Benadryl is a widely used medication for humans but is also safe to use for dogs. However, since it’s made for humans, it’s not always easy to figure out the correct dose of Benadryl for dogs.
This is why we’ve created a Benadryl dosage chart for dogs, covering all the uses, safety measures, and side effects you can expect.
Can I Give My Dog Benadryl?
Cetirizine Cetirizine is sometimes prescribed by vets for the treatment of itching. Cetirizine doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier in large amounts, meaning there are generally fewer side effects (including less chance of drowsiness). However, dogs with kidney or liver disease are at a higher risk of complications.
Always consult with your vet before giving medicine to your pet, and avoid using time-release capsules made for humans. Because of a dog’s anatomy these capsules are not usually digested fully when swallowed whole. To help the vet decide whether your pet is suitable for treatment, be sure to tell them:
Avoid using with other anticholinergic drugs (which includes tricyclic antidepressants), as this could lead to symptoms of toxicity. Combining diphenhydramine with depressants is likely to cause stronger sedation. There are also a few other medicines that can react with diphenhydramine. Pregnancy & Nursing Warning: Diphenhydramine is not recommended for use during pregnancy (especially when the animal is near term), though your vet may advise otherwise under specific circumstances. It is to be avoided or used with caution in nursing dogs, especially with newborn pups, as the drug is passed in milk.
Can you give a dog Benadryl?
The answer is both yes and no – always consult your veterinarian first!
We all know that our regular food might be dangerous to our dogs – lets think about chocolate or grapes. The same goes for human medicine, as it can be pretty harmful to our pets in most situations.
Whats important to check?
Lets study the example of Benadryl (or any other diphenhydramine for dogs).
- Pregnancy
- Low blood pressure
- Any severe cardiovascular disease
- Glaucoma
- Lethargy
- Dry mouth
- Urinary retention
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lack of appetite
Weve equipped you with all the essential, practical knowledge about the Benadryl dosage for dogs by weight and its possible effects; time to discover our other dog tools and learn something new!
What is Benadryl used for in dogs?
Benadryl is a kind of an antihistamine drug. This kind of medication is widely used against any type of allergy. It usually works short-term.
Histamine itself is a substance released by the cells called Mast cells, which triggers our organisms allergy reactions. Moreover, histamine plays a vital role in human brain – thats why its also used to treat motion sickness.
Antihistamine for dogs has multiple applications – our Benadryl dosage for dogs calculator can be used for all of them.
A list of Benadryl generic drugs of possible allergy pills for dogs, available on the US market:
Dont give your dog any drugs without medical advice – always consult your veterinarian first!
Curious about other drugs for dogs? Check out the following links: