Dog's ear flopped after bug bite, given Benadryl. Is it an emergency?

This is probably an allergic reaction due to an insect bite or a plant outside. those reactions tend to resolve within 48 hours without treatment. if the swelling becomes too large or if your dog becomes lethargic, take him to the vet in order to get an antihistamine/steroid injection. from your description at this moment i think he is probably fine, but this can change so monitor him closely.

If the Benadryl was effective, I would have expected to see a reduction in the swelling by now. Sometimes allergic reactions require stronger drugs to treat such a steroids, and it sounds like this may be the cause for Moose. Because the swelling hasn't reduced and the reaction appears to be progressing, it's time to see a vet immediately. Please take him into an ER vet clinic if your regular vet is closed; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Kyle. You are giving Benadryl plus Congestion. Unless specifically directed to do so by his veterinarian, I would stop this medication. He should be receiving just Benadryl which contains only diphenhydramine. Some dogs will require ongoing doses of steroids to keep the swelling down in the days following the reaction. His veterinarian may prescribe an antibiotic for the wounds that have started as well. I recommend contacting his veterinarian and see if a recheck appointment is necessary to discuss his medication. I hope this information helps!

Poor Lebron! That looks and sounds like it could have been a bug bite that Lebron had an over enthusiastic reaction to. If it really is just a bug bite, oral over the counter Benadryl twice a day (25mg if he's around 25lbs) and some antibiotic ointment like Neosporin should help. Take care not to allow any water to get in his ears because that could lead to infection. If that doesn't clear things up, I'd recommend a vet visit. Good luck!

Check for any injuries or sting marks. If there are puncture wounds that ooze blood this may be a snake bite and you need to take Rikke to a vet right away. If it is an allergic reaction and not a swollen face due to snake bite, or a tooth root abscess or injury in the mouth or obstructed salivary duct or swollen salivary gland, then you can try Benadryl. Unfortunately we are not in a position legally to give out dosages. In order to do legally so we would have to have a patient-veterinarian-owner relationship with you. However you can look up a description of Benadryl as a medication here: https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/ If you suspect anything else beside allergy, if your dog is lethargic, has breathing problems or starts to vomit or gets diarrhea, you will need to take Rikke to a pet emergency room for an exam and treatment.

Some anti-allergy drugs are safe for us in pets and some aren’t. As long as we know the type you are using then we can give you the appropriate recommendation moving forward. The bottle should have the active ingredient listed on there. Also if you are out of Benadryl I would suggest perhaps making a quick run to pick some more up at your local pharmacy. This is just the easiest antihistamine drug to give in pets which is why we recommend this one first. I hope this helps and if you need anything else from us please don’t hesitate to ask. Take care.

Poor girl. Sometimes Benadryl can be tried in pets with an acute allergic reaction to insect bites with success. You can also try applying a cold compress on the swollen area for 5-10 minutes (if allowed) to reduce the swelling. As long as the swelling improves and does not spread over the next 24 hrs, and Sophia does not have any systemic effects (i..e lethargy, pale gums, heavy breathing, swelling around the neck), then she can potentially recover from this with antihistamines (i.e. diphenhydramine) alone. However some pets will require a steroid shot to stop the reaction, which your vet should be able to give Sophia if needed.