Benadryl is safe to give your dog for allergies, anxiety, motion sickness, and vaccine side effects. Though a typical Benadryl pill is 25 mg, you should only give your dog 0.9-1.8 mg per pound of weight. Make sure that the Benadryl you're giving your dog only contains diphenhydramine.
Benadryl Dose for Dogs
Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook recommends giving a standard dosage of 25 milligrams for a 25-pound dog two to three times per day. As a general rule of thumb, use 1 milligram per pound of your dog's body weight. For example, a 50-pound dog would be given two 25 milligram tablets.
According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, the safe dosage is 2-4 milligrams of medication per kilogram of weight, or 0.9 to 1.8 milligrams per pound. This amount can be administered two to three times daily, depending on your dog's symptoms.
The most common dose given to a 60-pound dog is 1 mg per pound. Because it commonly comes in 25 and 50 mg sizes, a dose of 50 mg would be a good starting point.
How Long Does 25 mg of Benadryl Last in Dogs? If 25 mg is the correct dose for your dog, the effects will last for 8 to 12 hours. Thank you to Dr.
One of the side effects of Benadryl is drowsiness, which helps to calm anxious dogs. The Merck Veterinary Manual states that diphenhydramine may relieve symptoms of mild-to-moderate anxiety in pets associated with travel. It also may help relieve motion sickness.
Other safe antihistamines for dogs include Claritin (loratadine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine). They produce less sedation than Benadryl does but could still make your dog drowsy. Warning: Make sure your OTC allergy medicine only contains antihistamines.
Potential side effects of Benadryl for dogs. The most common side effect in dogs while taking Benadryl is drowsiness, so you may see your dog a little… sleepy.
Should your dog overdose on antihistamines like Benadryl, it could cause acute respiratory depression and fluctuations in heart rate and blood pressure that could lead to death. Consult your veterinarian to find the correct dosage for your dog before administering any medication to them.
Because one of the common side effect of Benadryl in dogs is drowsiness, your vet may use it to alleviate dog anxiety, particularly associated with traveling and motion sickness that may occur during plane rides or car trips.
Sometimes pet parents will give their dogs Benadryl to creatively leverage this side effect—for car travel, during Fourth of July fireworks, or other occasions where the dog needs a mild sedative “to take the edge off.” While sleepiness is a side effect, Benadryl is not actually an effective sleep aid by any means.
It is estimated that Benadryl can be lethal to dogs at 24 to 30 mg per kilogram of body weight by IV administration.
Using Over-the-Counter Sedatives
If your veterinarian says it's okay, give your dog 2 mg of Benadryl per 1 kg (2.2 lb) of body weight, or follow your veterinarian's dosing suggestion. Repeat the dose every 4-6 hours while you need to keep your dog sedated.
Conclusion. Most human medication should never be given to dogs, with the exception of a small number of medications, including Benadryl. Always make sure to consult with your vet before giving your dog Benadryl to ensure it's the right solution for your pet and to ensure you're giving the correct and appropriate dose.
Benadryl should never be combined with any other medications! Benadryl is a first-generation allergy medication. This means that it is more likely to cause side effects, such as drowsiness and drooling.
Antihistamines are usually safe but can make some dogs drowsy and others hyperactive. OTC antihistamine preparations may contain other ingredients such as decongestants that are not safe for dogs. Read the label carefully to ensure that the product only contains antihistamine.
The standard dosage for a dog is 1 milligram per pound of body weight, so one tablet is perfect for a 25-pound dog. Veterinarians suggest giving a dose every 8-12 hours (about 2-3 times a day).
If you're taking diphenhydramine for short-term sleep problems, it will start to make you feel drowsy around 20 to 30 minutes after you take it. For coughs and colds, your symptoms will normally start to improve within 20 minutes. The medicine should work for around 4 to 6 hours.
Although Benadryl is not currently on the FDA's list of approved drugs for veterinary use, it is generally considered safe to give to dogs. As long as your dog does not suffer from any pre-existing serious medication conditions, it is safe to give your dog Benadryl.
Fexofenadine, commonly known as Allegra® or Telfast®, is a second generation antihistamine drug that may be used for dogs and cats to control itching and other signs related to allergic conditions.
If your dog is prescribed antihistamines you will need to try them for 2-3 weeks to see if it helps. If it doesn't, you'll need to stop giving it to your dog and try another until you find one that works, following the advice of your vet.
Zyrtec is an over-the-counter human allergy medication sometimes given to dogs with atopic dermatitis or mild to moderate environmental allergies. Vets may recommend Zyrtec for dogs who scratch excessively, are sensitive to insect bites, or have dermatitis.