Bumpy boxer

[Althea]

When I put Suki in her crate last night before bed, she was fine. This morning, she was crazy-itchy, and when I looked, she has bumps all over her flanks. Some are as large as quarters and others are smaller. It's from about her rib cage down to the end of her hip. I gave her some benadryl (37mg as she is 39 pounds) and she's out like a light. Any ideas what it might be? It looks like bug bites but I didn't see anything near her cage. They are definitely a reaction to something.

Also, when do you dose them with Benadryl again? Is it once a day or more often?

 

[RolenKisses]

Sounds like hives to me. She very well could of been bitten by a bug or spider and had a reaction to the bite. We had that happen to Rolen and never did find what actually bit him, but Benadryl helped. I can't remember the re-dosing information for dogs. I know humans you can take every 4-6 hours, but I'd call the vet and ask about re-dosing for dogs.

 

[Cami]

The dosing for dogs is up to 1mg per pound every 8 hours.
But of course confirm with your vet.
Just curious, how did you administer 37mgs? Was it a liquid?
I only ask because I have only given Benadryl in pill form and they come in 25mgs.

 

[Althea]

Cami -- no, I cut a pill in half and it was exactly half! I always end up slipping on the blade and screwing up the cut, but this one was perfect. Will wonders never cease! I'm too nervous about overdosing otherwise. It did lessen after I got ready this morning, and she was not itchy at all. Still there when I dropped her at the petsitters, but she has someone to watch her all day, with strict instructions to call me if anything worsens (I'll call at lunch just to check in).

thanks! (Wish every tiny thing that goes wrong with her didn't make me feel helpless and beside myself.)

 

[Cami]

Cami -- no, I cut a pill in half and it was exactly half!

Well that would make sense! I know the feeling of worrying about every little thing. We can't help ourselves. Must be a Boxer parent illness.

 

[Althea]

AGH! Now it's all over her body. I think it's the "natural" topical tick spray that I bought for her at the vets. I feel like the worst mommy ever. :( Poor baby is an itchy mess and her entire body looks like a wrinkly towel. I just dosed her with some more benadryl, and I'm hoping it will go away. The petsitter bathed her, thinking it would help, but I think it made it worse (used a baby shampoo). She tried, though. I would have done the same thing. Anyone have any suggestions how to get them to shrink? Can you use calamine lotion on dogs? I don't know what to do. :(

 

[Cami]

If she bathed her in warm water that would make the hives worse.
You can try cool compresses to help with the swelling of the spots.
Heat makes hives temporarily worse. Exercise which can also generate heat can do the same thing!
I hope the Benadryl kicks in soon.

 

[princessmoog]

Our pup Cassie 11 months old came up in hives about a week ago for the first time, i noticed a few on her hind legs in the evening but nothing serious, when i came down in the morning she was covered...
So i rang the vet and my husband took her in, by the time he had got into the consulting room the majority of the hives had gone down!! The vet just recommended piriton in future if it happened again.

Over the past week she has had a few come up and we still dont know what is causing her reaction, she is regulary de flea'd and iv washed her beds in nothing different than what i normally use, someone said it could be a pollen outside?

The fortunate thing is she is too worried by them, the odd lick but she doesnt scratch them badly, just wished we knew the cause!!

 

[Althea]

I know the feeling! I have no idea what is causing this. She is even more covered today. I just gave her more benadryl. I think I'll make her an appointment with the vet for the morning, and we'll see what happens. I hate to take her in for something that seems minor, but she looks terrible. But her spirits are good.

 

[Althea]

So they injected her with Voren -- which the vet assured me was low side-effects -- and gave me Atarax 25mg for her for two weeks. Anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks!