Dog Hives
Dog Hives: What You Can Do To Make Him Better
Dog hives, just as those which occur in humans, are caused by sensitivities and allergies to many different elements. Unlike humans, however, your dog can’t tell you if they are having internal reactions as well, and these are the ones that could be the most dangerous. If you suspect that your canine friend is suffering dog hives, it is best to have him checked out for general health and precautionary reasons. Your vet will be able to tell you whether or not it is a serious reaction, and will also be able to give you a treatment plan for his localized discomfort. We don’t want him scratching himself into secondary infections, so be sure that you follow the anti-itch remedies prescribed.
Dog hives are most often caused by food allergies, especially in dogs who are either fed too much human food, are offered too much variety in a short period of time, or who get themselves into trouble by nosing around in garbage cans and the like. If your dog isn’t prone to any of these things, you may be looking at a plant insect bite reaction. Whichever the case may be, you might want to have him checked out by a vet just to be on the safe side. Some of the more serious conditions that can arise along with dog hives are swelling in the throat and wind pipe and breathing problems, and you don’t wait until it’s too late before finding out that he’s ok.
Treatment for dog hives is usually in the form of oral or injected antihistamines. Benadryl is great for dogs and cats because it works in the same manner on them as it does on us. Most topical treatments are not recommended for our canine pets because of their tendency to lick and clean at irritated places. Dog hives usually show up on the most tender and least furry areas, such as at the arm and leg pits, the underbelly, the ears, and the face. The rest of him may have hives, but you will have to feel for them because of the hair. This is another reason that topical remedies don’t work well for our fuzzy friends. Your vet may inject him with a steroid histamine blocker upon his visit, and ask you to follow up with the medication of his choice.
If it is discovered that the dog hives have been the result of a food allergy, which can take some time to show itself, your vet may refer you to an hypoallergenic dog food or a lamb and rice formula, which tends to be much less harsh than beef or chicken. Be sure to change over slowly so as to avoid further digestive problems.