What Does Benadryl Treat in Dogs?
Benadryl is a great medication for use in dogs with mild-to-moderate allergies. Seasonal allergies, food allergies, environmental allergies, and allergic reactions to snake and insect bites all respond to Benadryl in most cases. Benadryl is commonly used to treat itchiness in dogs caused by skin allergies, and it also reduces many of the other symptoms of allergies, including:
One of the side effects of Benadryl is drowsiness, which helps to calm anxious dogs. The Merck Veterinary Manual states that diphenhydramine may relieve symptoms of mild-to-moderate anxiety in pets associated with travel. It also may help relieve motion sickness. Although Benadryl may sometimes relieve anxiety, it’s best to talk to your veterinarian or an animal behaviorist to determine and treat what’s causing the anxiety.
Veterinarians prescribe Benadryl for dogs with mast cell tumors to help mitigate the effects of the massive histamine release caused by mast cell degranulation. Veterinarians sometimes prescribe diphenhydramine during heartworm treatment, as it helps reduce the risk of an allergic reaction to the heartworm treatment therapy. Benadryl makes an excellent addition to your pet first aid kit.
How much Benadryl can I give my dog for itching?
According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, the safe dosage is 2-4 milligrams of medication per kilogram of weight, or 0.9 to 1.8 milligrams per pound. This amount can be administered two to three times daily, depending on your dog’s symptoms.
Can I give my dog Benadryl and apoquel
Benadryl is used to reduce allergic reactions in dogs like itching, sneezing, redness in eyes and nose, vomiting, nausea etc. Apoquel changes how the immune system acts. When apoquel enter the bloodstream it block enzymes called Janus kinase. When it comes to inflammation and itchiness associated with atopic dermatitis, apoquel is a real troublemaker.
When the enzymes are blocked, inflammation and itchiness amount decrease. However, apoquel is not a cure for the underlying cause of allergic or atopic dermatitis. It is a bandaid that forces the immune system of your dog to compensate for the destruction it causes.