Benadryl is a drug usually prescribed in allergies and other similar conditions. Many veterinarians accept this medicine in treating dogs which have allergic reactions that cause itching.
That is why it is safe to use this drug when you want to help your dog feel better. Benadryl can be found in every drugstore and you don`t need a prescription to buy it. Being a human- destined drug, Benadryl has to be properly dosed when given to dogs merely because their weight is much smaller than that of a human being. If I want to know how much Benadryl can I give my dog I will make sure to first ask a specialist so that I don`t harm my pet.
What conditions does Benadryl treat? Is it safe for my dog?
Benadryl can be used to treat some conditions like: allergies, ear infections, asthma, runny nose, sneezing and coughing. Also it can be prescribed in insect bites, bee stings and all sorts of irritations. If your dog has insomnia or it suffers from anxiety or it is agitated you can also treat it with benadryl. This drug it`s very effective and improvement appears in 30 minutes after administration. However, when used to treat severe conditions, its effects will be seen after a week or so.
Benadryl is safe for most dogs. It has been used in dog treatment since the 1940s and its side effects have been considered to be normal for medium to large build healthy dogs. Also, Benadryl doesn’t interfere with other medication such as the ones used for fleas or even steroid based drugs. You should be aware that some of the drugs sold under this name could contain dangerous additives. That is why it is best that you read the leaflet before you buy it. It`s primary active ingredient should be diphenhydramine.
Before you start giving your dog Benadryl it`s better to ask a veterinarian. Your dog could have a pre existing condition that won`t properly interact with the medication. Also, if your dog is pregnant Benadryl shouldn’t be used.
How much Benadryl can I give my dog?
Usually the prescribed dosage for a healthy dog is 1 mg of Benadryl per pound of weight for three times a day. If your dog has 18 pounds you should give it 18 mg of medicine every eight hours. Benadryl can be given to dogs either as tablets or liquid capsules. If you use the tablets you should crush them and mix the powder in the dog`s food. If you choose the second version you should drip the liquid and mix it in the food very well. It is recommended that you put the drug in the dog`s favorite food so that you won`t have to wait too much for it to eat it. There are some other ways that Benadryl can be administrated to your dog but they are usually conducted in the veterinarian`s office.
Even though Benadryl is generally safe for dogs it`s better that you know all of your pet`s conditions before you decide to treat it with this drug. You should tell for vet what kind of medication is your dog on in order for him to make the right decision. This information is very important in finding how much Benadryl can I give my dog.
