Benadryl For Dogs: Is It Safe? Uses, Side Effects & Benefits

Normally if you are a dog owner, you would know that all the pooches out there are curious, energetic, and suspicious about most things. So it is quite obvious that they are bound to get into some trouble or sticky situation.

In that case, suppose your dog pouches got stung by a bee, and if he is allergic to dogs taking immediate action is important, and for that, the perfect medication is giving your dog Benadryl. But are Benadryl for dogs the right option?

So keep on scrolling, and let’s find out if Benadryl for dogs is a possibility or not. And if you wanna know more about medical usage, then keep on reading through the article.

Benadryl Dosage For Dogs: Is It Safe?

When it comes to an allergic reaction, the best medicine for your dog, obviously after discussing it with your vet, is diphenhydramine or popularly known as Benadryl. This is an antihistamine that relieves any type of allergy, the same as both animals and humans.

But even if you usually take Benadryl for your allergic reactions, the Benadryl dosage for dogs is quite different than that of humans.

To quite sum up, there are if you are asking if can you give Benadryl to dogs and whether it is safe at the same time as well.

• The regular dosage of Benadryl is 25 mg, but for dogs, it is only 0.9 – 1.8 mg for each pound of weight.

• Note that the Benadryl you are giving to your dog contains only diphenhydramine.
• Most importantly, Benadryl is safe for your dogs when they have allergies, motion sickness, anxiety, and any other vaccination side effects.

Use Of Benadryl For Dogs

There are certain reasons why you might give your dog Benadryl, and here are a few types of when you might wanna give your dog Benadryl. The types of situations when you would give your dog Benadryl are swelling, itching, and other allergic reactions.

There are different types of allergic reactions in canines, which include seasonal, food, skin, and other types of allergic reactions. This can help with symptoms like,

1. Allergies

There are different types of allergic reactions in canines, which include seasonal, food, skin, and other types of allergic reactions. This can help with symptoms like,

1. Hives
2. Swelling
3. Sneezing
4. Itchy Skin

Runny eyes and nose

2. Anxiety

According to Tierra Price, a veterinarian, “A common side effect of Benadryl is drowsiness, so it may also be used to temporarily calm anxious dogs.”

• Motion Sickness

When it comes to motion sickness, Benadryl works great as its sedation effect helps to fight all the symptoms of motion sickness if your dog is riding on a plane or car.

• Vaccine Reactions

According to Price, “Puppies receive vaccinations early in life and can have a reaction to these vaccines.” The reactions of fatigue and swelling can be easily treated by giving them Benadryl, even veterinarians recommend giving them the medicine.

Dosage Of Benadryl For Dogs

According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, the dosage that you should give to your dog is 0.9 – 1.8 mg Benadryl for each pound of the weight of your dog.

Justine Lee, a veterinarian, said, “If you want to try over-the-counter Benadryl, the best form is usually a tablet, which is typically 25 mg per tab.”

According to this calculation, 25 pound weight of dog will be getting one pill, and at the same time, 50 pounds weighed dog will be getting two pills.

Price said, “Veterinarians can also prescribe the dog a form of Benadryl, Vetadryl, which is the FDA approved form of diphenhydramine for dogs and cats.”

Precautions Of Benadryl For Dogs

Now that you are using Benadryl, then you might keep the precaution in your mind. These are the precautions that you should know about.

• According to Price, “Benadryl is available over the counter for pet parents to purchase but should only be done under the direction of a veterinarian.” So if you are thinking of giving Benadryl to your dog, then before doing that, you might wanna ask your veterinarian for some advice.

• Price says, “Always check the box to make sure the Benadryl isn’t expired, as expired medication can be unsafe for your dog.”

• According to Justine Lee, “If you’re purchasing Benadryl over the counter, you want to make sure it’s Benadryl that is only diphenhydramine, no other ingredients added in.”

It is upto your vet to give the dog a proper dosage of Benadryl. This way, you can give your dog the perfect dosage of Benadryl.

Side Effects Of Benadryl On Dogs

Before you give your dog Benadryl, it is important to keep in mind the number of side effects that Benadryl might have on your dog. So the number of side effects of Benadryl for dogs is.

• Drooling

• Dry Mouth

• Drowsiness

• Rapid Breathing

• Increased Heart Rate

• Skin Chewing Or Licking

• Red Rashes On The Skin

• Swelling Of The Face And Tongue

• Diarrhea, Upset Stomach, And Vomiting

Can Benadryl Cause Overdose In Dogs

When it comes to certain signs of overdose, according to Price, “Although Benadryl is a safe drug, overdosing is possible.”

According to Price, “If you do suspect an overdose, you should call your veterinarian immediately and take in the packaging for medications that were administered.” The side effects of Benadryl overdosing are.

• Seizures

• Agitation

• Rapid Heartbeat

• Dilated Pupils

• Constipation

When To Call The Vet? 

Dogs are majestic, but they cannot talk. So if your dog is going through an allergic reaction from any substance or even Benadryl itself, you need to determine what is happening yourself first. It is crucial to know some of the markers that you need to look out for. These markers include:

• Seizures
• Vomiting
• Extreme bouts of diarrhea
• Swelling
• Difficulty in breathing

These are the signs of extreme allergic reactions. This is something that cannot be solved by homely remedies. This is something that requires professional help.

 Alternative To Benadryl

Benadryl is generally a good choice for your dog if your dog is known to be down with some of the aforementioned conditions. However, there are other alternatives as well that you can check out for yourself. One such alternative is the Diphenhydramine. Diphenhydramine has been around for quite some time now. Furthermore, research has shown that it is more effective than Benadryl in most cases. For example:

• Cerenia is a medication that is often given to dogs in order to help them deal with nausea and vomiting. Therefore, it is perfect if your dog is suffering from traveling sickness or is in general a little queasy. This medication is laced with Diphenhydramine and is known to work quite well.
• There are certain medications that are laced with Diphenhydramine which can help you in managing your dog’s allergies. In fact, anti-allergy shampoo, soap, supplements, and prescription medications can certainly work wonders for your dog’s skin.

• If your dog is an anxious pooch and requires anti-anxiety medications in order to allay their anxiety, then you can try anti-anxiety medications that have Diphenhydramine. This is known to work better than Benadryl and is not addictive. However, if you are making any changes to your dog’s medications, then it should only be done so with proper consultation from your vet. Otherwise, there runs a risk of developing some other issues.

Wrapping Up!

When it comes to Benadryl for dogs, it is a safe drug for your dog to consume, but that too in a particular dosage.

So when you are feeding your dog Benadryl, the weight of your dog is important to keep in mind. The volume of your dosage is greatly dependent on this singular factor, if you overshoot even by a little, things can become messy for the pooch. Therefore, keep track of your dog’s weight before proceeding.

Now if you liked this article, then give this article a like and comment down below If you have any more queries regarding Benadryl for dogs, then don’t hesitate to ask us.

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