However, during the time that it is there, it is quite troublesome for your dog. This is the time when he/she needs your help and care. Before you work on the treatment of this condition, you should be sure about its symptoms.
Symptoms
- Formation of yellow patches on the skin
- Swelling of the eyes and face
- Presence of bumps or warts on skin
- Troublesome breathing
- Lesions on the skin that do not heal
- Oily or foul-smelling coat
- Excessive drying of skin
- Scratching and irritation of the skin
- Loss of hair
- Skin inflammation
- Skin rashes
Causes
Just like in humans, histamine and other chemicals are released into the bloodstream when a dog comes into contact with a substance that it is allergic to. The action of histamine and other chemicals leads to itching, swelling, reddening of the skin, 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 it. The foremost among them is the ingestion of certain foods that contain preservatives, stabilizers, emulsifiers, and synthetic flavoring and coloring agents. Secondly, various medications and insect bites can also trigger its onset.
Home Remedies
You can do a lot of things that can relieve your dog of his/her discomfort. 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 the meals and make your dog eat it. You can also give Benadryl.
The dosage that is usually recommended is 2 mg per pound orally in an interval of eight hours. Take some oats and grind them in water till the mixture 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 the itching 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 recovery process. You can also administer non-prescription antihistamines. This will assist in ceasing the allergic reaction on your dog’s body.
The condition of hives usually goes away by the use of home remedies suggested above. However, you should take your pet to a veterinarian. It is necessary to figure out the exact underlying factor for the onset of this condition. The vet may conduct various diagnostic tests to determine the cause. Medical assistance is especially necessary in recurring cases. Follow all the instructions and recommendations given by the veterinarian. This is essential to help your dog recover.