How do you treat hives in dogs

Urticaria (Hives, Wheals) in Animals

• Antihistamines

• Glucocorticoids

Mild cases of urticaria may spontaneously resolve within 1248 hours.Treatment is generally initiated, however, because it is difficult to predict whether untreated urticaria will resolve or worsen over time.Generally, urticaria and angioedema respond quickly to treatment with glucocorticoids and antihistamines.

For dogs with urticaria, an antihistamine may be administered. Examples of antihistamines that may be effective include the following:

• diphenhydramine (24 mg/kg, PO, every 812 hours for 35 days)

• diphenhydramine (0.52 mg/kg, IM, once)

• cetirizine (14 mg/kg, PO, every 24 hours for 35 days)

• hydroxyzine pamoate (2 mg/kg, PO, every 12 hours for 35 days)

Loratidine and clemastine are not effective antihistamines for dogs. Responses to antihistamines in all species can vary considerably between individual animals.

Anecdotal experience suggests that additional treatment with a glucocorticoid will result in quicker resolution of urticaria compared with antihistamine alone, although research findings do not necessarily support this practice (1).Dexamethasone sodium phosphate may be administered (0.1 mg/kg, IV, once) in cases where swelling is severe or progressing rapidly. Administration of prednisone (0.51.0 mg/kg, PO, once) is generally sufficient for mild to moderate cases.

Although urticaria generally responds quickly to treatment, it may recur as the antihistamine and glucocorticoid are metabolized.Administration of an oral antihistamine for 35 days after initial treatment helps to prevent acute recurrence. In cats, prednisolone should be used in place of prednisone, and diphenhydramine should be avoided because it may cause paradoxical excitation.

For horses with urticaria, an antihistamine may be administered. Examples of antihistamines that may be effective include hydroxyzine pamoate (500 mg per horse, PO, every 12 hours for 35 days), pyrilamine (0.51.2 mg/kg, PO, every 12 hours for 35 days), and cetirizine (0.20.4 mg/kg, PO, every 12 hours for 35 days). For severe urticaria, dexamethasone may be administered (0.020.1 mg/kg; IV, PO, or IM; once) (2).

Glucocorticoids should be administered with caution in horses that are predisposed to laminitis. As in dogs, urticaria in horses may recur as the antihistamine and glucocorticoid are metabolized. Administration of an oral antihistamine for 35 days after initial treatment helps to prevent acute recurrence.

Urticaria can be a precursor to anaphylaxis.Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening condition characterized by systemic clinical signs and inadequate response to glucocorticoids.Epinephrine (0.01 mg/kg, IM, once, potentially repeated every 515 minutes; maximum dose of 0.3 mg total dose in dogs and cats < 40 kg and 0.5 mg total dose in dogs > 40 kg) is recommended for the initial treatment of anaphylaxis. Horses may receive epinephrine (0.010.02 mg/kg, IM or SC, once). Fluid therapy and other supportive care are essential for patients experiencing anaphylactic shock. Fatalities are rare.

Why Does My Dog Have Hives?

Seeing red spots on your dogs skin and watching him itch them furiously can be a bit alarming.

And finding out that your dog has hives from allergies or another cause can be even scarier.

While you can treat hives with a strong allergy medication most of the time, hives can also be the symptom of a life-threatening condition.

Heres what Dr. Ursula Oberkirchner, a veterinary dermatologist and owner of Advanced Veterinary Dermatology in Florida, had to say about hives on dogs, and what to do if you see these allergy bumps on your pup!

What are dog hives?

Hives on dogs, or urticaria, are most often caused by an allergic reaction, which means they develop after your dog is exposed to something hes allergic to.

Hives are a very characteristic symptom of an allergic-type reaction, Dr. Oberkirchner told The Dodo. Typically, hives develop within minutes or hours after exposure to the allergen.

Hives can be totally harmless and simply require an allergy medication to get rid of but sometimes they can mean something else is wrong.

Depending on the number, size and location of those hives, and if they are accompanied by other symptoms, such as trouble breathing or vomiting or diarrhea, hives can be a minor symptom or be part of a serious, even life-threatening, condition, Dr. Oberkirchner said.

An example of a life-threatening condition that causes hives includes anaphylaxis, which is when a dog has an extremely severe reaction to an allergen.

Certain cancers can also cause hives on your dog.

Your veterinarian will be able to help you determine whats causing allergy bumps on your dog. A thorough work-up by a veterinary dermatologist is often beneficial to help identify the cause of the hives and to manage them accordingly, Dr. Oberkirchner said.

What do hives look like on a dog?

Hives look like soft bumps that can range in size from small pebbles to egg-size and can be localized to one area of the body or develop all over the body, Dr. Oberkirchner said.

How to get rid of dog hives

How a vet will treat your dogs hives will depend on how severe they are.

The appropriate treatment is commensurate with the severity of the symptoms, and can range from giving your pet an antihistamine by mouth to requiring hospitalization with intravenous fluids and steroids, Dr. Oberkirchner said.

If you choose to give your dog antihistamines, make sure they dont include any added ingredients like decongestants or alcohol.

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You can also give your dog ordinary Benadryl, but contact your veterinarian first so they can tell you the appropriate dosage for your dog.

Its also recommended that antihistamines are taken alongside omega-3 fatty acid supplements to help your dogs itchy skin.

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You can also give your dog a bath with an anti-itch dog shampoo. To get the best results, look for shampoos that have both chlorhexidine and ceramides.

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Your vet might also prescribe other dog allergy treatments, including prescription medications like Apoquel, an injection (like Cytopoint) or steroids.

But truly the best form of treatment for dog hives is to figure out what your dog is allergic to and then keep him away from it, Dr. Oberkirchner said.

The key to long-term, successful management of hives lies within identifying what the pet is allergic to and, if possible, avoiding it in the future, Dr. Oberkirchner said.

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Hives and Rashes (Urticaria) in Dogs

Hives or skin rashes (urticaria) are localized patches of red, swollen, usually itchy, skin. They often develop and disappear suddenly. Hives are relatively uncommon in dogs. The most frequent causes are insect bites or stings, shampoos, and medications. Other causes include contact with toxic plants or chemicals. Friction, sunlight, heat, exercise, stress, and genetic abnormalities may cause or intensify the rash. Hives may develop after inhaling or consuming allergens. Hives can be seen while a dog is in estrus ("in heat") or seen in puppies with intestinal parasites ("worms").

The wheals (eruptions) appear within a few minutes or hours of exposure to the causative agent. In severe cases, the skin eruptions are preceded by fever, poor appetite, or dullness. They can develop on any part of the body but occur mainly on the back, flanks, neck, eyelids, and legs. In advanced cases, they may be found on the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, lining of the eyes, rectum, and vagina.

Often, hives disappear as rapidly as they arise, usually within a few hours. Treatment may not be required. They may return rapidly if exposure to the cause is not eliminated, however. Also, if your dog develops hives after receiving a vaccination or medication, contact your veterinarian immediately to see if treatment is needed. Treatment may include rapid-acting corticosteroids. If hives are chronic, environmental or food allergens should be considered as potential causes. Death does not commonly occur, unless anaphylaxis (a severe allergic event) or swelling of the respiratory tract is present.

Also see professional content regarding urticaria.

Types of Dog Allergies and How to Treat Them

Have you heard someone tell you that their dog has allergies? Has your veterinarian suggested that allergies could be a problem for your dog? Do you suspect that your dog has allergies? If so, then youve probably realized that allergies in dogs are not quite as simple as we might wish. For starters, there are several different types of allergies that could be causing your dogs symptoms.

Allergies are a misguided reaction to foreign substances by the bodys immune system, which, of course, people and pets can suffer from. There are quite a few different types of allergies in dogs. Skin allergies, food allergies, and environmental allergens all pose challenges for dogs and their owners, and to make things more complicated, the symptoms of all these different types of allergies can overlap.

Symptoms of Allergies in Dogs

The symptoms of allergies in dogs may vary depending on the cause. A dog that goes into anaphylactic shock, for instance, will have a drop in blood pressure followed by shock, which is very different from a skin condition.

In general, however, the following symptoms could be a sign of an allergic reaction.

• Itchiness
• Hives
• Swelling of the face, ears, lips, eyelids, or earflaps
• Red, inflamed skin
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Sneezing
• Itchy ears
• Chronic ear infections
• Itchy, runny eyes
• Constant licking

Some of these symptoms could also be a sign of another condition. Make an appointment with your veterinarian if you notice changes in their behavior to get an accurate diagnosis.

Types of Allergic Reactions in Dogs

Allergic Dermatitis in Dogs

Skin allergies in dogs, known as allergic dermatitis, is the most common type of allergic reaction in dogs. Skin allergies in dogs are mainly caused by one of three things: fleas, food allergies, and atopicor environmentalallergies.Flea allergy dermatitis is an allergic reaction to fleabites, and some dogs are allergic to flea saliva, which can cause their skin to become red, inflamed, or scabbed because their skin will feel extremely itchy. Its the easiest type of allergic dermatitis to treat, since you can apply flea medication for dogs to help heal their skin.

Another cause of skin allergy in dogs is from food allergies and sensitivities. Just like humans can be allergic to certain foods or ingredients, dogs can be allergic, which can cause itchy skin. Dogs with food allergies usually have itchy ears or paws, sometimes along with gastrointestinal symptoms. Dr. Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the AKC, says that food allergies are not as common as you might think. True food allergies result in an immune response, which can range in symptoms from hives, facial swelling, and itchiness to gastrointestinal signs like vomiting and diarrhea or a combination of both.

Environmental allergens can also affect the skin and be the cause of allergic dermatitis. Things like dust, pollen, fungus, and mold can cause these reactions, but in most cases, these allergies are seasonal. As with food allergies that affect the skin, the most commonly affected areas are the paws and ears (but also include the wrists, ankles, muzzle, underarms, groin, around the eyes, and in between the toes).

All skin allergies pose the risk of secondary infection. As your dog scratches, bites, and licks at his skin, he risks opening up his skin to yeast and bacterial infections that may require treatment.

Urticaria, or Hives, in Dogs

Also known as urticaria, hives on dogs are very itchy but are not life-threatening. Hives appear as a reaction anywhere from 6 to 24 hours after exposure to allergens. This consists of itchy, swelled skin, that usually looks like a red rash. Its easiest to spot hives on dogs that are hairless or have short coats. Dogs with longer hair can get them too, but its more likely that youd be able to fee the hives rather than see them. Your vet will prescribe an antihistamine in order to treat urticaria in dogs.

Edema of Face or Throat

Swelling of the throat or face looks severe, but its actually almost never fatal. This area of swelling, which can also include swelling of the eyelids or ear flaps, is known as angioneurotic edema. Its actually pretty easily treated, and despite how it looks, its a good sign in terms of allergic reactions.

If your dog has edema of any of these areas, the time for a fatal allergic reaction has most likely passed, and they arent in as much danger. Angioneurotic edema occurs anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours after exposure to an allergen, and can also come with hives.A veterinarian will often give dogs with this reaction an antihistamine injection. Untreated, it may take a day or two for the swelling to subside.

Anaphylactic Shock

Perhaps the most alarming of all the types of allergic reactions in dogs is anaphylactic shock. Like people, dogs can go into anaphylactic shock if they have a severe reaction to an allergen. This happens when antibodies produced by the host react negatively to the allergen, dropping your dogs blood pressure rapidly and sending them into shock. This can be fatal if not treated, but luckily, anaphylactic reactions are rare in dogs.

This can be a response to any allergen, most commonly bee or wasp stings, or vaccine reactions. Because of this, your vet will always recommend keeping a close eye on your dog after theyve been given any new vaccine, drug, or food item, as they might be allergic.

If a dog has had a past incident and survived, the owner may carry an epipen, but sometimes the first occurrence can lead to death. Fortunately these reactions are very rare in dogs.

In some rare cases, a severe food allergy reaction resulting in anaphylaxis can occur, similar to severe peanut allergies in humans. The best way to diagnose and treat a food allergy is to work with your veterinarian to manage your dogs symptoms and discover the ingredient causing the reaction.

Diagnosing Allergies in Dogs

Flea allergy dermatitis is typically the easiest allergy to diagnose. It is usually diagnosed by identifying fleas on your dogs body and applying a product that kills fleas before they can bite to see if that solves the issues.

The first thing your veterinarian will do in allergy testing is rule out any other condition that could be causing your dogs symptoms. If your veterinarian feels that an allergy is a likely cause, they may propose allergy testing to try and determine the cause of the allergen that is causing the reaction. However, keep in mind it may not always be possible to determine the cause of an allergy with testing.

If you have ever undergone allergy testing, then you know that diagnosing allergies is often complicated. Its the same for dogs, but its worth it to understand what to stay away from when it comes to your dog.Food allergies are often diagnosed using an elimination diet. A food trial consists of feeding a dog one source of protein and carbohydrate for 12 weeks.

Treating Allergies in Dogs

The best way to treat an allergy is avoidance of the cause and allergen, which may not always be possible. They type of treatment depends on the type of allergy your dog has. For example, the best way to treat flea allergy dermatitis is to kill the fleas, whereas the best way to treat a food allergy or food intolerance is a change in diet.

Depending on the cause and severity of your dogs allergic reaction, your veterinarian will prescribe different things. For hives, they might suggest antihistamines, cortisones, medicated shampoos, whereas with food allergies they might suggest fish oil or other Omega-3 fatty acid supplements. For skin allergies, they might prescribe dog-safe anti-inflammatory wipes or shampoo on skin to provide irritation relief.

In addition to any lifestyle changes that might be necessary, your veterinarian may also prescribe an allergy relief medication for your dog that will help control the signs associated with the allergic reaction, such as itching and any secondary skin infections that might have developed as a result of the irritant.

If your dog has a severe allergic reaction, your best course of action is to get them to an emergency veterinary hospital as quickly as possible.