[Hank]

Bronson is having a bad case of the allergies at the moment. We all are. Its horrible here right now. Itching, scratching, chewing his feet, red eyes, some sneezing.
He'll cough/reverse sneeze once in a while, like once a week if that. Has has whole life.
So he had a benadryl at about 10 yesterday morning and I had been at work but the bf was home and said he had been fine.
I came home, brushed him cause he was shedding like crazy. Then rinsed his feet off and we went to bed.
He just woke me up heaving and then puked up what looks like an inch long piece of string or part of his rope (looks like green floss) but then continued to dry heave, cough, and honk for a minute straight.
He really freaked me out, he was shaking and wouldnt drink water, stomach rumbling like crazy.
But it passed after a minute and now hes fine, tail wagging, harassing the cat right now.

Now I dont know about dogs, but when I have severe allergies the mucus runs down the back of my throat and I get all coughy/disgusting.
Does this happen with dogs or is there something serious going on here?
He might have also picked up some mild kennel cough I suppose.
Other than the alleriges/random coughing he still acts normal. We played with the flirt pole when I got home.
Sigh, no sleep for me now.

 

[Sam1491]

None of the allergy dogs we have come in are ever really coughing. They sneeze, itch and etc...but not hack. It may not be out of the realm of possibilities but from my own experiences it's not the highest on my list of options.
Since you mentioned he hacked something up I would lean more towards him just giving himself a scratchy throat from throwing up.

Hope he feels better soon, sadly the allergy season is just getting into swing here.

 

[LindaH]

Dogs dont cough from allergies. The dosage for benadryl is 1 mg per pound bodyweight or 1 benadryl per 25 lbs. Parker gets 3 benadryl when I give them to him. Giving sardines promotes skin health and reduces itching also. If you want to know more, do a search for Sardines, Good for Allergies. They made a huge difference for Parker last year. Rarely even give him benadryl anymore.

 

[Hank]

He already gets 1-2 sardines a day. Think I should increase it?
I only usually give him 25mg of benadryl even though hes 41lbs because it knocks him OUT.
He's eating now and fine so I'm not too worried. Allergies are killing ME though, ugh.

 

[Lori Z]

Dog can indeed cough from allergies. Gus coughed every fall. He was even tested for Valley Fever at some point. Lots of money later he was diagnosed with allergies. He coughed every fall and then it went away. Not a lot just enough to worry me. He lived until he was 13.

 

[LindaH]

Well there you go. Happens everytime I make a blanket statement. Let me chanhe it to, MOST dogs do not cough due to allergies. ///// I remember you on that thread now and his reaction to benadryl. There is another allergy med you can try, but cant remember the name of it now. It sounds like he is getting enough sardines for his weight, but you could increase some to see if they help, say one am and one pm if four to a can. Be sure to rinse. Are you using the ones in water or frozen? or Maybe add fish oil and vit e. Try wiping the pollen off him with a damp washcloth or allergy babywipes when he comes inside. I feel for you. I already bought 5 cases of sardines getting ready for this year. Maybe my neighbor wont be giving him crappy dog bicuits this summer. He felt badly when he found out what he had done. Give me crappy biscuits over poison any day!

 

[Hank]

I've been giving him canned sardines. So he gets 1-2 cans a week. Can deff increase that to see if it helps.

Its supposed to rain for the rest of the week starting tomorrow. So we had a fun long walk at the river, then he got a bath and benadryl and now hes passed out on the couch
I gave him 1 1/2 pills and they're 25mg pills. Seems to be helping.
I'll start him on the fish oil again and give the Vit E more constantly.
Washing all his bedding so that should help.

Does anyone give benadryl before walks? Was debating on if this would help more or if he would be too groggy

 

[DobieGal15]

Zyrtec is safe to use and a bit stronger than benadryl. Although, is there any chance of kennel cough? I wouldnt think allergies would typically cause what you describe..... Good luck, allergies are SO frustrating!

 

[LindaH]

I always gave Parker his benadry after his morning meal with his vitamins, before he ever stepped outside to the unfriendly outdoors, but they didnt make him sleepy. It is better to give before exposure to prevent allergy reaction, rathe r than trying to medicate after the reaction, histamine production, has started. I think you need to try d different allergy pill. Ask your vet if you dont want to use Zyrtec. He needs to know what you are giving anyway for his records.

 

[eegreen]

My friend has a Jug who has terrible allergies to grass (verified with allergy testing) of all things. His symptoms are pink paws itchy paws and belly. His vet prescriped Claritin.

 

[Hank]

I dont really have a problem giving the benadryl. They just make him super groggy. If its not pouring tomorrow I'll give him the benadryl and then go for a really short walk to test it out.

Yeah he might have kennel cough. I take him to petsmart/petco/the park/walk with friends dogs. But if it is, its not bad enough atm for me to worry about it. His nose discharge is minimal and white.

 

[Hank]

Wanted to post an update.
I upped his sardines to a can a day and that really seems to be helping.
I gave him benadryl everyday for a week straight, then forgot a day but he wasnt really chewing/scratching so I stopped.
As of now he doesnt really chew/scratch much.
Sadly his feet are all red between some of his toes tho bleh.

I took him to the vet last thursday because i was worried he might have a foxtail in his ears but they were empty and perfectly clean!
Then yesterday we were playing with the flirt pole and he started shaking his head like crazy so we took him inside and looked in his ears and hes getting hairs in his ear! Like hes shedding and stray hairs are falling in his ears lol so I pulled 2 hairs out and he was fine. Of all things. Silly dogs.

 

[LindaH]

That sounds great! Isnt it nice to see him not itching, scratching and chewing?!? Those sardines are like a miracle drug. Once his itching is under control, start cutting back to find a maintenance amount or just enough to keep him from itching. Try waiting a bit and see if his paws will clear up first. I am betting they will in a couple of weeks. You can also try giving extra virgin coconut oil. It has a different kind of fat that will also help his skin. Olive oil, on the other hand, competes with the DHA/EPA in sardines for uptake in the body. So to give a large amount of olive oil with sardines actually defeats the purpose. Just adding about olive oil for educational purposes.

 

[Cindylouwho]

It may very well be allergies, but please also look into asthma. My cat Boo Boo has it, and he has to use an inhaler, gets predisone shots and takes prednisolone liquid. He's an indoor furbaby only.. and the only reason I'm still up is because he ran outside. Bwaaaa ! Dogs can indeed have asthma too.

 

[KissNme]

Do the sardines give them loose stools?

 

[LindaH]

They could. You need to start any food additions, changes or suppliments slowly to prevent digestive disturbances.