Benadryl, also known as Diphenhydramine, is a very powerful antihistamine. It’s
how much benadryl can i give my dog
made to treat various problems in humans, including severe allergic reactions, motion sickness, and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Some doctors also use it to treat the common cold, hives, motion sickness, and sleep disorders. So, while it has many great uses, you should never give it to your dog. Doing so can cause any number of unwanted side effects, including:
- A dry mouth or drooling
- Excitability
- Drowsiness
- Rapid breathing
- A rapid heart beat
- Depression
- Urine retention
These side effects will occur within an hour of giving your dog this medication. While these symptoms are generally mild, it is possible for your dog to have a much more severe reaction, in which case you’ll want to immediately contact your veterinarian.
Can I give Benadryl to my dog
Now that you understand why you shouldn’t give your dog Benadryl, what should you give him if he’s having an allergic reaction? There are plenty of great products available to choose from. You must choose what will work best for you and your dog.
Medicated baths using allergy itch relief dog shampoo, such as Critter Comfort, all natural, itch relief shampoo, help soothe your dog’s skin while calming any inflammation. Simply by washing your dog every week, or at the very least, every other week with this shampoo, will remove any allergens from his coat. These are what typically contribute to allergy flare-ups, but the antifungal agents and ingredients in this shampoo will remove these and keep your dog’s skin from drying out due to more frequent bathing. It’s a good idea to follow-up your dog’s bath with a good conditioner, such as Fresh Dog Natural Oatmeal Conditioner for Dry and Itchy Skin. This will further help keep your dog’s skin and hair from drying out.
Flea control is another important thing to stay on top of with dogs who have allergies. While your dog may not have fleas now, flea bite hypersensitivity and flea allergic dermatitis can cause serious reactions. When using these, you’ll need to follow directions closely. Nevertheless, there are quite a few good options available here, including:
Advantage makes its various formulations based upon the size of your dog – small, medium, large, and even extra-large. Make sure you choose the right size to get the proper protection for your dog.
Frontline flea and tick treatment spray-on topical flea control formula is applied directly to your dog’s neck to offer fast-acting control of fleas and ticks for up to 30 days. You simply apply one pump for every 10 lbs your dog weighs. Make sure you hold the nozzle to their skin and don’t apply like hairspray.Frontline flea and tick treatment spray-on topical flea control formula is applied directly to your dog’s neck to offer fast-acting control of fleas and ticks for up to 30 days. You simply apply one pump for every 10 lbs your dog weighs. Make sure you hold the nozzle to their skin and don’t apply like hairspray.
Omega-3 (found in fish oil) and Omega-6 (found in plants containing gamma-linolenic acid, a.k.a. GLA) essential fatty acid supplements work to improve the overall health of your dog’s skin. They’re natural anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative agents, which are reportedly helpful for about 20% of dogs with allergies. These are harmless and have almost no side effects and many dog owners swear by them. One of the best ones you can give your dog here is
Nutri-Vet Shed Defense Natural Smoke Flavored Soft Chews with Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids. Simply feed your dog one soft chew per 20 lbs of their body weight.
Solgar’s Quercetin vegetable capsules are flavonoids (a.k.a. Bioflavonoids) with anti-oxidant, anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory properties. The anti-histamine counteracts the histamine that’s created by your dog’s body while in the midst of an allergic reaction. So, the Quercetin actually turns the allergic reaction off, which is why some people call it “Nature’s Benadryl.” Additionally, Quercetin also suppresses the cellular activity that’s associated with inflammation, which means your dog will itch much less. There are a myriad of other reasons why this supplement is good for your dog including it has an anti-cancer effect, supports bone health, helps reduce weight, addresses heart disease, and helps with your dog’s overall performance. Of course, scientific research does exist to back up all these claims. So, if you want something that’s good for your dog overall, this is it. As for dosing, you should take your dog’s weight and multiply it by 1,000 mg, then divide it by 125 to get the milligram dosage he needs.
What All of This Really Means
The best thing you can do for your dog is to prevent them from experiencing an allergic reaction in the first place. If you know what your dog is allergic to, it’s easier to avoid it. There are many ways in which you can do this. For instance, if your dog is allergic to mold, use a dehumidifier or if he’s allergic to dust and pollen, use a HEPA air filter.
You can also find hypoallergenic dog food like Purina Pro Plan, grain free, dog food (Simply substitute it for what your dog usually eats.). This doesn’t contain any dairy or wheat, two of the main culprits of food allergies in dogs. Many of these hypoallergenic diets contain novel protein sources such as venison, egg, duck, kangaroo, and types of fish not usually found in pet food. Their carbohydrates typically come from things like potatoes, peas, yams, sweet potatoes, and canned pumpkin. Most dogs with food allergies do well when they’re switched to these types of diets. Occasionally there are some dogs who suffer from such extreme allergies they can only eat homemade dog food. Fortunately, there are many easy recipes, such as those found in “Dog Food Recipes: 101 Easy Recipes for Healthy, Homemade Dog Food” by Kristina Newman. If you do go this route though, make sure to also consult with your vet to make sure your dog is getting the proper nourishment.
The Final Word on Benadryl for dogs
While there are many things you can do to help your dog when he’s having an allergic reaction, as the old saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” So, we highly suggest making some small changes to your home and dog’s diet before you ever need to use any of these other products. Nonetheless, at least you do know what to do if your dog is in the midst of an allergic reaction, as well as why you definitely don’t want to give your dog Benadryl.
