Seasonal allergies?

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

After consulting a friend (who comes from a dog breeding family), we think Luna may have bad seasonal allergies.

 

The snow just melted in the last 4-5 days in large volume and the grass is exposed.  Last night my fiance took her for a little run around 5 pm... around 8:30 she vomited in the car (she has never done this before), and seemed very uncomfortable.  When we got home she was rubbing her face all over the floor, but I checked her ears and they were clean and smelled like her normal ear smell...So I guess they were just itchy.

I then noticed that her face looked a bit "puffy" - I sort of wish I took some pictures because I had taken some earlier in the day so I could have compared.  This part scared me a bit because that was one of the things the vet said to watch for when she had meds for her spaying surgery.

 

Anyway - anyone have experience with bad doggie allergies? 

Symptoms: nausea, itchy ears, puffy face

The friend told us to give her 1/2 tab of Benadryl if it happens again...but I'll have to check the dosage, as long as Benadryl is safe for dogs she's probably fine with the children's dose (she's about 33 lbs).

 

This morning she's fine - acting normally, ate a bowl of food and no face puffyness.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

My Vet told me to use Claritin....10 mg for a 50 lb dog for Murphy's seasonal allergies.  Benadryl is probably just as effective.  Murph doesn't swell, but he does itch all over, and it particularly effects his ears.

[NewfoundlandNic]

My beloved Lab x Parker had seasonal allergies and was allergic to bee stings - she would swell up quite horribly with the bee stings and we had to give Benadryl. Her allergies didn't appear until we moved to Ottawa, she was 4 at the time. Anyway, the vet we were seeing at Carling Animal Hospital advised giving her some type of preventative medication in the spring and fall - if we were still in Ottawa with Parker we would be making that visit now to get the meds. Good luck!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

My labradoodle has severe seasonal allergies, also known as environmental or inhalant allergies, or Atopic Dermatitis, and is under the care of a veterinary dermatology specialist..

Your dog is not showing the classic signs, but here's some information that may help:

 

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/healthandmedicalissues/forum/topi...
http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/healthandmedicalissues/forum/topi...

Benadryl is not the antihistamine of choice for dogs; it isn't as effective as some of the others and can cause drowsiness. I use Claritin, and others have had good luck with Zyrtec or Chlor-Trimeton. But i can't give you dosages for those. The dosage varies widely and is different for dogs than for humans in some cases.
I know it's the wrong season, but it sounds more like an insect bite or sting than a seasonal allergy. You would see general itching and licking or biting of paws and base of tail, along with the face rubbing. Just the face being involved makes me think more along the lines of something localized.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Karen, if it actually was an insect bite do you think the Benadryl would be better or can you still use the Claritin?  I know with the kids I think of Benadryl when they get stung, but now I'm thinking that may be "old thinking".

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think for an insect bite, Bendaryl would be appropriate.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

What is the right formula too because there is one they sell that is toxic to dogs.. is it the cold medicine one?? 

 

We have Rosey Benedryl once and it knocked her out...

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Yes it was the plain.  I just remember when the vet told us to get some she said, not the Benedryl with xxx ingredient, the x being what I can't remember:)  But she went on to say the one in the pink box NOT the one in some other color...   So that made me so nervous that I would get the wrong one by the time I got to the store I was a bit confused because there seemed to be so many different kinds!!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I know with Claritin, we are not supposed to get the "D"...which I know means decongestant.

Re: Claritin not being more effective than Benadryl, it is definitely more effective in treating Jack's symptoms. It's common that for A.D. you have to try different antihistamines until you find the one that works best for your dog. For some dogs, Zyrtec worked better, but for JD, the Claritin was more effective in controlling his symptoms. The veterinary literature on antihistamine use in Atopic dogs does discuss the fact that different dogs respond differently to different antihistamines. But I know nothing about pharmacology or why this might be the case.

With Zyrtec, JD took the regular adult human dosage; but with Claritin, he takes 3 times the normal adult human dosage. I have no idea why, but that's what his specialist wants and knock on wood, it helps!  

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I love your brain, Caitlin.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

She does bite her feet and tails and seems "annoyed" at them like they're bothering her... but she's been doing that since we got her (in October) so I didn't think anything of it.  It's pretty unlikely it's an insect bite, but possible.  Usually bugs don't show up here for another few weeks, since there are still snow drifts around.

 

Thank you for the links, I will give them a read :)

 

 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

My vet recently gave my dog a shot of benedryl to help with a reaction from a vaccine.  Benadryl is tolerated in dogs.  I see you have a dosage already so I'm just letting you know it works just fine and is safe. 

As others have mentioned Benadryl may not be the best for daily use and maybe something with less drowsy effects might be a better choice.   Ask your vet.

[Mary Kracun]

My goldendoodle Lottie also has allergies. She started itching - a lot - and after several vet visits and a food restriction she was referred to an animal allergist. She was tested for many environmental allergens and I now give her injections to desensitize her. She's much much better and happier. When Lottie first was diagnosed I contacted the breeder to see if either parent had this issue, which they didn't. The vet had me give 50 mg of Benadryl - 1 mg per pound - twice a day. This shocked me because if I take 50 mg of Benadryl I'm asleep for several hours! It slowed her a little, but she didn't itch.

Lottie was about 18 months old when this started, now at 3 1/2 she is happy and healthy. The funny thing is that Lottie has the same allergies as I do - grass, weeds, a few trees, and mold. Giving her injections took some getting used to which is funny because I'm an RN and have been giving people injections for a very long time! The things I go through for my girl. . .