My dog has swollen ears. Can I use human allergy meds if no Benadryl?

Poor Rollo! A sudden onset of swelling and itching certainly sounds like an allergic reaction. Some allergic reactions do not respond to antihistamines alone and require corticosteroids. At this point, your best bet is to take Rollo to the vet (or an emergency vet if your local vet is closed) for evaluation and they will be able to prescribe steroids, if indicated. You can also try bathing Rollo in a gentle oatmeal-based dog shampoo or gentle baby shampoo in case he is having an allergic reaction to something in the environment other than a bug bite. I hope that all goes well!

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.

Many allergy medications are safe to give to dogs over the counter. It is always best to double check with your veterinarian regarding the dose and the drug you are about to give. What you have in the picture is generic system and is quite safe for dogs. The dose that I typically use is 0.5mg/kg of body weight every 24 hours. My own dog used to get this. He was 20lb and his dose was 4.5mg every 24 hours. I rounded this to 5mg every 24 hours to make it easier for dosing. So that would be 1/2 tablet every 24 hours. There are other options for allergies as well if antihistamines are not effective but your veterinarian will have to prescribe these. Please let me know if you have any other questions and I would be more than happy to help!

Yes, you can try to give him some Benadryl to see if it helps to calm him. If he is 70 pounds then he needs three (3) of the human 25 mg capsules. I know it sounds like a lot but that is the correct dosage. Dogs metabolize this drug very quickly, hence the higher dose. If 30-45 minutes after you give it, he is still acting strangely, you should get him to a vet ASAP for an exam.

The pictures are kind of blurry but I can tell there is some redness. The swelling is difficult to appreciate. It does seem like an allergic reaction to something, but what.....I cannot say. Since she is acting otherwise normally you can try to give her some over the counter antihistamine medication - you can use diphenhydramine (Benadryl). I would give her 1/2 of a 25mg caplet by mouth every 12 hours. If this has not resolved by Monday then she should see your vet. https://www.benadryl.ca/products/benadryl-caplets

Hello, sorry to hear about Bailey. It sounds as though she may be having a more severe degree of her seasonal allergies and may require medical management for her allergic reaction. You should have Bailey examined by a veterinarian today to ensure she is not at risk of an anaphylactic reaction as this can be much more severe than your typical allergic skin disease. She may need medications such as injectable benadryl, steroids, or epinephrine. If there throat gets too swollen, the biggest concern is that she may be unable to breathe. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Yes, there is an OTC in the form of antihistamines, but legally I cannot recommend it for you to use on her, nor can I give you the dose. That's because doing so requires a veterinary client patient relationship which cannot be achieved via an internet forum. In addition, I cannot say for certain if a specific drug is safe for your dog. I would give your vet a call to get the name of the OTC option as well as the dosage.