Hematological and peripheral blood pressure changes in dogs after a bee sting

Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine changes in hematological parameters and arterial blood pressure in dogs after a bee sting. Materials and methods. Ten adult dogs were used, to which bee venom was inoculated through a direct bee sting. Three blood samples was extracted from the animal, the first sample before inoculation, and the other two samples were extracted 15 and 300 minutes after inoculation. Systolic (SAP), diastolic (DAP), mean (MAP) and pulse arterial pressure were also recorded for an hour, from 15 minutes before venom inoculation up to 45 minutes after, at intervals of three minutes between each record. Results. The erythrogram recorded a decrease in erythrocyte count, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration at time 15 relative to time 0 (p<0.05), returning to basal values at time 300. The reticulocyte count decreased at 15 minutes in relation to time 0 (p<0.05), staying low at 300 minutes. White blood cell count showed a decrease in eosinophils at 300 minutes relative to time 0 (p<0.05). Regarding blood pressure, the mean SAP readings on minutes 3, 15, 30 and 39 were lower than minute -15, and the mean DAP readings on minutes 15, 42 and 45 were lower than minute 9 (p<0.05). The MAP and pulse pressure records remained constant (p>0.05). Conclusions. A skin deep bee sting can produce a transient decrease in erythrocyte count, hematocrit and hemoglobin, along with a decrease in reticulocyte count and eosinophil relative count, without major alterations in blood pressure.