Hives

[jacquim]

We moved into a new place a week ago and unfortunately don't have a yard yet (new build and waiting for the rain to clear before they grade our lot so that we can put down grass). In the meantime, we have been taking the dogs to a field a block away to pee (they absolutely refuse to pee on the dirt/rocks on our property or in the alley behind us).

Raiden is sensitive to a lot of things so we are not new to hives, but lately they are getting worse when he goes to the field. I'm not sure if it is the type of plants growing there, some sort of bugs getting him, or if they've sprayed something in the field that is bothering him... We gave him benadryl tonight after he came back as he was COVERED in bumps. These pics are from after the hives started to fade away a bit after receiving a dose. He has big red bumps all over his belly as well but I couldn't get a good picture.
We have no other option for taking the dogs to pee right now so should we just keep giving him a dose of benadryl multiple times a day to prevent a reaction, treat it when it flares up really bad? Any other suggestions? What would you guys do?

These are the pictures from today:

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/jacqui276/raidenhives2.jpg?t=1340493389

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/jacqui276/raidenhives1.jpg?t=1340493374

 

[Gatorblu]

Poor thing! My best suggestions are, just give the benedryl before you even go. An ounce of prevetino is worth a pound of cure. Or buy some doggy bug spray and see if that keeps it at bay. (you could rule out a bite if it still happens after being sprayed)

Another sugestion would be to just get a couple of squares of sod and find a half way decent place to put it down in your yard. Hope your baby feels better soon!

PS could you send some of that rain this way?

 

[joannaryan]

To me they don't look like hives, it looks like he's run into a nest of biting bugs, like mosquitos or chiggers. I agree with Gatorblu and continue with the benadryl. I hope he feels better soon

 

[jacquim]

Thanks for the responses! Bug bites was my first thought since normally his hives are not quite so raised and more like red welts on his belly/legs. My other dog doesn't have a mark on her though, which was making me think more allergies than bites alone. It's possible that he got attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes and is reacting to it more than my other pup though since he is very sensitive. With the wet weather here there is no shortage of bugs.

Can I buy pet bug spray at a pet store, do I need to see a vet for it? Can I use children's bug spray?

I will keep up with the benadryl in the meantime and would LOVE to send some rain your way! Normally I enjoy the rain, but when it is delaying my yard I am not thrilled with it.

My yard is a giant uneven mud hole right now, but I am seriously considering a small patch of sod. I am not a fan of trecking to the field in the rain with my 4 month old baby every time they have to pee, especially when something in there is bothering him. Also to note, me, my husband and kids don't have any bites on us and we have been walking through the field as well.. however, I have seen bugs flying around.

 

[whiskers]

I know Vets Best makes a natural flea/tick/mosquito repellant spray. As far as dog products go I think those are the only insects you'll ever see on the label - but I wonder if it would still repel other insects as well? I am not really sure if human products could be used.

Juno gets lumpy like that frequently in the summer from being out in the yard. I am not sure WHAT causes it. I just give her Benadryl when it happens, otherwise she'd be drugged up on Benadryl 24/7 and I don't really want to do that. She never seems bothered by the bites (I assume that's what they are) but they sure bug me to look at!

 

[Gatorblu]

They make a pet spray called Flys Off (in a blue and white can) and I have seen it at Petsmart and Walmart. Seeing as Raiden is sensitive to other things he could be more sensitive to mosquitoes. My first girl had a ton of allergies and Mosquitoes would cause welts and Arabella gets welts from mosquitoes too. I don't have a problem in KS but when we go to FL I have to spray her down before going out especially early in the morning or evening. Good luck!

 

[jacquim]

Thanks for the suggestions! I will venture out and see what I can find.

 

[MMMM]

Brew had the EXACT same thing a couple times a week for about a year. His were even worse at times. Eventually they just stopped appearing and I'm not sure what it was that helped but we did do a few things- switched him to Natural Balance Duck and potato food, started him on fish oil pills and vitamin E, and put him on a skin medication called Atopica 100mg's once a day. He is still itchy even two years later but has not had a flare up in the past two years. He is now on a different food (chicken based) because of his heart condition (full of fish oil) and he doesn't have any flare ups on that either.

 

[MMMM]

Btw,we also used benadryl religiously and it was a good temporary fix for him.

 

[CCWilson]

I'm going through something similar with my 10 month old boxer. A couple of days after picking her from being boarded, I noticed she had a pink rash (no bumps raised) all over her stomach and a couple of raised bumps on her body that made the fur stand up around the bumps. It didn't seem to be hurting her but I'm am worrier so we brought her to the vet and they said it looked like folliculitis. She's been on steroids for a while because of elevated liver enzymes so our vet wanted to hold off on antibiotics and told us to give her Benadryl and use a medicated shampoo. After a couple of days of no improvement, she's now on Simplicef and the rash is better but not completely gone and the scabs are falling off and she has bald spots! I'm guessing that's from the scabs falling off.

Good luck and keep us posted on progress.