How You Can Treat Dog Hives At Home: 6 Safe And Effective Remedies

One of the mild allergic reactions that dogs experience is dog hives. Uncommon, but it can lead to unpleasant complications for your pooch. In rare cases, hives can lead to dog anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening.

Like more major issues such as ticks, fleas, and other pesky parasites, it’s best to deal with them to minimize your dog’s experience of itchy skin, dog rashes, and irritated skin, and maintain their high quality of life.

This article covers the basics of dog hives. Why they appear, and six effective and natural home remedies you can do to get your pooch feeling at the top of their game again.

Understanding Dog Hives

Hives (urticaria) are swollen, red, usually itchy patches of skin that tend to appear and then disappear almost as suddenly commonly.

The common causes are broad and range from insect stings/bites to medications and even dog shampoos. Toxic chemicals or plants can also be a cause, and sunlight, exercise, genetic irregularities, and friction can exacerbate the symptoms.

Identifying Dog Hives

To identify dog hives, gently locate the irritated area. If it is a dog hive, it will appear swollen and could result in swelling in your dog’s face, lips, throat, or ears. Sometimes they meld together and become bigger and larger, which is more challenging to deal with.

Before Home Treatment, Try These Safety Precautions

It’s vital to consult a vet for a proper diagnosis. This applies equally if you are uncertain about the nature of your dog’s hives. But if your dog experiences swelling in or around the airways, this can lead to dog anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening.

If your dog seems to be having trouble breathing or is breathing in a laboured manner, consult the vet immediately. Equally, it’s worth speaking to your vet to get a diagnosis specific to your dog.

Home Remedies for Treating Dog Hives

Cold Compress

A cold compress helps to alleviate swelling, irritated skin, or hives. Press an ice pack (simply crushed ice in a bag, remove air, and seal) against the area gently.

You can also use a commercial gel pack or wrap that fits around the joint or area in question. Bags of frozen vegetables like corn or peas work, too, and can be used without ordering a product.

Oatmeal Bath

An oatmeal bath is a classic and inexpensive way to remedy minor hives. Simply run a lukewarm-mildly bath, pour and mix in 1 cup of oatmeal as the tub fills, and soak your pooch gently for 10-20 minutes. Pat and dry. For smaller breeds, you can use less oatmeal (1/3 cup)

Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera gel is very beneficial when it comes to calming irritated skin. You can even purchase animal aloe, which is even more pet safe and less likely to cause an unwanted reaction, as with human aloe gel.

Start small to test for an allergic reaction; don’t let your dog ingest it. It can be a natural remedy for skin contact, but if ingested, it’s toxic.

Chamomile Tea Rinse

Chamomile in hot water, cooled, and applied to your dog is another natural allergy medication that helps with dry skin, skin rash, and itching. So again, for the mild symptom, it’s effective.

Apple Cider Vinegar Solution

This product comes in a number of forms, commonly in a spray. This is convenient as it allows the pet owner to spray the hive area before going on walks easily. It’s best with a 50/50 solution of apple cider vinegar and water.

Honey

Honey is multipurpose for dogs; it can help with insect bites, skin wounds, and allergen hotspots. Feeding your dog a teaspoon of raw honey each day is the trick.

A large dog might need a touch more, and a smaller breed a smidge less. The trick is to purchase local raw honey, which contains pollen, to help your dog acclimate to allergy season.

Monitoring Progress and Consulting the Vet

Monitor the progress of your dog’s skin irritation by checking the affected area before and after applying the allergy relief solution.

With consistent care, the hive areas should start to go down. But if the issue persists or worsens, you must contact the vet for a more detailed and personal diagnosis. Guides are all well and good, but we don’t know your dog personally.

The Furr-dict

Dog hives are usually a minor issue, but one that you should keep an eye on anyway. Using any of the six safe, effective home remedies, you can stop your dog from itching, reduce its skin irritation, and maintain its comfortable and pain-free quality of life.

As dog owners, we must look after our dogs. Pet health should be a prime concern. If you want to know more about how to be a responsible pet owner, you should check out our website for all things cute and furry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can dog hives be a sign of a serious underlying condition?

It’s usually a simple case of an allergic reaction. Most of the time, dog hives are not threatening, aside from dog rashes, itchy skin, and an itchy dog!

Are there certain foods that can trigger hives in dogs?

Foods such as dairy, eggs, chicken, and beef can cause canine food allergies.

Can I use over-the-counter creams on my dog’s hives?

Products like hydrocortisone cream are safe for dogs’ skin. But it’s essential to consult the vet or at least do some research before applying. Many human products can contain other chemicals that create an unwanted reaction in your dog.

How long does it usually take for hives to resolve with home treatment?

This depends. But within 24 hours is a reasonable expectation. At the most, a few days. Consult the vet if symptoms are persistent.

When should I seek immediate veterinary care for my dog’s hives?

This can be very serious if your dog experiences swelling around the airways. It can lead to dog anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening.