My dog has soft lumps on her skin. Could it be hives or an allergy?

Hello. This sounds like it might be an allergic reaction. This could result in swelling around the airways. If hives are present (raised, haired bumps about 1cm across), then I would suggest a visit to the vet for some medications. Good luck with your little one!

This looks like an allergic reaction. You can try some Benadryl (https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/). However, if this does not resolve the issue then , you will need to take Ellie to the vet as this could be a skin infection that needs a prescription medication.

Poor guy. He is likely having an allergic reaction to something he was exposed to outside. You can give him an antihistamine to see if this improves things. As long as his breathing is ok and there is no swelling around the neck, he is likely to be fine after 12 hrs or so as the reaction subsides. You can also try bathing him in an oatmeal or hypoallergenic shampoo to help calm down the skin. If the skin reaction does not improve or worsens by tomorrow then have your vet take a look at him and they can administer stronger medications to subside the skin reaction. It will take a bit of investigating on your part to figure out what he could have been exposed to to cause him to break out into hives.

If these just arose out of nowhere I would be concerned they are hives and she is having an allergic reaction. Since they are on her face, I would consider this an emergency, so it would be recommended to take her in to the emergency clinic right away, where they can give her a shot of benadryl and a steroid shot to stop the reaction. In severe cases of allergic reactions the face can continue to swell and the swelling can extend to the airway, becoming life threatening, and we don't want that to happen!

I am sorry to hear about your concerns for Lily! It looks like she could have developed hives https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/allergic-reactions-hives-and-swelling-of-the-face/ . Sometimes in addition to benadryl these dogs do also need steroids, so I would call your vet and let them know about this change because they may want to see her again or to change her medication. I would also consider bathing her in case the hives were a reaction to a plant she came into contact with if she spends time outdoors.

Poor Bowzer, it looks like he is having an allergic reaction. He should be see by a veterinarian so that they can administer allergy medications and control his symptoms. Other signs of allergy include a swollen face, vomiting, and lethargy in addition to the hives you are currently seeing. More severe complications with allergies include difficulty breathing. Please have Bowzer evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible so that he gets medications. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It’s hard to tell from the pictures but it looks like Baby might have a skin infection. The Benadryl should help if she’s itchy but she needs to see a vet to determine if it’s an infection and get her some oral antibiotics if needed. Good luck and kisses to Baby!