Yes, doggies get allergies too! Tater Tot, the younger shih tzu has had allergies since she was a pup. They get worst during allergy season, just like the humans! Her allergies present as watery eyes, runny nose and itchy skin….super itchy skin.
The first time we realized Tater had allergies was because she was scratching her head so hard, her hair started falling out in clumps! Poor Tater Tot! She didn’t look a hot mess because she has so much hair you couldn’t even see the bald spots but she was clearly in distress. We took her to the vet and we walked away with this magical liquid that would treat her allergy symptoms and it only cost $25 for a week’s supply -yikes!
When we got home and it was time for Tater’s medicine -I pulled out the container and what did I see on the label? Diphenhydramine (Benadryl’s generic)…my first thought was what? I just paid $25 for something that would have cost ~$3 in the store! And now I have a liquid to give to Tater -which is messy and close to impossible! Frustrating!! So, I thought why not pass on a little information so others don’t go down this path!
Now, before we go on…the first time this happens it is best to visit the dog’s vet because we don’t want to get allergies confused with more serious issues like kennel cough, ring worm or fleas. And the vet will okay use of Benadryl, some dogs should NOT receive Benadryl, such as young puppies, dogs with glaucoma or thyroid issues or taking certain medications that may interact. At this point, if your vet says that Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is okay to use, go ahead and speak up and tell them you will get it at your local pharmacy. Most vets know that it is much cheaper in the “human” pharmacy and will happily let you save some money by getting it there instead of their office.
How do we treat allergy symptoms in dogs? Benadryl (diphenhydramine) works well, is inexpensive and super easy! It works in dogs just like it does in humans to stop allergy symptoms.
How do we determine proper dose? Typically it is dosed at 1mg/lb (so Tater weighs ~12 lbs, I give her 1/2 of a diphenhydramine 25mg tablet). Most dogs will receive dose every 8 or 12 hours.
How do I choose which Benadryl (diphenhydramine?) At the pharmacy, get the Benadryl 25mg (or generic -works just as well and is way cheaper :). You want to pick out the pink tablets that ONLY has diphenhydramine in them. Make sure to NOT get the other ones like Benadryl Cold & Sinus and such -those other medications are NOT safe for your pup!
How do I give it to my dog? The tough part 🙂 There are those expensive Pill Pockets out there that seem to work well for most. For Tater Tot and Toshia, we just smear a teeny amount of peanut butter on the tablet and put it on a human finger and they gladly lick and eat the peanut butter and tablet! Be warned, this will lead to the dogs getting uber excited everytime you open a jar of peanut butter (or actually any sound that may possibly be you opening a jar of peanut butter!)
What are the side effects? Number one side effect is lethargy -your dog may just seem tired and out of it (usually this will go away after a few doses). Your pup may also have, dry mouth (be sure to keep fresh water out for her), urinate less and possibly (but rare) diarrhea and vomiting.
What if it doesn’t work? Talk with her vet about adding famotidine (to block more histamine) and maybe doxepin (to block even more histamine)!
I hope this helps your doggie feel better and you save some money. Just so you know, there are other medicines that are available at the “human” pharmacy instead of at the vet’s office -like Flagyl (metronidazole) and Pepcid (famotidine) and amoxicillin. If you talk with your vet, they can just give you a script for your dog to take to the “human” pharmacy -ie Walgreens, Target, CVS… Most vets are glad to do this for you. And yes the script will read for “Tater Tot” 🙂