I need help badly to control my dog's hives. Let me give you the history. Tuesday morning she woke up completely swollen. I took her to the vet and she was given a Benadryl IV and a steroid shot. She was fine and hive free by the afternoon and all day Wednesday. Thursday she woke with the same thing. I've been giving her 50mg pills of Benadryl given to me by the vet, but they only control her hives for about 2 hours. She's breaking out with hives 3-4 times/day! I'm so scared that I'm going to overdose her on Benadryl. She's scratching her ears raw and her poor face is so swollen she can barely open her eyes. I spoke with the vet again, and they are unable to see her today so she's going back in Monday. I don't know what to do in the meantime. It worries me. She has heart and lung conditions on top of this so u can see why I'm freaking out!!! Any suggestions or advice would be helpful. Thank you
Help for Hives!
- Thread starter Laila23
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If she's breaking out in hives, then something is causing it (obviously LOL). Things like benedryl are only for treating the symptoms. But if this is an ongoing thing, you've got to find out what the cause is and get rid of it.
It could well be food. Or it could be bug bites, or an environmental allergy. What are you feeding her (treats included) and what is her environment like (any bugs, new detergents, etc).
It could well be food. Or it could be bug bites, or an environmental allergy. What are you feeding her (treats included) and what is her environment like (any bugs, new detergents, etc).
Slobber Baby
Banned
Did you change detergents or anything new in the house?? It is hard to pinpoint but look around inside and outside..you can give benadryl up to 8 times a day...thats 2 every 4 hrs. or so..that is what my vet said!
Sending healing vibes!
Laura
Sending healing vibes!
Laura
Thanks for the replies. I honestly have not changed anything in the house. No new detergents, nothing! She has been eating Nutro brand dog food for about a year now and has never had any problems. I have tried changing food and that doesn't make a difference either. I thought maybe it was something outside causing it b/c I didn't make any changes to cause a reaction inside, but the first outbreak of hives she had was after I let her outside at 7am and it was about 35-40 degrees out. Not too many bugs are around in that weather here. We do have those Asian beetles(lady bug looking things) around, but they've been here about a month. I thought if they were causing it, it would've happened a while ago. I am seriously baffled! I have washed all of my blankets, her blankets and used Lysol wherever I could. I don't know what is causing this. They just pop up.
I gave her 50mg Benadryl about 3-4 hrs ago and she has been sleeping on the couch. She has barely even moved and she is starting to swell up again. These are not just a small case of hives either. She gets them so bad that her ears swell up and her eyes swell shut! She has them on her belly, legs and even on her little tail stub!!! They are probably about half dollar sized on her body. I'm pretty sure she's running a fever also.
Slobber Baby(Laura)-What does your dog weigh? Laila weighs 51 lbs.
Just want to make sure I don't overdose her.
I gave her 50mg Benadryl about 3-4 hrs ago and she has been sleeping on the couch. She has barely even moved and she is starting to swell up again. These are not just a small case of hives either. She gets them so bad that her ears swell up and her eyes swell shut! She has them on her belly, legs and even on her little tail stub!!! They are probably about half dollar sized on her body. I'm pretty sure she's running a fever also.
Slobber Baby(Laura)-What does your dog weigh? Laila weighs 51 lbs.
Just want to make sure I don't overdose her.
Slobber Baby
Banned
Laila23 said:
Bubba is close to 75lbs. I would definately watch her and make sure she is eating a little something and drinking water...I would also call the vet...It could be the lysol that is making it worse..try (I know its hard) but try not to freak out! Sending vibes..they may also have changed an ingredient in the food and you didn't realize it...try some boiled chicken and rice ONLY and see if it helps...
Laura
sweetboxer
Banned
Poor baby! I would definitely put her on a bland diet, like Laura suggested. Maybe the Lysol is making it worse, too. The normal dosing for Benadryl is 25 mg per 25 lbs, so 50 mg is fine for her. Skye is 85 lbs, but I usually only give her 50 mg when she needs it. I figure if she needs more, then I can give her more, but if the 50 mg works, then that's all I give her. I would definitely see if you can narrow down what might be causing the hives. Any new furniture? Maybe try keeping a journal of everything that she comes into contact with: food, detergents, outdoor things, etc...I know it's a lot, but it may help you narrow down what's causing this. I would also check the ingredients on the bag of food. Maybe they changed something that you didn't notice. I know in Skye's case, I finally figured out that she's allergic to chicken. I never would have guessed it, b/c that's usually a good protein source for Boxers. But as soon as I switched her to Lamb and Rice, she's been much better. I haven't given her Benadryl in over a week. There's always allergy testing at the vet's office, too. It would help to find out everything that she's allergic to. Poor Laila...please give her lots of hugs and kisses from Colby, Skye, and I. We're sending lots of ((((healing vibes))))))) out to you and Laila. Keep us posted.
Thank you so much for all of your help. Last night I cooked up boiled hamburger and rice and fed her that. She didn't have any hives from about 8pm on. I've been giving her 50mg of Benadryl about every 4 hours now. But unfortunately this morning she woke up with hives again! I have checked everything over and cleaned from top to bottom. I looked at the bag of food I have and it doesn't say if any of the ingredients changed. Does it usually say it changed? But the hives started happening in the middle of a 35 lb bag of food. So I don't think that could be it??? Maybe I will try chicken and rice and see if that makes a difference. Do you think I am giving her too much Benadryl? Every 4 hrs seems reasonable. I know to give her 50mg, but I guess I'm just confused and unsure of how often.
On a lighter note-
Her hives are down for right now and she's busy playing with my mother's dog Maxwell. He's a Biscion/Silke Terrier. She boxes him around and he doesn't appreciate it very much! It's pretty fun to watch. They play tug of war with their knotted rope and she pulls him all the way across the floor! At least she's feeling better and acting herself again. If she stays feeling okay, there is a Halloween dog costume contest in a few hours. I sewed a witch costume for her so hopefully she'll be able to show. She really doesn't like her hat though! She's so cute in it. I will have to download a picture, but I'm not quite sure how to.
On a lighter note-
Her hives are down for right now and she's busy playing with my mother's dog Maxwell. He's a Biscion/Silke Terrier. She boxes him around and he doesn't appreciate it very much! It's pretty fun to watch. They play tug of war with their knotted rope and she pulls him all the way across the floor! At least she's feeling better and acting herself again. If she stays feeling okay, there is a Halloween dog costume contest in a few hours. I sewed a witch costume for her so hopefully she'll be able to show. She really doesn't like her hat though! She's so cute in it. I will have to download a picture, but I'm not quite sure how to.
sargejimenez
Super Boxer
Hi from Iowa!
I had the same thing happen to my sarge about two or three weeks ago! It'a terrible I know. They started on his body then kind of got better then by that night they went to his head. It's scarey just watch her breathing. If it looks like she is struggling to breath get her help right away! The only thing I can think of that caused it is maybe a spider bite from in the house or outside. Even though it is cool out they can be in the grass or leaves, even a bee. She could have been bitten in your house by a spider and it took a little bit for her to have a reaction from it. I know sarge liked getting a aveno bath. it help cool the hives to give him some relief from the itching. Good luck I hope she is feeling better soon.
I had the same thing happen to my sarge about two or three weeks ago! It'a terrible I know. They started on his body then kind of got better then by that night they went to his head. It's scarey just watch her breathing. If it looks like she is struggling to breath get her help right away! The only thing I can think of that caused it is maybe a spider bite from in the house or outside. Even though it is cool out they can be in the grass or leaves, even a bee. She could have been bitten in your house by a spider and it took a little bit for her to have a reaction from it. I know sarge liked getting a aveno bath. it help cool the hives to give him some relief from the itching. Good luck I hope she is feeling better soon.
Thank you everyone for your concerns. Laila went back to the vet and was put on Prednisone steroids and she has not had the hives since! She is just starting to get the last of the steroids in the next couple of days so I'm crossing my fingers and hoping they don't start up again. Thank you for all the information and hope!
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