Allergy season is here again for humans. As gorgeous as flowers are, they bring allergens like pollen onto our clothes and shoes and, in turn, into our homes. These allergens not only cause us to cough and sneeze but may affect our dogs as well.<\/p>\n
Antihistamines like Benadryl are a go-to over-the-counter solution for humans with allergies. Sometimes, pet parents give their dogs antihistamines if they notice they\u2019re showing allergy symptoms.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s few and far between that a dog with true seasonal allergies is going to respond adequately with an over-the-counter antihistamine,\u201d says Dr. Lara Wilson, DVM, of Firehouse Animal Health<\/a>.<\/p>\n But that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s never OK to give your dog an antihistamine. Dr. Wilson says there are a few situations where they may be helpful, just not as many as she feels the public often thinks. Dr. Wilson shared when to reach for Benadryl or ask your vet about different solutions for your dog\u2019s allergies.<\/p>\n Antihistamines have their place in dog healthcare.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are helpful with acute allergic reactions, such as if a pet gets a vaccine and is lethargic after, or if they are out in the yard and bit by ants or stung by a bee,\u201d Dr. Wilson says.<\/p>\n They may also help with mild seasonal allergy symptoms.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it\u2019s just sneezing or watery eyes, I might use Benadryl,\u201d Dr. Wilson says.<\/p>\n Related: <\/strong>Is Benadryl Safe for Dogs? What to Know About Benadryl for Dogs<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n When people have seasonal allergies, they often sneeze, get watery eyes and develop hay fever. Dogs may also experience these things, but typically chronic seasonal allergies present differently in our furbabies.<\/p>\n \u201cMore often, they\u2019ll get serious itchy skin which can lead to a bacterial or fungal infection from the inflammation of whatever they are allergic to, like pollen,\u201d Dr. Wilson says. \u201cIn that scenario, the over-the-counter antihistamines don\u2019t really help. They don\u2019t cut back on the level of itch.\u201d<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0 Shutterstock.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n If you notice your dog showing signs of seasonal allergies, which may include sneezing and constant itching, contact your vet. Dr. Wilson advises letting your vet know:<\/p>\n Your vet will then be able to diagnose and prescribe treatment. Dr. Wilson believes the treatment of seasonal dog allergies has come a long way recently.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the last five to seven years, we\u2019ve seen more oral and injectable medications that the itch and treats the infection,\u201d Dr. Wilson says.<\/p>\n Dr. Wilson often prescribes Apoquel to her pup patients. The label for the oral medication contains some scary-sounding side effects, such as lethargy, loss of appetite and vomiting, but Dr. Wilson advises patients not to worry too much. She hasn\u2019t had a dog get sick from the medication, and she feels they are safer than steroids, which aren\u2019t compatible with every medication a pup may need and increase the risk for muscle\/joint changes and Cushing\u2019s Disease.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you read the Apoquel label, it can look terrifying, but the safety studies are really extensive,\u201d Dr. Wilson says.<\/p>\n Your vet can also give you prescription-strength topical treatments, such as shampoos and wipes, that can alleviate itchiness. Sometimes, an over-the-counter solution may work.<\/p>\n \u201cFor mild itchy\/dry skin, aloe and oatmeal shampoos are great,\u201d Dr. Wilson says.<\/p>\n She recommends keeping shampoos on the skin for 5 to 10 minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cThink like using a beauty product face mask for ourselves,\u201d Dr. Wilson says.<\/p>\n Featured Image: Shutterstock.<\/em><\/p>\n Read Next: <\/strong>Can You Give a Dog Aspirin? Are Human Pain Meds Safe for Dogs?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The post Can Antihistamines Treat Your Dog\u2019s Allergies?<\/a> by Beth Ann Mayer<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n The post Can Antihistamines Treat Your Dog\u2019s Allergies?<\/a> by Beth Ann Mayer<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n Allergy season is here again for humans. As gorgeous as flowers are, they bring allergens like pollen onto our clothes and shoes and, in turn, into our homes. These allergens not only cause us to cough and sneeze but may affect our dogs as well.<\/p>\n Antihistamines like Benadryl are a go-to over-the-counter solution for humans with allergies. Sometimes, pet parents give their dogs antihistamines if they notice they\u2019re showing allergy symptoms.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s few and far between that a dog with true seasonal allergies is going to respond adequately with an over-the-counter antihistamine,\u201d says Dr. Lara Wilson, DVM, of Firehouse Animal Health<\/a>.<\/p>\n But that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s never OK to give your dog an antihistamine. Dr. Wilson says there are a few situations where they may be helpful, just not as many as she feels the public often thinks. Dr. Wilson shared when to reach for Benadryl or ask your vet about different solutions for your dog\u2019s allergies.<\/p>\n Antihistamines have their place in dog healthcare.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are helpful with acute allergic reactions, such as if a pet gets a vaccine and is lethargic after, or if they are out in the yard and bit by ants or stung by a bee,\u201d Dr. Wilson says.<\/p>\n They may also help with mild seasonal allergy symptoms.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it\u2019s just sneezing or watery eyes, I might use Benadryl,\u201d Dr. Wilson says.<\/p>\n Related: <\/strong>Is Benadryl Safe for Dogs? What to Know About Benadryl for Dogs<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n When people have seasonal allergies, they often sneeze, get watery eyes and develop hay fever. Dogs may also experience these things, but typically chronic seasonal allergies present differently in our furbabies.<\/p>\n \u201cMore often, they\u2019ll get serious itchy skin which can lead to a bacterial or fungal infection from the inflammation of whatever they are allergic to, like pollen,\u201d Dr. Wilson says. \u201cIn that scenario, the over-the-counter antihistamines don\u2019t really help. They don\u2019t cut back on the level of itch.\u201d<\/p>\n Photo:\u00a0 Shutterstock.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n If you notice your dog showing signs of seasonal allergies, which may include sneezing and constant itching, contact your vet. Dr. Wilson advises letting your vet know:<\/p>\n Your vet will then be able to diagnose and prescribe treatment. Dr. Wilson believes the treatment of seasonal dog allergies has come a long way recently.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the last five to seven years, we\u2019ve seen more oral and injectable medications that the itch and treats the infection,\u201d Dr. Wilson says.<\/p>\n Dr. Wilson often prescribes Apoquel to her pup patients. The label for the oral medication contains some scary-sounding side effects, such as lethargy, loss of appetite and vomiting, but Dr. Wilson advises patients not to worry too much. She hasn\u2019t had a dog get sick from the medication, and she feels they are safer than steroids, which aren\u2019t compatible with every medication a pup may need and increase the risk for muscle\/joint changes and Cushing\u2019s Disease.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you read the Apoquel label, it can look terrifying, but the safety studies are really extensive,\u201d Dr. Wilson says.<\/p>\n Your vet can also give you prescription-strength topical treatments, such as shampoos and wipes, that can alleviate itchiness. Sometimes, an over-the-counter solution may work.<\/p>\n \u201cFor mild itchy\/dry skin, aloe and oatmeal shampoos are great,\u201d Dr. Wilson says.<\/p>\n She recommends keeping shampoos on the skin for 5 to 10 minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cThink like using a beauty product face mask for ourselves,\u201d Dr. Wilson says.<\/p>\n Featured Image: Shutterstock.<\/em><\/p>\n Read Next: <\/strong>Can You Give a Dog Aspirin? Are Human Pain Meds Safe for Dogs?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The post Can Antihistamines Treat Your Dog\u2019s Allergies?<\/a> by Beth Ann Mayer<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nWhen Can I Give My Dog <\/b>Benadryl?
\n<\/b><\/h2>\nWhy Don\u2019t Antihistamines Work for Chronic Seasonal Dog Allergies?<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"dog](\"http:\/\/www.dogster.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/dogs-fleas-yellow-puppy-scratching-31893040.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHow Should I Treat My Dog\u2019s Seasonal Allergies?<\/b><\/h2>\n
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When Can I Give My Dog <\/b>Benadryl?
\n<\/b><\/h2>\nWhy Don\u2019t Antihistamines Work for Chronic Seasonal Dog Allergies?<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\nHow Should I Treat My Dog\u2019s Seasonal Allergies?<\/b><\/h2>\n
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