Good health of a dog is essential particularly if you want your dog to be happy all the time. Consequently, dog owners are advised to feed their dogs with healthy food, play with them, exercise and take them for regular checkups to the veterinary. Although all pets need love and care, some may need to be cared for more than others. Such situations arise when a dog has an allergic reaction. Under such circumstances, the vet may recommend Benadryl which effectively reduces the reactions. However, most dog owners usually wonder: Is giving Benadryl to your dog to keep them comfortable safe?
To answer this question, you need to know more about the medicine. It has anti-histamine effects and is widely available in drug stores. Benadryl contains Diphenhydramine that alleviates some of the allergic symptoms. Some symptoms it is capable of relieving include itchy throat, itching, watery eyes, hay fever and running nose. Benadryl is presented in numerous forms such as liquids, gel caps and tablets. When administered in the recommended benadryl dosage for dogs, the drug has the capabilities of relieving your dog from sinus congestion, pain while boosting sleep thus making your dog comfortable.
It is usually quite difficult to tell whether a dog has an allergy or not. Nonetheless, the most effective way of finding out involves isolating the allergen. Monitor what you feed your dog as this will enable you to determine the food that causes allergies. It may take several months or a year to discover the allergens. Some dogs scratch after eating certain food types while others may get rashes that might prompt them to bite the affected parts of their body. An attack caused by fleas on the other hand may lead to skin irritation; so you might want to check on this as well.
Other common symptoms that indicate a dog is not feeling well include foul smell from the mouth, ears or nose, twitching ears, nose discharge, runny nose, red puffy eyes, gagging and shortness of breath. By looking out for some of these symptoms you can find solutions that will alleviate the conditions.
Sometimes dogs may be allergic to beef, dairy or wheat. Some dogs are even allergic to the foods we eat. Some allergic reactions also develop in periods of spring, summer or fall. Such reactions are attributed to pollen present in the air while in some situations chemicals used to kill weeds on the lawn may also lead to bad reactions
Is it safe to give a dog Benadryl? It is completely safe to administer Benadryl to your dog although taking the dog for a visit to the veterinarian is highly recommended before administering the medicine. This makes it easier for the vet to determine whether Benadryl is safe for your dog or not as well as the right dosages that should be given.
Most times, dog owners are advised to change the diets of their dogs. Rabbit and fish are mostly added to dog foods to reduce common allergens that might affect dogs.
In case the vet recommends Benadryl, he or she will also tell you the right amounts to give your dog although the correct dosage is 1-2mg/lbs. Consequently, heavier dogs may require more Benadryl. For example, a dog which weighs 20lbs requires 20-40mg. Despite this, vets advise dog owners to start off on lower dosages. If you buy it directly from a drug store, confirm that you have purchased one that has Diphenhydramine usually provided in tablet form. Avoid any additional drugs as these may have toxic effects on your dog.
Benadryl may make a dog a little drowsy while in some rare cases a dog may vomit or diarrhea. The side effects tend to disappear after a while; however, if they continue, contact your preferred vet as soon as possible. Care must be taken especially when it comes to treatment and feeding habits of a dog. Regular check-ups and treatment are recommended for boosting good health of your dog. To prevent allergic reactions including other symptoms, reduce or completely eliminate human food from dog food. By ignoring to do so, it may be hard for you to identify what is ailing or causing discomfort to your dog. However, in instances where allergic reactions are noticed, consider using Benadryl that will no doubt make your dog comfortable.
