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Dog Hives
Dog hives are caused by allergic reactions to insect stings and bites, food, toxins or chemicals
Medically known as "Urticaria", hives in dogs are small bumps that can appear on your dog's skin, face, ears, and even tongue.
Dog hives are a form of short-term allergic reactions to, most commonly, insect stings.
Other possible causes are certain food items, poisonous plants, household chemical products, and vaccines. You can usually see
the hives developing within 15-20 minutes of the dog being exposed to the allergen.
Usually, dog hives are not life-threatening and the bumps will go away soon. However, the condition can cause a lot of discomfort and stress to our dogs.
Symptoms of Dog Hives
Common symptoms of dog hives include:
- Bumps on the skin, face, ears, and/or tongue
- Hair over the bumps may stand up
- Excessive scratching due to intense itching
- May have difficulty in breathing
- Sometimes swollen eyes and face
Take your dog to the veterinarian immediately if:
- she has difficulty in breathing
- her face is so swollen that she may have breathing problems
- the hives do not go away in a day
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Homeopathic Remedies for Dog Hives
Homeopathic remedies are very effective in treating sudden onset of hives caused by allergic reactions to substances such as chemicals, bug stings, etc. It is therefore
advisable to keep the following homeopathic remedies in your first aid kit for dogs just in
case your dog develops hives:
Apis mellifica
An effective remedy for hives, swelling and breathing difficulty. Give this remedy to your dog immediately if her face starts swelling up.
Urtica urens
This is an effective remedy for allergic hives that itch and sting intensely. The dogs needing this remedy will often develop red patches on their skin and they also tend
to urinate more frequently.
Arsenicum album
Dogs needing this remedy are weak and restless. They also suffer from intense itching and have breathing difficulty.
Rhus toxicodendron
Rhus tox can relieve hives that cause intense itching. (The itching usually improves by hot bathing.)
An Effective Homeopathic Remedy for Hives in Dogs
Newton Homeopathics Skin Relief for Dogs and Cats
This natural remedy is effective for the relief of itching and pain associated with not only hives, but also eczema, pimples, and other skin eruptions, as well as mange.
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Herbal Remedies for Dog Hives
For dog hives that are not too serious and with no swelling, herbs can also be used to alleviate the itching.
Oat
Apply an oatmeal paste to the affected area(s). To make the oatmeal paste, cook the oatmeal in water until it is in a loose and wet paste form. Let it cool and apply it
liberally to
your dog. Alternatively, give your dog oatmeal baths to help alleviate the itch. Boil about one pound of organic
oat straw in 2 quarts of water and add this to your dog's bathwater.
Yellow Dock
Use a rinse from dried yellow dock (available at health food stores or herbal stores). Add one
tablespoon of the herb to 2 cups of boiling water. Let it sit and cool down. Strain off the herb and use the liquid as a rinse.
Green Tea
Steep a couple of green tea bags in 2 cups of hot water. Discard the teabags. Let the tea cool down and pour it on your dog. Let it drip dry.
Chamomile / Calendula
If your dog is itchy and her skin is reddened, use a rinse of chamomile tea or
calendula tea.
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Prevention of Dog Hives
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