My dog is still itching. Can he take Benadryl daily for hot spots?

The spots where the rashes are definitely fit with seasonal environmental allergies. They may not have been there before, but would not be due to the Benadryl. It's more likely that it's a progression of the allergies and a sign that the Benadryl is not working well. Dogs tend to not be helped by certain antihistamines, but may be helped better by others. Luckily there are a few alternatives that can be bought over the counter. I recommend calling you veterinarian and asking if they could suggest another antihistamine. As long as they have no other concerns with Riley, they should be happy to give you an alternative. If the second antihistamine doesn't work and you still notice the rash/itching, then he will likely need a recheck exam and stronger medication. One thing you can do for the rash and itchy skin, is give a bath with cool water using an oatmeal or aloe shampoo. You can get these shampoos at the pet store. I hope that helps and Riley gets better soon.

The next thing to do is go to the veterinarian. If the antihistamines are not working, he may need something stronger. These lesions could also now be infected. Make sure to protect the area from rubbing or scratching and he should wear an elizabethan collar at all times. Have him examined soon.

Benadryl is used to treat allergic reactions and allergies so if it seems to be helping then he probably has allergies. If the signs persist then he should be examined by a vet to determine the cause and treat. He may need an antibiotic and a corticosteroid to help treat the problem. You could also bathe him with a medicated dog shampoo and see if that helps. Hope he he feels better soon!

I am sorry that Ali has a hotspot. I would recommend to give her 1/2 teaspoon of childrens liquid benadryl twice a day to help with the itching. You can use a small amount of hydrocortisone cream twice a day as well. The biggest key is to keep her from licking it so I would recommend to get an e-collar (the lampshade collar) for her to wear. Also, please know there is a good chance these remedies will not help her hot spot heal. If it isn't improving, I would strongly recommend contacting your vet for an exam and likely some oral antibiotics. I hope she starts to feel better soon!

Do not give any medications to your pet without the advice of your veterinarian. Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Since your dog has hot spots, she is at risk for a skin infection and requires antibiotics. Your vet can also prescribe a short course of steroids to break the itch cycle then can dispense or recommend an antihistamine to prevent the itchiness from returning. Some antihistamines work better than others in different dogs, so you will need to find the one that works best. A pet approved colloidal oatmeal bath can soothe itchy skin. Use cool water and pat dry after to minimize the itch. Consider adding an essential fatty acid supplement (usually a fish oil) to her diet to promote healthy skin. EFAs may also decrease inflammation. Search www.pet360.com for fish oil supplements. If a diagnosis of allergies is made, your task is to try to determine what she is allergic to and decrease or eliminate it. Discuss food elimination trials, hydrolyzed diets and allergy testing with your vet.

Tobi appears to have allergic skin disease, which sometimes involves secondary bacterial or yeast infection as well as the itchy skin. The raw patches and scab areas on Tobi make me think that he may need to be on antibiotics. Benadryl is usually not very effective for moderate-to-severe itching, and there are special allergy drugs designed just for dogs that work much better to help with allergies. I would ask your vet about Apoquel and Cytopoint medications for allergies. Also, Tobi probably needs to be on antibiotics but he would need a test like a skin culture to know for sure. Hope that helps!

Given that the Benadryl didn't work to completely cure the allergic reaction, Giselle will likely need a steroid to stop it. I recommend having her seen by a vet now to get that prescribed to her to stop the reaction.