Is it safe to give her liquid benadryl?

Question

My dog has chewed off some of the fur on her tail. She is itching terribly. I can't afford a vet bill right now. What shall I do?

Answer 1

It may or may not be allergies. Benedryl is only good for allergies, and should really not be given without checking with a vet.

Could she have fleas? I ask because in addition to regular flea bites, some dogs have reactions to flea bites.

You can try putting some benedryl cream on her tail. She may lick it off, but it may give her temporary relief.

Call you local Humane Society. They run low cost clinics.

Answer 2

Vets don't recommend liquid benadryl because of the difficulty in dosing and because there is alcohol in the formulation. Use the pill form and call your vet for the proper dosage for your dog. If doesn't help, go see the vet. It sounds like a possible hot spot and benadryl won't solve that.

Humane societies do spay/neuters and shots. They don't run low cost clinics or compete with vets in treatment of illness.

Answer 3

My vet had me give my dog (who was allergic to cut grass) a benadryl tablet to help with the itching. I would hide it in velveeta cheese cube so she would take it. You need to see what the problems is that causes the itching and try to solve that too.

Answer 4

Yes although it can be tough to administer. My dog recently was attacked by hornets in my yard and had to give hime benadryl before rushing him to the vet. Best method i found was to stick a straw in the bottle, cover the top with your finger, then pour it into his mouth through the straw.

Answer 5

You really shouldn't give Benedryl except for allergies.
What you are describing could also be hot spots. Do you see red skin where the fur is gone? flea bites?

Here's a site that has the dosage by weight.
http://www.animalsunlimited.net/meds.htm