Can Benadryl be a choice in treating your dog when they have an itch? You spend a ton of money at the vet and suddenly you think “Ah ha, I have some Benadryl in the cabinet, why don’t we use that?”
By the way, Benadryl is a product name and you need to check the ingredients in any over the counter (OTC) medication you are thinking of giving to your pet.
STOP, not all Benadryl products are safe for your furry friend. Some versions of Benadryl can contain ingredients that are unsafe or dangerous, including; alcohol, Xylitol and Camphor which is contained in the “Itch Cooling Gel” version. None of these ingredients are good for your pet and can be extremely dangerous. Other brands in the “Cooing Gel” family with Camphor include Carmex, Tiger Balm, Vicks, VapoRub, Campho-Phenique, Arthritis Rub.
Another ingredient to be aware of is pseudoepinephrine which is used in decongestants and is also possibly dangerous to dogs.
You should never administer medications to your pet without first checking with your vet. Vets recommend not dosing household pets with OTC medications if they are currently using other prescribed medications as this can cause interactions that can prove deadly. Benadryl does not have FDA approval for administering to dogs and it is not as effective in dogs as it is in us humans.
There are some other issues that you should be aware of when thinking about Benadryl or one of it’s competitors. Be very careful if your dog is suffering from:
- High Blood Pressure
- Heart Disease
- Pregnancy
- Seizure Disorders
Never use time-release capsules. Capsules are absorbed differently in humans than dogs and can also rupture in a dog’s mouth delivering all the medication instantly. This can lead to an overdose—a pet safety issue that is easily avoided and can lead to a vet hospital visit or even death.
We have seen recommendations for Rescue Remedy Natural Homeopathic Stress Relief Drops – to help deuce anxiety in dogs and Vet’s Best Healthy Coat Shed & Itch Relief – to help relieve Dogs Skin Irritation and Shedding Due to Seasonal Allergies or Dermatitis
