The causes of hives in dogs can range from something he ingested to something that came in contact with his skin and was absorbed into the body. Medications and vaccinations are also responsible for causing a dog to have an allergic reaction and break out in hives.
These hives only last for a very short period of time but if your dog is uncomfortable and itches at them all day, you will be presented with a whole new set of problems when he gets a skin infection. Try a few of the following treatments for hives on dogs and you will not only make him more comfortable, you will lessen the time of the irritation and pain.
1. Oatmeal is amazing for helping clear up the skin. Many women are already familiar with the amazing qualities oatmeal possess. Ladies have been using oatmeal on their faces and body for years to remove blemishes and restore the skin to its natural condition. The same will work on your dogs hives. If you have isolated the hives to a small area, you can make a small oatmeal paste and apply it to the infected area to sooth and reduce the swelling.
2. If the dog is experiencing an extreme need to scratch at the infected area, purchase an antihistamine. They carry a number of products that will work, including Benadryl. The antihistamine will also calm your dog down and make him sleepy, which will help to pass the time faster.
3. Prepare a bath of cold water and allow your dog to soak in the water. Let the water flow over the hives to reduce the swelling and reduce the need to bite and scratch them. This is also a good opportunity to simply add a couple cups of oatmeal flakes to the water, they will aid in reducing any discomfort. If you can not get your dog into a bathtub, simply running cold water over him from the hose will have similar results. Run him under the water for a minimum of fifteen minutes.
4. The best way to get immediate results are to call your veterinarian and schedule an appointment. Many times the doctor can identify the cause and offer suggestions for further treatments.
5. If you are able to identify the hives in a confined area, apply some cold ice packs to the area to help with the swelling and with the need to scratch. These compresses work wonders and will calm your dog down significantly. If you do not have an ice pack a frozen bag of vegetables works the same.
6. Cortisone is another topical treatment that can help with the itching and swelling. This one is for pets.
7. Sucralfate is a great way to treat your dog if you are sure that the source of the hives is from something he ingested. This medication will protect your dogs stomach lining until you can identify the source of the hives and change the food he eats. These simple treatments work well on hives in dogs because they stop the irritation and give to time to identify the origins of the allergic reaction.
