Hives in dogs is not life-threatening but surely one of their harrowing experiences. The condition is medically termed as urticaria. It can appear anywhere on a dog's body but fortunately disappears on its own within a couple of days in majority of the cases. However, by the time it is there, it is quite troublesome for your pet dog. This is the time when your dog needs your help and care. Before you work on the treatment of hives in your canine friend, you should be sure about its symptoms.
Symptoms of Hives in Dogs
Formation of yellow patches on skin
Swelling of eyes and face
Presence of bumps or warts on skin
Troublesome breathing
Lesions on skin that do not heal
Oily or foul smelly coat
Excessive drying of skin
Scratching and irritation of the skin
Loss of hair
Skin inflammation
Skin rashes
Causes of Hives in Dogs
Alike humans, histamine and other chemicals are released in the bloodstream when a dog comes in contact with a substance it is allergic to. The action of histamine and other chemicals leads to itching, swelling, reddening and other symptoms. Hives is one such reaction of the dog's body to allergens. There are a number of factors that can lead to hives. The foremost among them is the ingestion of certain foods that contain preservatives, stabilizers, emulsifiers, synthetic flavoring and coloring agents. Secondly, various medications trigger the onset of hives along with insect bites.
Home Remedies for Hives in Dogs
You can do a lot of things that can relieve hives in dogs. To start with, include supplements of vitamin A, selenium and vitamin C in the daily diet of your dog. Secondly, get an over-the-counter oral corticosteroid. Add it to his meals and make him feed on it. You may also give your dog Benadryl. The dosage that is usually recommended is 2 mg per pound orally in an interval of eight hours. Take some oats and grind it with water till it gains the consistency of paste. Apply this paste on your dog's skin. You can also make a highly concentrated concoction of black or green tea. Add this concoction to a tub of water to bathe your dog with. This will relieve itching due to hives to a great extent. Take a clean towel and dip it in ice-cold water. Rub your dog's skin with this towel for 5-6 minutes everyday. This will accelerate the process of recovery from hives. You may administer non-prescription antihistamines to your dog. This will assist in ceasing the allergic reaction in your dog's body.
The condition of hives usually goes away by the use of home remedies suggested in this article, however you should take your ferry friend to a veterinarian. It is necessary to figure out the exact underlying factor for the onset of hives in dogs. He may take help of various diagnostic tests to determine the cause. Medical assistance is especially necessary in case of recurring hives. Follow all the instructions and recommendations given by the veterinarian. This is essential to recover your dog from hives.