Can I give my dog Diphenhydramine?

Having a pet dog is much more than playing with him and feeding him. You need to take proper care of your dog in order to keep him healthy. Yes, like human beings, dogs also face health problems. But giving them the medicines meant for human beings can cause severe health issues with them.

You must consult a veterinary specialist before giving any medicine to your canine friend. Many people ask whether they can give Diphenhydramine to their dogs or not. Well, the answer is ‘NO’.

In this article, we will tell you why you should not give Diphenhydramine to your dog and what the possible side effects are it can have to dogs.

Let’s start with growing your knowledge about Diphenhydramine.

What is Diphenhydramine? 

Diphenhydramine is a type of antihistamine which is one of the main active ingredients of Benadryl. It is an over the counter medicine for inflammation, various types of allergies, water eyes, common cold and tremors in Parkinsonism. It is also commonly used in the drugs meant for inducing sleep and for treating motion sickness.

Diphenhydramine is commonly sold under the brand name of Benadryl and some other medicines.

Can I give my dog Diphenhydramine?

NO, you should not give Diphenhydramine to your dog.

It is often advisable that whenever you give medicines meant for human beings to animals, you need to closely monitor for any possible side effects. Practically speaking, giving dogs the medicines meant for human beings and vice versa can result in drug overdose which can be lethal.

It is better to consult a veterinary doctor before giving your dog Diphenhydramine as it is a heavy drug and can have many side effects on your dog. You can give other medicines meant especially for dogs if your dog is suffering from allergic reactions, inflammation and lack of sleep. 

Bottom line: Diphenhydramine should not be fed to a dog as it is a drug which is meant for human use. FDA has not yet approved Diphenhydramine for dogs and it is better not to risk your pet dog's health as the overdose of the drug can pose some serious threats to his health. 

Dosage of Diphenhydramine for dogs

Although it is not advised to feed your dog Diphenhydramine, if you have some emergency and are left with no other option then you should know the dosage of the drug while feeding it to your dog. The recommended dosage of Diphenhydramine for dogs is 1 mg. per lb at a gap of 8 to 12 hours, which means that it should not be given more than two to three times a day.

In some serious situations like a snake bite, the dosage can be increased up to 2 mg. per lbs. 

Some important points to consider if giving Diphenhydramine to dogs

If you are giving Diphenhydramine to your pet dog, then there are few points which should be kept in mind in order to keep your dog safe and healthy.

• Call up your veterinary doctor before feeding Diphenhydramine to your dog to seek the dosage as dosage depends upon on lots of factors, including your dog's age, his previous medical history etc.
• If you are feeding Diphenhydramine to a small dog, it is better to use the medicinal formula of the drug which is meant for children to avoid overdose.
• Giving Diphenhydramine to your dog on an empty stomach will not cause any serious harm, but it is often advised that you should give medicines along with food as it prevents drooling and vomiting.
•  If you are feeding Diphenhydramine to your dog since a very long time, then there are possibilities that its effectiveness might have vanished as your dog can get accustomed to the drug. Therefore, you can opt for different histamines like loratadine, cetirizine, and other similar drugs.
• Diphenhydramine takes as much as 30 minutes to exhibit its effect. Therefore, you should wait for at least 30 minutes before trying any other alternative medicine.
• Usually, dogs don’t like the taste of liquid Diphenhydramine so you should use tablets for your canine friend. 

Bottom line: Always feed over the counter medicines to your dogs with the advice of your vet. The drug may help your dog in various health conditions, but your veterinary doctor will guide you better that whether you should feed it to your dog or not. 

What are the possible side effects of Diphenhydramine in dogs? 

Diphenhydramine is a powerful drug and its overdose can cause serious problems not only in dogs but also in human beings too. Dogs that have been fed Diphenhydramine usually exhibit strange behavior and at times may feel dizzy. 

Other possible side effects of the drug in dogs are:

• Urinary retention
• Drowsiness and sleepiness
• Dry mouth
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Severe allergic reaction
•  Excess of saliva 

After feeding Diphenhydramine to your dog, immediately look out for following possible symptoms of overdose:

• Muscle tremors
•  Irregular heartbeat
• Extreme fatigue
•  High temperature
• High blood pressure leading to circling
• Confusion
• Seizures 

If you witness any of the above-mentioned symptoms, then immediately contact your veterinary doctor. In the case of an overdose of Diphenhydramine, an injection of phenytoin is given if the dog is experiencing seizures. 

Bottom line: The overdose of Diphenhydramine can cause severe health problems to your furry friend. But there have been cases where dogs were saved despite the fact that they were fed 16 times more than the recommended dosage. In the case of any symptoms, immediately rush to a veterinary doctor. 

Conclusion

Diphenhydramine is a strong drug which is used by human beings for treating issues like anxiety, motion sickness, allergies, and sleeplessness. Benadryl is the most common medicine, which has Diphenhydramine as an active ingredient.

FDA does not approve the usage of Diphenhydramine for pets especially dogs. Also, ensure that you do not feed liquid diphenhydramine to pets as the liquid form has alcohol content in it which can be harmful to dogs.

It is generally advised that before giving any medicine to your dog which has not been prescribed, you should consult a good veterinary doctor and discuss the possible side effects it can have on your dog.

If you have any issues related to the usage of the drug on your pet dog, then you can leave a comment here and share your experience.