When your dog is stung by a bee or comes in contact with a substance that he is allergic to, his skin can breakout in what is called hives. Dog hives are small circular protrusions on the skin that can appear just about anywhere on your dogs body.
In the case of a bee sting, the hives usually are found in close relation to where the stinger entered the body. In the case of your dog inhaling some particles from a flower or bush, the hives can appear just about anywhere once they begin to react with your dogs bloodstream. In most cases the hives generally go away within a twenty four hour period, however the most extreme cases the hives can last substantially longer.
The causes of dog hives can number in the hundreds, and being able to identify exactly what caused the hives to appear can go a long way in helping get your pet receive the proper medical attention. One of the most common causes of canine hives are stings by insects. A wasp or a bee sting is extremely painful for a dog, and depending where the sting took place on the body, hives can begin to appear. A wasp can cause much more damage to a dog as their venom is more toxic, however if a swarm of bees attack your dog you can expect to see significant areas of hives on your pet. If you recently took your dog for a checkup, there are certain vaccinations that can cause hives, and many times your veterinarian will tell you to closely monitor the dog for such a reaction. If hives are detected, the quick fix is to change the vaccine next time. A dog will eat just about anything they find, and certain types of fish have been known to cause an allergic reaction in dogs. These allergies usually bring on hives.
The good news about dog hives is that they usually will go away on there own in a short period of time. From the time of the outbreak, most cases of hives will disappear in a full day. Dogs become very irritated and itchy when they have hives, and the scratching and biting can make the situation worse. You want to monitor your pet closely and try to keep them from biting the affected areas. If he is allowed to continue scratching at the hives, he could cause a significant skin infection.
Keep good records as far as what vaccines and medications cause your dog to get hives. Many types of dog food can also cause dog hives, so keep a detailed journal of everything that has caused a problem in the past, and you will eliminate the chance of him getting hives for that reason again. As you eliminate all the causes for your dog getting hives, you will minimize his discomfort in the coming years and insure a more happy and healthier life.
