Is It Safe To Give Your Pet Benadryl? Indian Trail Pet Sitter Gives Advice

Yes, you can and here is some info about it and dosages. Please read carefully.

Benadryl:
Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine. It is used for the treatment of allergies and atopy, primarily to stop itching. (Atopy is an allergy to something that is inhaled, such as pollen or house dust; also called ‘inhalant allergy.’) It may also be used to control vomiting and motion sickness, as a mild sedative, and to treat muscle tremors due to certain toxins or medications. Contact your veterinarian if your pet experiences sleepiness, agitation, a rapid heartbeat, depressed respiration, an inability to urinate, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite while being treated with diphenhydramine.

Benadryl for Dogs or Cats

Benadryl is a brand name for an antihistamine (diphenhydramine). Although it is considered fairly safe for use in dogs and cats, please be aware that it does have potential adverse side effects. It may interact with other medication that your pet is taking, so do not use it without first consulting your veterinarian. You should also use extreme caution using Benadryl in dogs that have glaucoma, prostatic disease, cardiovascular disease or hyperthyroidism.

Benadryl is quite effective when used in proper dosages.
Stops itching
Controls vomiting
Good for motion sickness
Can be used as a mild tranquilizer
Good for snake bites
Useful for vaccination reactions
Good for bee stings and insect bites

Be sure to use only the plain Benadryl formula. Giving Benadryl with other combination of medication could be fatal, so be sure to read the box. Make sure it is Benadryl ONLY, not a combination of pain relievers.

Liquid Benadryl is too high in alcohol content to be safely used for animals. Please use a capsule or pill form.

Dosage every 8 hours
Dogs under 30 lbs and Cats : 10 mg
Dogs 30-50 lbs: 25 mg
Dogs over 50 lbs: 50 mg

Benadryl, also known by its generic name diphenhydramine, is one of the few over-the-counter drugs that veterinarians routinely have owners administer at home.  While it is generally well tolerated and has a wide safety margin, there are a few things owners should keep in mind before dosing it at home:

1. WHAT IS BENADRYL USED FOR?

Benadryl is an antihistamine, blocking the H-1 receptors on smooth muscle and blood vessels. Some of its most common indications are the treatment of environmental allergies, allergic reactions to insect bites or stings, and pre-treatment of vaccine reactions. It also has some efficacy in the prevention of motion sickness in dogs and as a mild sedative.

2. WHEN SHOULD I NOT USE BENADRYL? Benadryl is contraindicated with certain conditions, such as pets with glaucoma, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. It’s always best to contact your veterinarian for guidance before administering any medication to your pet, including Benadryl. It shouldn’t be given for separation anxiety, as noted at Cbdclinicals in their articles.

3. HOW MUCH BENADRYL SHOULD I GIVE?

The standard dosage for oral Benadryl is 1 mg per pound of bodyweight, given 2-3 times a day. Most drugstore diphenhydramine tablets are 25 mg, which is the size used for a 25-pound dog. Always double-check the dosage before giving an over the counter medication. In addition, many formulations are combined with other medications such as Tylenol so make sure Benadryl tablets contain only diphenhydramine.

4. WHEN SHOULD I CONTACT MY VETERINARIAN?

Oral Benadryl is considered a mild to moderately effective antihistamine. If a pet is having an acute allergic reaction with facial swelling or difficulty breathing, skip the oral medications and go straight to the vet. Many allergic diseases require a combination of medications and treatment of underlying infections; if your pet is not responding to the medication, talk to your vet about other options.

Also, if you feed your dog a premium holistic food you will see a difference in your dog’s itchy skin. Foods such as Canidae, Chicken soup For the Dog Lovers Soul, Innova, Wellness, are all great foods that contain only ingredients that are good for your pet. You can find them in the yellow pages under PetFoods/Supplies. Look for stores that advertise holistic foods and you will find a good, quality food there. Foods from the grocery store shelves and foods such as Iams and Science Diet have by-products in them, along with dyes, BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin. All ingredients that can cause many medical conditions in dogs, including itchy skin. Also, add Safflower Oil to your dog’s food. 1 TBSP in each meal should do the trick.

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