Hives on a GSP...what do I do? (VanMorrison)

the dosage for benedryl is 1-2mg/lb.

So at 54 lbs, he'd get between 50mg-100mg (they come in 25mg I think).

You just want the regular plain old benedryl - not liquid, nothing special.

This happened to Wyatt about a month ago. I was on my way to buy him benadryl, and when he barked he sounded like his airway was narrowed. I took him to the vet and they gave him an injection of dexamethasone and benadryl. But, 2 days later his hives were back. We gave him...i think it was 2 benadryl every 4 hours, and he was fine.

I remember reading about Wyatt when this happened, it was really quick wasn't it?  That is why I don't want to leave him to go get the benadryl but it is really warm out..maybe the heat has something to do with this.

How much does Wyatt weigh and how often/how much have you been giving benadryl to him?

I hope he is feeling better now...

oh yes, Wyatt was fine after those 2 days, and has not had a hive since. He is 92 lbs...and i wish i could remember how many i gave him, but i think it was 2 every 4 hours, 5 times.

I took Wyatt out to get benadryl with me, that's when i noticed his airway was narrowed. Thank goodness i only live a mile away from a vet. 

Did someone at daycare brush him? Is it possible that they used some sort of finishing spray or cologne on him? Those sorts of things tend to break Emma out....

Poor puppy! I hope he's feeling better, soon.

Yup - they go swimming and have a brush out at daycare but no scents or sprays unless requested, and, he just smells clean.  They go there once a week with the same routine (my long work day / DH is always out of town).

There has been no swelling or anything and the hives don't seem to have changed much.  We went out and got the benadryl so that he can have another dose before bed time.

If the hives are not gone in the morning do you think this warrants a vet visit?

 Yes. It could be the result of some sort of insect or spider bite, as well. If it is, he'll likely need a course of antibiotics (at least, that's what my vet does if Ems breaks out from a bug bite...).

 unfortunately Bugsy has a Benadryl habit so  - give them to him every six hours and because he has so many hives I would at least give him 3 tablets (75mg)  He will be super sleepy but it really should take the hives down.  The real problem with hives is that it means that his airway is effected.  I used to go a little light on them for Bugsy because he got so drowsy until the vet told me that if he had hives on his skin his throat was closing.

I'm glad that ther is no swelling and they haven't gotten worse BUT I would've liked to see them get better from the Benadryl

Poor Morrison get better soon pup!

I think Jennie's idea about the grooming may be spot on. I suppose then it could be a skin irritation only not really hives with the throat closure

very scary!

Megan is right -- it can be something in the air.  Hives are VERY dangerous.  I always cringe when I hear of someone under-dosing Benedryl for HIVES.  It truly needs to be the TWO mg/lb dose for hives.  The vet will exceed that!!

That means a 100 pound dog honestly needs EIGHT caps, and a 50 pound dog needs FOUR (of the 25 mg capsules).  It is life-threatening and it can happen SO fast. 

 It is honestly good to keep **liquid** plain old regular Benedryl (***NOT*** sugar-free - the sugar free one has xylitol in it which is poison to dogs).  The liquid actually gets into the bloodstream faster -- the sugar and that little bit of alcohol HELP get it in the bloodstream faster. 

If a dog has had an allergic reaction once it can be worse next time.  They can literally suffocate in a few minutes. 

It can be anything -- a bug bite, bee sting, a plant or weed they got into (they don't have to eat it -- the wrong plant can just plain react that fast).

 I'm not trying to be an alarmist -- but it can happen SO fast.  That time Ms. Socks broke out in hives it happened in less than 2 minutes.  I had liquid benedryl in the house and I didn't even bother to measure it.  She was nearly 85 pounds -- the liquid is 12.5 mg per teaspoon so that's like 15 teaspoons for a nearly 100 pound dog.  That's five TABLEspoons (over half a cup).  Sooo shoot -- by the time she spit half of what I dumped down her throat at me I'm sure I didn't even get the 2 mg/lb down her throat at first, BUT it worked fast.

I often wondered if she licked a toad - we don't have bufo's here but most any toad is toxic and it would have been like her to investigate.

Well it doesn't sound like I have to be careful not to overdose him.  He'll get another set in a few minutes.

He's very sleepy but that is normal for a warm evening after running full throtle at day care all day.  Since DH is away he'll sleep with me so I can monitor him closely.

Thank you all!  G'night (I hope).

If he's still like that after Benedryl tonight I'd take him in and let them give him a shot.  That's what they did with Willow when she had some sort of reaction last year--she had the shot and then oral Benedryl at home.  It was a child's dose for her weight.  I was never told to give double the dose or anything like that.

 just checking on Morrison - how's he doing?

Morrison slept, well, not very well at all.  He tossed and turned and was stretched out a lot which he usually does when he is very warm.

This morning there were no hives and his breathing was totally normal.  I have kept up with the Benadryl anyways to let whatever it is get out of his system.  I'll keep y'all posted.

Thank you so much for your help!!!

Mods - you might want to move this to Health now...I know it's in the wrong place.