WELTS! Poor baby girl..

sesua · #1 11-08-2009, 07:59 PM

My poor Jayda woke up this morning to itchy welts on her back and chest, some were the size of quarters! I assumed they are allergic response to something so I've been giving benadryl which seems to help. But they keep coming back... Any ideas??

Yesterday we rough and tumble played at a different dog park than usual with 2 other boxer pups. I also recently washed her bed blanket and may have used too much detergent and I forgot to do the extra rinse on the washer this time. Later this afternoon she was laying in the grass a lot outside our home cause the weather was great and we wanted to enjoy it. The welts came back full force this evening. She's already on a limited ingredient diet (Natural Balance) so not sure if it's food (guess it could be anything though).

If this is the same again in the morning I will take her to the vet. She's been eating, drinking and playing just fine. I think the benadryl makes her a bit drowsy though...

Any suggestions? I hate to see her like this and biting her back cause she's itching.

Poor sweetie..

Thanks or any help you can give...

sesua · #2 11-08-2009, 09:30 PM

Now it's spread to her legs. It's so itchy... How much Benadryl can I give her? I've been giving her the liquid diphenhydramine... 7.5 mg dose, 3 times so far... Can I give her more for bedtime? She weighs 35 lbs.

Cami · #3 11-08-2009, 10:16 PM

Benadryl can be dosed at 1mg per pound every 8 hours not to exceed those three doses in a 24 hour period (unless directly different by your vet).
A 35 pound dog can have 35mgs every 8 hours.
I know the capsules come in 25mg but have never used the liquid version.
It is common for *some* dogs to become drowsy with Benadryl, just like humans.
If you were seeing some results with the 7.5mgs it seems highly likely that a more weight specific dose (higher) would help even more so.
Allergens can take days to leave the body *if* they don't keep getting exposed to whatever it was that caused the reaction in the first place.
You can also try bathing her to help remove anything that she might have come into contact with in the hopes that it is a contact allergy (bedding, grass, etc...).
Also will help to use a product like Aveeno Bath Packets after the rinse as it helps with itching. Found at any grocery store.
I hope she is feeling better soon!

sesua · #4 11-08-2009, 10:32 PM

Thanks Cami for the speedy reply! I will give her a little more benadryl now and put her to bed.

Should I take her to the vet tomorrow or give it a couple days to see if it gets better? I can try giving her the bath tomorrow. Should I use a special shampoo? We have a doggy oatmeal shampoo, maybe it will help. I read somewhere that vinegar helps also. Is this true? Half water, half vinegar, and just put it on her? Wash the bedding in it as well??

sesua · #5 11-09-2009, 03:11 AM

Up at 4 am... Hives still very bad and way itchier. Gave more benadryl. Will stay up with her.

Never ever thought in my wildest doggie dreams that I'd be up like this caring for a dog like a real baby. It's not easy at all... And I feel so bad for her and am so worried about her. Not at all what I thought it would be like to have a puppy or to have to go through this with a puppy. All the issues of puppyhood in general as well... Unprepared is an understatement...

Wish I didn't have to work today... See what I mean?? I can't even take off today if I wanted to. What was I thinking...

paulws · #6 11-09-2009, 05:10 AM

Sometimes the vet can give a shot to help with hives when they are bad. One time Bella got them so bad on vacation she looked like a Sharpei dog. Is her snout or face swollen. If it is take her to the vet. I hope she is feeling better this morning.
Lynne

sesua · #7 11-09-2009, 05:34 AM

No. It hasn't gotten that bad... Just hives everywhere else. I still plan to take her cause it's not any better. Have to wait until 9am though. Thanks...

sesua · #8 11-09-2009, 06:22 AM

Rather it be a bug bite because I have absolutely no idea what she could be allergic to and that's worse! How long did it take for Laney's to go away?

Thanks.

LILYLARUE · #9 11-09-2009, 07:45 AM

You're a good Mom for worrying, but I would think it's safe to say, she is gonna be fine. Take a look at my pics....There's one in there of Lily's hives and I was in a total panic! So don't feel bad at all......better to over worry than let things go.

I took Lily to the vet for a shot and they went away within 1/2 hour. She has bad reactions to bug bites, mostly wasps and bees. She was fine after that. Then she got one on her lip a few weeks later, and again, I panicked! Off to the vet's again. She will continue to have problems, but I think she's learned not to chase bugs anymore. She hasn't had them since. Buster on the other hand, is a terrible magnet for mosquitos. He comes in with at least 10 bites every night. Doesn't bother him one bit though.

If she continues to have itchy issues, then off to the vet I would go. I've had hives, and the itching can drive ya mad!

laurelheebsh · #10 11-09-2009, 04:12 PM

That is so strange . . . Chubs woke up at 5 AM yesterday with welts/hives too! Again, we had no idea what caused it. Maybe a spider bite in bed? Maybe something he had gotten into when he last went out, at midnight? No new foods or cleaning products at all. And we were up most of the night last night. Gave a last dose of 50 mg. benadryl at about 4:30 AM and he has seemed to be fine since then. Crossing my fingers