sweet 9-month-old pup who was brought to our animal emergency hospital when she suddenly began vomiting and having diarrhea.
Strawberry had recently been in a factory where chairs are manufactured and may have had access to foam or water-based glue. Her family also told us their home had been treated by pest control a little over a week earlier. With several possible exposures and no way to know exactly what Strawberry may have encountered, toxin ingestion was initially high on the list of concerns.
But Strawberry’s physical exam gave our emergency team another important clue.
Her gums were pale, her heart rate was fast and her pulses were weak. Her doctor performed a FAST scan, a quick, focused ultrasound used in emergency medicine to look for abnormalities inside the abdomen, and noticed a small amount of fluid or swelling around Strawberry’s gallbladder, sometimes described as a “halo.”
Taken together with her sudden vomiting, diarrhea, pale gums and weak pulses, Strawberry’s findings raised concern for anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock.
An IV catheter was placed immediately, and Strawberry was treated with epinephrine and an antihistamine. She responded quickly. Her blood pressure, blood glucose and other vital signs normalized, and before long, Strawberry was feeling well enough to eat!
She remained hospitalized with us for 24 hours while receiving medications to manage the allergic reaction, inflammation, nausea and gastrointestinal symptoms. Once she was stable and feeling much better, Strawberry was cleared to head home with her family, with instructions to follow up with her veterinarian to recheck her liver values.
We may never know exactly what triggered Strawberry’s reaction. The important thing is her family knew something wasn’t right and got her to the ER quickly! In a true anaphylactic emergency, those minutes can matter.
🏥VERGI 24/7 Medical Minute🏥 Anaphylaxis Can Look Different in Dogs
When most people think of a severe allergic reaction, they picture swelling of the face or throat and difficulty breathing. But in dogs, anaphylaxis often looks very different.
The liver and gastrointestinal system are commonly affected, so some dogs may suddenly develop vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling, weakness or collapse. As shock develops, the gums may become pale, the heart rate may become very fast, the pulses may feel weak and blood pressure can drop.
Veterinarians may also see changes around the gallbladder on ultrasound that, when combined with the patient’s history and clinical signs, can support suspicion of anaphylaxis.
Anaphylaxis is a rapidly developing, potentially fatal emergency. Epinephrine is the first-line treatment, along with supportive care based on the individual patient’s condition.
If your pet suddenly develops severe vomiting or diarrhea along with weakness, pale gums, collapse, facial swelling or difficulty breathing, seek emergency veterinary care immediately.
