The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Judy (San Diego, CA) on 02/17/2007:
My 14-lb. miniature poodle stepped on a bee today [back foot] and ran into the house holding the "offending" foot high in the air, then repeatedly licking it. I immediately made a baking soda paste in a small dish and immersed his foot it it. After 1/2 or so, I left to run over to the store and when I came back, saw that he had vomited partially digested food he had eaten after I left. He also developed some red patches on his belly that he kept trying to scratch, kept drinking lots of water, and panted loudly and rapidly. I checked online and found this website, administered a finger-tip of benadryl from my 25 mg. capsules, his panting has ceased and he is relaxing. Not a direct weight-dose correlation to a 125-lb. dog but reassuring that benadryl can be used, cautiously. Thanks.
As a former Firefighter/EMT we used to treat anaphylaxis in the field with epinephrine or Benadryl. I am allergic to bee stings and have had to use this several times. One day my lab/mastiff came into our house and was beginning to show signs of swelling. A few seconds later she began to look like a sharpei. I immediately gave her a dose of 25mg of benadryl and saw most of the swelling go down. Because my dog weighs 125lbs, I gave her a second dose of 25mg of benadryl and saved her life for the second time (once when she had Parvo I kept her alive with antibiotics and IV fluids). Epinephrine is the prefered drug for treating anaphylaxis, however this must be obtained through a prescription, which you can get for dogs, but if you need a great OTC treatment, benadryl works very well. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening problem and if not treated immediately you can loose your pet. Be careful how much of a dose you give your pet as some small animals can OD.
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