What is a safe dose of benadryl for dogs

Created by Łucja Zaborowska, MD, PhD candidate

Reviewed by Steven Wooding

Last updated: Jun 24, 2022

The Benadryl dosage for dogs calculator is the simplest way to calculate a safe dose of Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) for your beloved dog. 🐕

No matter what you need it for - allergy, motion sickness, or anxiety - we've got you covered. We'll tell you everything you need to know about giving dogs Benadryl, a choice of different allergy medicine for dogs available on the market, and possible side effects of antihistamine for dogs.

Can you give a dog Benadryl?

The answer is both yes and no - always consult your veterinarian first! 📍

We all know that our regular food might be dangerous to our dogs - let's think about chocolate or grapes. The same goes for human medicine, as it can be pretty harmful to our pets in most situations.

What's important to check?

Let's study the example of Benadryl (or any other diphenhydramine for dogs).

• 💊 Make sure that your tablets/syrup contains only the active substance you want to give to your dog - pay attention to any additional content that is often present in human drugs.

• 📊 Double check if you're giving your dog the right dose! Don't follow advice for humans printed on the medication's boxes. Alway use your dog's current weight. It's especially important when you need to find liquid Benadryl dosage for dogs - carefully scan the label for the concentration of the drug, usually given in mg/mL.

• 👨‍⚕️ Always consult your veterinarian to ensure that your dog's symptoms are not indicative of a serious disease or illness. Better to be safe than sorry!

• 🔍 Get to know your dog's health conditions that might pose a greater risk to its life/health when combined with Benadryl. If your dog has any of the following diseases/states, it shouldn't take Benadryl:

  • Pregnancy
  • Low blood pressure
  • Any severe cardiovascular disease
  • Glaucoma

• ☎️ Look out for all the adverse effects of Benadryl, and if they occur, consult your vet and/or set aside the medicine. If the adverse effects get severe - act quickly and call for help!

  • Lethargy
  • Dry mouth
  • Urinary retention
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Lack of appetite

We've equipped you with all the essential, practical knowledge about the Benadryl dosage for dogs by weight and its possible effects; time to discover our other dog tools and learn something new!

• Dog pregnancy
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What is Benadryl used for in dogs?

Benadryl is a kind of an antihistamine drug. This kind of medication is widely used against any type of allergy. It usually works short-term.

Histamine itself is a substance released by the cells called Mast cells, which triggers our organisms' allergy reactions. Moreover, histamine plays a vital role in human brain - that's why it's also used to treat motion sickness.

Antihistamine for dogs has multiple applications - our Benadryl dosage for dogs calculator can be used for all of them.

• Benadryl for anxiety

  Vets recommend Benadryl for dogs with severe anxiety connected to thunderstorms, traveling, or fireworks.

• ...for allergies

  Used for mosquito, insects or snake bites, skin, food, or airborne allergies.

• ...for motion sickness

  Caused by planes, cars, or boats.

• ...for tumor treatment

• ...for heartworm therapy

  The use of antihistaminic drugs protects your dog from the overreaction of their immune system caused by the heartworm elimination.

A list of Benadryl generic drugs of possible allergy pills for dogs, available on the US market:

📍 Don't give your dog any drugs without medical advice - always consult your veterinarian first!

• Benadryl
• Unisom
• Sominex
• Genahist
• ZzzQuil
• Nytol
• Quenalin

Curious about other drugs for dogs? Check out the following links:

• Cephalexin for dogs;
• Tramadol for dogs;
• Metacam for dogs;and
• Omega-3 for dogs.

How much Benadryl can I give to my dog?

Q: What dosage of Benadryl for dogs do vets generally recommend in the US?

A: General dosage is 1 mg (milligram) per 1 lb (pound).

Benadryl dosage in mg = Dog's weight in pounds * 1 mg

Q: What's the Benadryl dosage for dogs in mg per kg (kilograms)?

A: General dosage is 2.2 mg(milligram) per 1 kg (kilogram).

Benadryl dosage in mg = Dog's weight in kilograms * 2.2 mg

Let's go one step further and calculate how much Benadryl for a dog we need in milliliters (mL).

Our dog weighs 25 pounds and is extremely terrified of flying. ✈️ Our liquid Benadryl has a concentration of 12.5 mg/5 mL.

1. Let's calculate the number of milligrams we need.

   Benadryl dosage in mg = 25 lb * 1 mg = 25 mg

2. Let's turn milligrams (mg) into milliliters (mL).

   12.5 mg/5 mL = 2.5 mg/1 mL = 2.5 mg/mL

   We need 22 mg of Benadryl:

   25 / 2.5 = 10 mL

3. We got it figured out! We need 10 milliliters of Benadryl.

Now you know it all! It's time for a break:

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FAQ

How do I calculate liquid Benadryl dose for dogs?

To calculate the liquid Benadryl (12.5 mg/5 ml) dose:

1. Determine the dose you need. The standard Benadryl dose is 1 mg per 1 lb.
2. The standard dose is the weight of your dog in pounds (lb).
3. Let’s count how much Benadryl is in one milliliter of a drug. 12.5 mg/5ml = 2.5 mg/1 ml.
4. Now we have to divide the desired dose by the amount in 1 ml.
5. The dog's weight in lb/ 2.5 mg = the amount of liquid Benadryl you want to give to your dog.

How many mg of Benadryl do I give to the dog?

A standard dose of Benadryl for dogs is one mg per one pound, or 2.2 mg per one kilogram.
If you prefer to use pounds, multiply the dog's weight by 1 mg: dog’s weight in lb × 1 mg.
If you prefer to use kilograms, multiply the dog's weight by 2.2 mg: dog’s weight in kg × 2.2 mg.

How do I count the Benadryl dose for dogs?

To count the Benadryl dose for dogs, you should:

1. Determine the dose you need. Standard Benadryl dose is 1 mg per 1 lb. The dose is the weight of your dog in pounds (lb).
2. If you prefer kilograms to pounds, the Benadryl dose is the dog's weight in kg × 2.2 mg/kg.
3. If you have tablets and want to know how many tablets you should give, divide the desired dose by the dose in one tablet. Example for a 25 mg tablet: desired dose/25 = number of tablets to give.
4. If you have a liquid Benadryl and want to know how much you should give, divide the desired dose by the dose in one milliliter of a drug. Example for 12.5 mg/5 ml solution: desired dose/2.5 mg = number of milliliters to give.

How do I calculate the Benadryl dose for dogs in ml?

To calculate the liquid Benadryl (12.5 mg/5 ml) dose:

1. Determine the dose you need. Standard Benadryl dose is 1 mg per 1 lb. The dose is the weight of your dog in pounds (lb).
2. Let’s count how much Benadryl is in one milliliter of a drug. 12.5 mg/5ml = 2.5 mg/1 ml.
3. Now we have to divide the desired dose by the dose in 1 ml. The dog's weight in lb/ 2.5 mg = the amount of liquid Benadryl you want to give to your dog.

How much Benadryl do I give to a 50 lb dog?

You should give 50 mg of Benadryl to a 50 lb dog, either as two 25 mg tablets, four 12.5 mg chewable tablets, or 20 ml of a Benadryl liquid form (12.5 mg/5 ml).

How often can I give my dog Benadryl?

You should give your dog Benadryl two to three times a day, or in other words - every 8-12 hours. Do not exceed this limit.

How much Benadryl can I give to my 20 lb dog?

You should give 8 ml of liquid Benadryl or one 12.5 mg chewable tablet to your 20 lb dog.

Łucja Zaborowska, MD, PhD candidate

Benadryl dosage

⁍ Number of 25 mg tablets: -

⁍ Number of 12.5 mg chewable tablets: -

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