Use Antihistamines To Treat Your Dog From Hives Breakout
Give your dog , If anything, Hives are known to get treated well enough with the likes of Benadryl or diphenhydramine which are all antihistamines. While any form of Benadryl will work well to treat allergic reactions to dogs, do not put your dog at risk by attempting to treat your dog at home with over the counter antihistamines without seeing a local vet for proper physical examination to asses the severity of the hives in your dog.
Causes Of Skin Rash In Dogs
Skin rashes in dogs may be caused by:
- Parasites such as fleas, ticks and mites can cause skin rashes in dogs many dogs are allergic to the saliva of fleas. Ticks not only irritate the dogs skin, they can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever ticks can also transmit these diseases to humans. The mite Demodex canis is the cause of demodectic mange Demodex canis lives on the dogs hair follicles. Sarcoptic canine mange is caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite burrowing into the dogs skin.
- Atopic Dermatitis is common among pedigrees and tends to appear between the ages of one and five. Dogs can be reacting to food or their environment. Food allergies are the culprit in about 20% of atopic dogs. Environmental allergies such as grass, dust, mold, secondhand smoke, insecticides and cleaning chemicals can cause your pet to itch and develop a rash. Frustratingly, atopic dermatitis cannot be cured and tends to flare up repeatedly throughout a dog’s lifetime.
- Heat rash is caused by the combination of staphylococcus bacteria and hot, humid weather dogs with a thick coat are more susceptible to heat rashes. Hot spots are also referred to as ‘acute moist dermatitis’. Hot spots can spread rapidly and a secondary staph infection can cause the skin to have open sores with pus. Hot spots occur more often in warmer weather.
Color Or Texture Changes
Changes in a dog’s skin color or coat texture can be a warning sign of several common metabolic or hormone problems. They can also result from an infection or other skin disorder. Usually a simple blood test can identify the underlying cause. Be sure to ask your veterinarian about any significant changes to your dogâs coat.
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How Long Do Dog Hives Last
Mild to medium breakout of hives will go away within the first 24 hours from when they break, however, hives in dogs vary in severity from dog breed to the other.
While all dogs are susceptible to suffer from hive breakout, most dogs do not react to exposure to an allergen that causes hive breakout reaction however, for those dogs that break, the severity can range from mild to severe.
Your local vet will be the best-placed advisor of what you should do to remedy the breakout so If your veterinarian feels that the reaction will go away on its own within 24 hours, the recommendation will likely be to let the hives go away on their own without administrating any form of medication.
Hives In Dogs: Causes
The first thing to clarify is that a bruise on a dogs skin is generally caused by a strong blow to the area. The impact causes bleeding under the skin, resulting in coloration.
Hives in dogs, however, are usually linked to allergic reactions. These occur when a dog’s immune system overreacts to a substance that, in principle, poses no threat. Have you notice bumps on dog skin? This may appear as a reaction to insect bite, parasites, food, vaccines, etc. In addition, heat, light, exercise, stress and drugs can also result such reactions, but these would be considered non-immunological.
If youre wondering, Can dogs get hives from stress? The answer is yes, they can, although this is not very common. Read about stress in dogs here.
For more, we recommend reading our article where we discuss everything you need to know about dog food allergies.
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Hives Vs Other Skin Bumps
Dogs can develop many different types skin lumps or bumps that can look similar to hives. It is important to remember that these are different things though. Skin lumps and bumps will not appear or disappear as quickly as hives can and are usually not found in groupings. As previously mentioned, dogs do not get just one hive, but lumps often appear by themselves. If you have any concerns about a lesion on your dog’s skin, have it checked out by your veterinarian.
Treatment For Dog Rash
The answer for how to cure dog rashes depends on what caused the rash in the first place. Symptoms will need to be addressed, too, e.g. medications to relieve the itch. However, when symptoms alone are treated without addressing the underlying cause, the problem might come right back.
Treatment for the underlying cause might mean parasite treatments, a special diet for allergies, medications for an underlying medical condition, or other specific treatments as indicated.
For contagious conditions , the vet team can offer advice on preventing the spread of the infection to people and other pets.
Regardless of the underlying cause, many of the following treatments are commonly used to provide relief and allow the skin to heal:
For chronic issues such as allergies, a cure isnt possibleinstead, treatment focuses on managing symptoms and minimizing flare ups.
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Recovery And Management Of Hives In Dogs
In most cases, hives resolve on their own after a few hours. Understanding the cause of the hives can take longer. Some dogs simply have sensitive skin. Others may suffer from allergies that require long-term management. Learning how to manage your dogs sensitivities will help reduce the risk of recurrence. For instance, dogs with grass allergies or sun sensitivities may need to wear protective clothing while outdoors.
Determining the cause of an allergy can take time, if it can be determined at all. However, by observing your dog you may be able to deduce some of the triggers for his condition.
Symptoms Of Dog Skin Conditions
Itching is one of the most obvious symptoms if your dog has a skin condition, but its difficult for pet owners to determine exactly whats irritating your dog without a full veterinary examination.
While it is quite normal for a dog to occasionally itch, just like a person may occasionally scratch their skin, frequent or prolonged itching is a tell-tale sign of something more serious going on.
Dogs may try to relieve the itch by rubbing their head against an object or scratching the irritated area with their paws. You may also see your dog licking their paws or other areas of the body to soothe the irritated skin.
Other signs suggesting an issue with the skin condition includes the following symptoms:
- Skin Sores
- Hot spots of inflamed skin
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And What To Do About Them
Seeing red spots on your dogs skin and watching him itch them furiously can be a bit alarming.
And finding out that your dog has hives from allergies or another cause can be even scarier.
While you can treat hives with a strong allergy medication most of the time, hives can also be the symptom of a life-threatening condition.
Heres what Dr. Ursula Oberkirchner, a veterinary dermatologist and owner of Advanced Veterinary Dermatology in Florida, had to say about hives on dogs, and what to do if you see these allergy bumps on your pup!
What Are Side Effects Of Benadryl To Dogs
The side effects of giving Benadryl to dogs is drowsiness Benadryl causes, that is why long-term use of antihistamines in dogs cannot be ignored, however in some cases, Benadryl can be helpful for the dogs. So if your dog is dealing with recurring allergenic reactions, do not overlook the main side effects of Benadryl especially drowsiness.
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Dog Allergies: When Do They Need Emergency Care
Although it may be hard to imagine, dogs can suffer from allergies in the same way that humans do. There are many different factors that can cause your dog to experience this condition, and they tend to fall in one or more of these three categories: fleas, food and the environmental.
But how can you tell when your dog needs to see an emergency vet for their allergy symptoms? Below are some causes of dog allergies and when you should take your pet for immediate emergency care.
What Is Skin Rash
A skin rash can be painful, itchy and very uncomfortable. Many skin conditions can quickly progress. The most common reason for skin rashes in dogs is allergies. Allergies may be caused by your dogs diet, by the environment and by parasites. A few flea bites on a dog that is allergic to flea saliva can trigger itching and scratching for weeks. A flea bite allergy is also known as ‘flea allergy dermatitis’.
The most common food allergies in dogs are beef, dairy, chicken, corn, wheat, soy and yeast. A dog with a skin rash may also be reacting due to an allergy to the preservatives, dyes and fillers in his diet. Any dog can develop allergies. There are some breeds that are more prone to develop food and airborne allergies such as the Maltese, German Shepherd, Bull Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, American Hairless Terrier, Lhasa Apso, American Pit Bull Terrier, Golden Retriever and the English Bulldog.
Parasites not only cause skin rashes, but they can also rob your dog of nutrients. A heavy infestation of fleas, mites and ticks can also cause your dog to become anemic.
Dogs that have a skin rash should be seen by a veterinarian. The veterinarian will be able to diagnose and treat the underlying reason for the skin rash.
Skin conditions are a very common health problem in dogs. A skin rash in dogs can be caused by an underlying condition such as parasites, bacterial infections and allergies.
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Hives In Dogs Are Easy To Treat
Although the underlying cause of dog hives could be more difficult to tackle, the hives themselves can usually be treated easily with the help of a vet. Your vet may provide steroids or antihistamines and may also give your dog fluids in some instances. You may also be able to relieve hives at home by using a cold compress on your pet.
However, you should never give your dog antihistamines or other medication at home without the guidance of your vet. Do not give your dog human allergy medication unless your vet expressly tells you to do so.
Whats The Difference Between Hives And Rashes
Since a rash is essentially an irritated area of the skin, you can consider hives as a kind of rash. When you press on one of the bumps, it will usually blanch up, meaning that it will appear white when pressed.
A rash can remain on the skin, as is, for several days. But, hives, on the other hand, appear suddenly . Hives can disappear all on their own but have the tendency to reappear in different forms and on a different part of the body.
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My Dog Has Bumps All Over His Body: Itching
Hives on a dogs skin can appear acutely or chronically. Is your dogs skin purple? Hive color can vary from rash-like red to a range of purple shades, similar to that of a bruise.
There are different types of hives in dogs and treatment will depend largely on the type. Some hives may remit spontaneously after a short time, while others may not. For more about what causes hives in dogs and the different types, keep reading below.
For more, we recommend reading our article where we discuss the most common skin diseases on dogs.
Make Sure The Allergic Reaction Wont Turn From Irritating To Tragic
Once youâve figured out that your dog has hives there are a few things that can be done. Just like in humans the applications of antihistamines and lotions can help alleviate the allergic symptoms associated with hives. The swelling, itchiness, and redness can all be reduced. You can get a variety of different ointments and care products for your dogs skin. This can be particularly helpful after you have discovered that your pet has an allergy, but doesnât have any more serious allergic symptoms.
However, for pet owners who are seeing symptoms for the first time, the lotions and antihistamines are all well and good, but theyâre no substitute for a medical opinion. As was mentioned earlier, hives are just one potential symptom of an allergic reaction. And can be an indication that more serious symptoms will be on the way. If you are noticing hives or any other allergic reaction in your dog for the first time get them to a vet as soon as you can. Once youâve identified that the allergy wonât ever be any more serious than hives and itchy skin, the lotions and ointments will be all you need. But until you are sure the allergic reaction wonât get any more serious donât tame the chance with your canine confidants health and wellbeing.
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What Are Hives Due To Allergies
Allergic reactions for dogs often appear on the skin in the form of redness, swelling, and itching. Urticaria, known more commonly as hives, is another common skin reaction to allergens. Although hives are not generally life-threatening, they can develop into more serious problems. These small raised wheals are extremely itchy, and if your dog scratches at them, they may become even more inflamed or even rupture which can lead to dangerous skin infections. Swelling that occurs in the throat and nasal passages can also make breathing difficult, if not impossible.
Urticaria, known more commonly as hives, is a common skin reaction to allergens that produces red, raised bumps that cause intense itching.
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Bring Your Pet To Heart + Paw For Treatment For Dog Hives
Although hives may indicate a more serious underlying health problem, they are usually indicative of mild to moderate issues that can be easily treated. With the help of your trusted vet, you can get to the bottom of your dogs hives and figure out the best way to help your pet recover, too.
Be sure to head to the vet if your dogs hives last more than a day or if they come along with other symptoms, like shortness of breath or rapid heart rate. And if your dog seems to be in significant distress, dont waitgo to the emergency vet instead.
For more information about dog hives, or if your pet needs to be seen by a veterinarian, book an appointment at any of our Heart + Paw locations. Our team will develop a treatment plan tailored to your pets condition to make sure they get back to their happy and healthy selves.
Home Remedies For Dog Rash
Check with your veterinarian before giving any medication or supplement at home, to be sure its safe for your pup. Some substances can be toxic or harmful, including dog-safe medications and supplements if they are given at the wrong dosage.
If your dogs rash is severe/uncomfortable, gets worse, comes back after a successful treatment, or doesnt heal up after a few days of home treatment, its important to schedule a visit with your veterinarian.
With that in mind, sometimes minor issues can be treated at home. Home care may include
- Skin supplements formulated for dogs.
- Antihistamines such as Benadryl. Check with your vet to see if this is right for your dog and what would be a safe dose. Avoid combination products .
- Soothing shampoos .
- Wiping off your dogs paws and belly after a walk, to remove pollen and other potential allergens.
- Hydrocortisone cream is usually okay to apply for a few days directly on the rash. Just be sure your dog doesnt lick and ingest it .
- Maintain regular grooming appointments for dogs who need their haircoat maintained or who shed a lot.
- Routine ear cleanings can help pups whose ears get affected.
- Quality flea prevention year round or based on your vets recommendation for your local area.
- Gentle antiseptic solutions for cleaning shallow wounds or infected skin.
- A humidifier in dry climates, to help prevent dry skin.
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Dog Hives Should Often Be Treated As An Emergency
If your dog breaks out into hives that go away within an hour and do not include any other symptoms, you may not have to treat the issue as an emergency.
However, if your dogs hives last several hours or more, this may mean their body is having trouble fighting off an allergic reaction to something. Take them to the emergency vet or regular vet for further treatment.
What Is Rashes And Hives
Urticaria is considered to be relatively uncommon in dogs. Any breed can be affected although dogs with short or light colored hair are more likely to be diagnosed. Urticaria is usually not of grave concern for pet owners. Most commonly, the allergen can be identified and avoided and the symptoms thereby can be effectively managed. In rare cases, if there is swelling in the mouth or airways the dog will need immediate veterinary care to avoid suffocation.
Urticaria is the dogs immune system response to contact with a chemical or allergen that results in red, itchy, patches or sometimes bumps on the skin.
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