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DainBramaged

(39,191 posts)
Tue Jun 18, 2013, 11:22 PM Jun 2013

Benadryl Dosage For Dogs

http://benadrylfordogs.info/benadryl-dosage-for-dogs/

Benadryl which is also referred to as diphenhydramine is a medication which is readily available over the counter and is used to treat allergic reactions in both humans and animals especially dogs. This medication is FDA approved and is therefore quite safe for use. Many veterinarians highly recommend the use of this drug in dogs and they also safely administer Benadryl dosage for dogs.



This drug is commonly used in dogs for the following reasons:
Insect and flea bites
Irritation of the skin
Sleeplessness in dogs
Effects of vaccinations
Motion sickness
Stings from bees, hornets as well as wasps
Inhalant allergies
Stuffy nose
Tremors of the muscles
Bodily knots
Benadryl is known to be a highly effective drug mostly due to the fact that it is easily absorbed and therefore acts very fast. In most cases, its effects are seen after about thirty minutes. However, in some cases it has been known to take about one week before any notable results can be seen.

Benadryl Dosage for Dogs:
The right dosage of this medication is usually determined in two different ways as indicated below:

It is administered by giving 1 milligram for every pound of a dog’s weight after every 8 hours or three times per day. A good example would be, a dog weighing 40lb should take 40mg of Benadryl three times within a single day.

Dogs are grouped according to three different weight classes with the dosage varying between these weight categories. What remains constant is the fact that the medication is taken three times a day regardless of the weight of the dog. The following are the categories:

- Dogs weighing 30 pounds and below – 10mg

- Between 30 and 50 pounds – 25mg

- 50 pounds and above – 50mg

As previously stated, it is clear to see that a dosage of Benadryl is highly dependent on a dog’s weight. As an individual who owns a dog for pet, it is highly advisable for you to first take your dog to a certified vet who has the right kind of knowledge and expertise when it comes to administering the right Benadryl dosage for dogs. Taking anything less of a full dose will not help in any way while taking an overdose is considered to be quite dangerous. A veterinarian will also be able to conclude on the right frequency when it comes to administering the drug. This can either be after every four, eight or even twelve hours. More importantly the vet will also ask various probing questions which will help him come to a conclusion as to whether or not your pet dog is suffering from an allergic reaction or something totally different.

Your Dog’s Weight Recommended Dose Maximum Dose
5 Pounds 5 mg 10 mg
10 Pounds 10 mg 20 mg
15 Pounds 15 mg 30 mg
20 Pounds 20 mg 40 mg
30 Pounds 30 mg 60 mg
40 Pounds 40 mg 80 mg
50 Pounds 50 mg 100 mg
75 Pounds 150 mg 300 mg
100 Pounds 100 mg 200 mg
125 Pounds 125 mg 250 mg
150 Pounds 150 mg 300 mg
175 Pounds 350 mg 700 mg
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Benadryl Dosage For Dogs (Original Post) DainBramaged Jun 2013 OP
We rotate between generic benadryl, claratin, and zyrtec for our Moose (our giant GSD) Stinky The Clown Jun 2013 #1
Thanks so much for posting this. Granny M Jun 2013 #2
Not only the weight ... Myrina Jun 2013 #3
My vet recommended to try it during the day the first time 2theleft Jun 2013 #4
Good point, TheDogLover Sep 2014 #5
Benadryl for Dogs melfoxbb Jun 2017 #6
welcome to DU gopiscrap Jun 2017 #7

Stinky The Clown

(67,764 posts)
1. We rotate between generic benadryl, claratin, and zyrtec for our Moose (our giant GSD)
Tue Jun 18, 2013, 11:49 PM
Jun 2013

She weighs in at about 100 lbs, so we just use the adult dosages on her. Most times, however, I give her a half dose unless she seems to be particularly itchy.

We have no clue what she's allergic to. Our vet is a GSD person, too, and hers has the very same symptoms. They seems to be related to the winter heating season, but the worst hot spots come in mid to late spring. Since we started her on the meds, she can sometimes go a whole year without a course of steroids and antibiotics.

By the way, for the times we need fast relief, the best stuff we have found is the generic "allergy" meds from CVS. They're a pink pill and very cheap.



Granny M

(1,395 posts)
2. Thanks so much for posting this.
Wed Jun 19, 2013, 06:49 AM
Jun 2013

I have an itchy dog that no one can find anything wrong with. He's on hypoallergenic food for highly sensitive dogs. I hate giving him prednisone. Nice to know there's an alternative with Benedryl and the other allergy meds mentioned in the first reply.

Myrina

(12,296 posts)
3. Not only the weight ...
Wed Jun 19, 2013, 09:38 AM
Jun 2013

.... My 100 lb Bear who is bothered with chronic ear infections from allergies zonks out with 1 Benadryl. But the same makes Coco-nut, my 27 lb Cattle Dog/Terrier mix, act like she's on Red Bull.

Must have something to do with their internal chemistry/reactiveness, just like humans. St. Johns Wort, for example, makes my heart race & gives me the shakes. Other people swear it does nothing to them.




Good info, though. Thanks!!

2theleft

(1,136 posts)
4. My vet recommended to try it during the day the first time
Wed Jun 19, 2013, 02:50 PM
Jun 2013

you give it to your dog for that exact reason...nothing worse than night time dose and then having your dog bounce off the walls. My step-son - advil zonks him out, nyquil keeps him awake. Go figure.

TheDogLover

(1 post)
5. Good point,
Tue Sep 2, 2014, 02:54 PM
Sep 2014

I think you're right about the internal chemistry/reactiveness. My dogs of almost the same weight (2 of them) do better on different mg of benadryl. We live in a very rural area, so we are quite a distance from our veterinarian office, so we talked to some veterinarians and looked online and were suggested benadryl, since it is the safest for our dogs and helpful for both our doggies and my husband and I. There is a chart here based on the weight, http://www.anydogrescue.org/benadryl-for-dogs/ which I printed and put on my refrigerator. But like mentioned, I would give a lower dosage and build your way up to for your dogs because even a smaller amount may be enough!

melfoxbb

(1 post)
6. Benadryl for Dogs
Sun Jun 11, 2017, 09:16 AM
Jun 2017

We often use Benadryl to help our little dog Walter when his allergies get bad. He is only 13 pounds so we have found that using benadryl for kids is much easier to get the dosage right because the mg per tablet is 12.5mg. https://belovedbark.com/giving-dogs-benadryl/

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