Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

My senior dog is vomiting, itching, red eyes. Can I give Benadryl?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Dachshund miniature | Female | spayed | 15 years old | 13 lbs

My dog is 15 years old and when I came home from work, she has thrown up three times and she has red rimmed eyes and her chin is red. She looks like she is itching. She’s also shaking her head a lot. Can I give her a small amount of Benadryl?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on November 5th, 2019

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Izzy. Unfortunately I cannot recommend giving her Benadryl, I can't say it's safe to give her. Plus it doesn't help with vomiting. I think the best thing is to have her seen by a vet now. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. I hope this helps!

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
my chiweeni has been itching for the past few days and is red under his belly, in the creases of legs and arms and snout. I gave 1/2 benadryl a few hours ago, but still itchy. Can i use my fluocinonide or triamcinole on the area. I also have chlor
Unfortunately, by law it is illegal for the experts at Boop by Petco to recommend using any drug, including OTC drugs, without seeing the animal in person first. That's because doing so requires a veterinary client patient relationship which cannot be achieve via an internet forum. In addition, the experts cannot say for certain if a specific drug is safe for your dog, or that it is the correct drug for your dog's symptoms. Bentley should see a vet for his itching so that the cause of it can be diagnose in order to treat him properly. This itching could be caused by fleas, mites, ringworm, or allergies. If he isn't up to date on his flea treatment, he will need a spot on treatment such as Advantage or Revolution. You will need to disinfect the environment as well. The vet can do blood tests, skin scrapings, and use a Wood's lamp to diagnose allergies, mites, and ringworm. Once the cause of the itching is found, the vet can prescribe the appropriate treatment. I recommend takin
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
All of a sudden my cockapoo puppy’s eyes and lips were swollen and red itchy she had vomited a little before the swelling happened she is otherwise ok should I give her beneadryl?
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Poor Maggie! It's hard to see the swelling in your picture, but based on your description it does sound as if Maggie is experiencing an allergic reaction. Read our article on Benadryl and if she is not improve take her to the Vet when they open. Most of the time allergic reactions like Maggie's require steroids as well. I hope this helps and I wish Maggie a speedy recovery! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
We believe my dog is allergic to pollen and cotton. She was running in a Field over the weekend. And has been itching sense. We gave her a bath. But she has still been itching. We checked her for fleas and ticks. Which she has none. She’s been itchi
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! While Benadryl may help temporarily it would just be for a very short amount of time and she will likely need further therapy. I agree that this is likely allergies but all of the possibilities in terms of allergies should be explored. Sometimes even if fleas are not seen, it can still be flea allergy as it only take one flea to cause allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Oliver was prescribed half a pill of Zyrtec a day by his vet for allergies. He is having a flare up right now and is extremely itchy and rubbing his eyes. Can I give him children's benadrlyn with the Zyrtec? I was told by a friend in vet school to tr
Unfortunately, it is illegal for the experts at Boop by Petco to prescribe a medication, even an OTC drug, without seeing the animal in person first. I would give your vet a call, and they can advise you if it's safe to give Oliver a benadryl or not. They can also give you the correct dose for his weight.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog suddenly woke up and became restless. Started scurrying around the room, kept shaking his head, one ear looks lower than the other, he vomited once, and also keeps rubbing his snout and the sides of his face on the floor. Should I give him Ben
Yes, you can try to give him some Benadryl to see if it helps to calm him. If he is 70 pounds then he needs three (3) of the human 25 mg capsules. I know it sounds like a lot but that is the correct dosage. Dogs metabolize this drug very quickly, hence the higher dose. If 30-45 minutes after you give it, he is still acting strangely, you should get him to a vet ASAP for an exam.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 6.8 pound Yorkie rec’d 2 vaccines today. 3 hours later she’s lethargic & trembling. How much Children Liquid Benadryl should I give her?
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! While this may be a reaction to the vaccines, I would not recommend that you give her Benadryl without having her physically evaluated by a veterinarian. There are scenarios where administering this medication would be contraindicated. I would highly recommend that you have Phoebe evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Best of luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
How much benadryl is safe to give a 71lb dog? How often can I give it to him?
Unfortunately, by law it is illegal for the experts at Boop by Petco to give the dose information for any drug, including OTC drugs, without seeing the animal in person first. That's because doing so requires a veterinary client patient relationship which cannot be achieved via an internet forum. In addition, the experts cannot say for certain if a specific drug is safe for your dog. You need to speak to your vet about this.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Just gave a 12 year old Tibetan terrier 18ml Benadryl. He is 18 lbs. he threw up 10 mins later. Have I poisoned him.....???
You likely didn't poison him. THe recomended dosage is 1 mg per lb of body weight, so this is the appropriate amount of Benadryl to give him. He likely has a sensitivtiy to Benadryl and can't tolerate it, or he may just have an upset stomach and it is just a coincidence that he vomited after giving the Benadryl. .I would recommend discussing with your vet about trying a different antihsitamine medication (i.e. Hydrozzine, Chlrorpheniramine, etc) for him that perhaps he can tolerate a bit better. Best wishes with Jethro and I hope that you can find a medication that agrees with his stomach soon. He wil likely be just fine. Take care!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has been itching for a couple days on and off. But today I noticed the itching getting worse and she now looks like she's breaking out in hives mostly on her head, face, and legs.But I'm not sure thats what they are .So I gave her a bath then
I would recommend taking Piper to the vet. If she is vomiting and has hives then she could be having a significant allergic reaction. She may require steroids or injectable antihistamines or other medication. Good luck and I hope piper is better soon.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My boston terrier is having an allergic reaction, she has had them before. Generally I bring her to the vet, however the last time I brought her they told be to treat her with Benadryl rather then bringing her in each time. She has been if experienci
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! If she has not responded to the Benadryl at this point, it is unlikely that she will and she may require stronger medications for it such as a corticosteroid. I do recommend that you have Maci evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Prescription Allergy Medicine for Dogs Dog Allergy Medicine & Itch Relief Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Dog Seizure Medication Dog Asthma Medication Dog Anxiety Medication Prescription Dog Digestive Medications Dog Blood Pressure Medication Dog Health & Wellness Antifungal Medication for Dogs Hydroxyzine Pamoate Prescription Allergy Medicine for Dogs Hydroxyzine HCl Prescription Allergy Medicine for Dogs Zenrelia Prescription Allergy Medicine for Dogs Benazepril Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Hydroxyzine HCl Dog Allergy Medicine & Itch Relief Hydroxyzine HCl Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Vet's Best Dog Allergy Medicine & Itch Relief Chlorpheniramine Prescription Allergy Medicine for Dogs Prednisone Prescription Allergy Medicine for Dogs Chlorpheniramine Dog Medicine and Prescriptions
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored