Benadryl for dogs?

Now I know people use benadryl for dogs and my friend is here and seems to think that benadryl allergy would be better for my dog beacuse of his skin. Isn't she wrong??? and NO I didn't not give my dog anything. and I didn't plan on it!

Benadryl for dogs?
Thank you for being smart enough not to give your dog a drug without the advice of a licensed veterinarian. That is whom you should be asking.





Now - you said your dog has allergies.





You may be able to solve that without having to give him any drugs, and give him long term relief.





Many dogs are allergic to food items these days, and you may find the answer in his kibble, or treats.





The top allergens are (drumroll, please):





corn, chicken,beef, wheat, soy, and dairy





That having been said, I have a dog who is allergic to sweet potato - it can be anything! There is no such thing as truly hypoallergenic food (for every dog).





If your dog is itchy all the time, first check for flea dirt. Many dogs can have just acouple fleas and be itching like crazy because they are allergic to flea saliva. A tube of Frontline and an oatmeal bath should fix that one.





Now, back to the food. If it's all year round, see if the list above is in his food. you can try changing him -gradually, over a week - onto lamb and rice, and see if that helps. Sometimes you get lucky, and that's all it takes. He should itch less, at least, in a bout a week - but it can take a month.





Make sure there aren't any of the allergen ingredients in the food - or in any bisquits he gets. It only takes one, and you're itching again. You can always give more kibble as treats - that way, you know what he's eating all the time.





There a great many specialty food that do not contain a lot of ingredients - Mother Hubbards Wellness line is a good one, if you can get it. I know a lot of dogs on their Atlantic Whitefish and Sweetpotato kibble that can only have that - but they are itch free!





If the itching is seasonal, it is probably pollen. The best thing for that is to wash the dog down every day with tepid, not hot, water to remove the allergen. That simple.





I have only ever given benadryl for acute allergies such as a bug bite (or a dog that has eaten a wasp!), and only at the diretion fo a vet.





If your dog has allergies that last for a while, it would be much better to figure out the problem, and fix it. It's such a relief when you do!





Good luck!
Reply:ALWAYS ask your Vet FIRST.





But I used to give it to my dog for her allergies, and it has no effect on her.





You can, but I wouldn't recommend it without a Vets permission and proper dosage.
Reply:Not unless your dog has seen the vet and your vet has told you how much to give your dog.





Benadryl is actually OK for dogs, but shouldn't be given without a proper diagnosis or dosage from a vet.
Reply:I have safely given my dog Benadryl for allergies. I am referring to an antihistamine, NOT a decongestant. She is around 40 lbs, and I give her one tablet.
Reply:My vet recommended Benydryl for children cough medicine when my Lab had a cold and runny nose, don't know about allergies, but it is better to check with your vet first before using it.
Reply:Our vet has given our dog benedryl when he had


an allergic reaction.
Reply:I have had it be of use for insect stings.....that is about it. It generally does NOT work for dogs with allergies. I had a Frenchie that had very bad allergies and we went through a lot of meds on him before allergy testing and allergy shots for the problem. No medication worked well, and Bebedryl was no exception.
Reply:Benadryl is safe for your pet, but only use plain Benadryl, NOT other Benadryl like for colds, etc. Dosage is one miligram per one pound of body weight. So if a Benadryl capsule is 25 mg and your pet weighs 25 lbs, then you give one benadryl capsule!
Reply:Yes, I've seen it done, but LISTEN to your vet. He may prescribe or recommend a certain dosage depending on his size. Benadryl happens to contain a small amount of a HALLUCINOGEN, and If a human takes more than 4, He could possibly start to see things. (Althiough people have been known to go as high as 30 pills). In a DOG, this effect may appear more readily. Symptoms of a drug induced stupor include unusual agitation, staring at walls, drooling excessively, and, well, He'd basically be behaving like a different dog. The symptoms are VERY hard to miss.
Reply:I live in a hot climate most of the year round and my dogs get skin irritation when their flea prevention meds are due. I routinely give them Benedryl around that time. I do know how much to give though, from having checked with my Vet and being familiar with using this for dogs.


It's not a cure all though.


I also have used it as a first step intervention when my dog got a mouth full of fire ants. Then she went to the Vet the next day and got a mega shot of Benedryl plus some Pepcid AC. because she was getting better and then started to swell more and broke out in hives.


(Oh, and I did talk to my Vet when this happened including before I had to bring her in.) I've learned a lot about what is safe to use for my dogs and how to use it. Guessing is what is dangerous.
Reply:Your vet can best determine if your dog has allergies and if benadryl would work the best and just how much to give determined on the weight of your dog. I don't know if your dog is allergic to something that's causing him to scratch - but your vet would know.





I would suggest a trip to the vet and let them determine if your dog is actually allergic to something that isn't harmful ... like his food or something that you can change.





Our vet has told us to give our male Pug a whole one but our little female Pug 1/2 of one ... the benadryl for adults - the pink ones you can break in half. Our vet suggested that because they were allergic to something.
Reply:I know many of people who give their dog Benadryl! My neighbor has to do this before she takes her dog to the groomer.