Benadryl is an antihistamine medicine commonly use for allergies, including foods, skin, and seasonal allergies, hives and motion sickness. But what is the safe Benadryl for dogs dosage?
Benadryl is a popular medicine used for humans in many diseases. Most of us have heard of and have probably taken Benadryl. This medicine is mainly prescribed for a range of humans illnesses such as hay fever, allergies and even motion sickness.
Dogs owners around the globe often want to know about humans medications and their use for the canines. So Is Benadryl safe for dogs? And How much Benadryl for dogs?.
In this article, we will provide detailed and a comprehensive Guide about Use of Benadryl for dogs, and we assure you will get the answers to all of your questions.
- What is Benadryl?
- How much Benadryl for Dogs?
- Benadryl for dogs Dosage Chart:
- Is Benadryl safe for dogs?
- How does Benadryl Help Dogs?
- Benadryl for Motion Sickness in Dogs:
- Benefits of Benadryl for Dogs:
- Side Effects of Benadryl for Dogs:
- How do I give my Dog Benadryl?
- What Dogs Should not be Given Benadryl?
- Benadryl Toxicity and overdosing symptoms in Dogs:
- Conclusion:
- FAQ:
What is Benadryl for dogs?
Benadryl (Diphenhydramine HCI) is an antihistamine medicine used for the treatment of many humans health issues. This medicine is available on different brands names in the market, such as Panadol, Nytol and Benylin.
Most form of the Benadryl antihistamine also contain ingredients such as Cetirizine, Acetaminophen/Paracetamol and Pseudoephedrine. Benadryl Diphenhydramine works by blocking the receptors in the body that relieve and helps in many of the symptoms associated with allergies, including foods, skin, and seasonal allergies, hives and motion sickness.
Veterinarians sometimes use Diphenhydramine to diagnose mast cell tumors in dogs, as mast cell tumors can release histamine in the same way as an allergic reaction. This is important to note that among these ingredients the Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine are toxic for dogs.
If your vet prescribes the medicine for your canine, you need to buy the safe form of the medication for your puppy. Read the ingredient label Carefully and do not buy a product that contains toxic ingredients for your puppy.
How much Benadryl for Dogs?
The ideal and safe dosage of Benadryl for dogs depends on the size, body weight, and overall health condition. According to Veterinarians, the safe dosage of Benadryl for dogs is 2-4mg/kg or 0.8-1.5mg/lbs two to three times a day with a veterinarian prescription. The dose of liquid Benadryl for puppies is 0.4ml/lbs.
Please remember to see the product’s label before giving it to your puppy because this is human medicine. Some products may include additional ingredients that may be toxic for your canine. Do not exceed the safe amount because overdosing on any medication is dangerous.
Benadryl for dogs Dosage Chart by weight
Dog Body weight | Children’s Benadryl Dosage | Benadryl tablet Dosage | Feeding Schedule | Time Gape |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 – 10 lbs | 0.4 – 4 ml | 1 -10mg | 2 times per day | 8-12 hours |
10 – 20 lbs | 4 – 8 ml | 10- 20mg | 2 times per day | 8-12 hours |
20 – 30 lbs | 8 – 12 ml | 20-30mg | 2 times per day | 8-12 hours |
30 – 40 lbs | 12 – 16 ml | 30-40mg | 2 times per day | 8-12 hours |
40 – 50 lbs | 16 – 20 ml | 40-50mg | 2-3 times per day | 8-12 hours |
50 – 60 lbs | 20 – 24 ml | 50-60mg | 2-3 times per day | 8-12 hours |
60 – 70 lbs | 24 – 28 ml | 60-70 | 2-3 times per day | 8-12 hours |
70 and above | 28-35ml | 70-80mg | 2-3 times per day | 8- 12 hours |
- The above Benadryl for dogs dosage chart us well researched but can be used for educational purposes. Your veterinarian can better decide the safe dose of Benadryl for your puppy after observing your canine physically.
- Please note, Only Give medication with your vet recommendation because there is a range of circumstances that might change the amount and dose of the drug. The above Benadryl for dogs dosage chart is for educational purpose.
- Self-medication is forbidden. Benadryl poisoning can lead your pup to the extreme, including abnormal heart rate, aggression, difficult breathing, and tremors.
- According to veterinarians and pet experts, the safe dose of Benadryl for dogs is 0.4ml per 1 pound of body weight of children Benadryl or 1mg per 1 pound of body weight of tablet Benadryl 2-3 time a day with 8-12 hours gape.
- Please remember that this dose may not be the same for all health issues. Your vet will prescribe the safe dose after observing and diagnosing the health issues.
Liquid Benadryl dosage for dogs
Dog Body weight | Liquid Benadryl Dosage | Feeding Schedule |
---|---|---|
1 – 10 lbs | 0.4 – 4 ml | 2 times per day |
10 – 20 lbs | 4 – 8 ml | 2 times per day |
20 – 30 lbs | 8 – 12 ml | 2 times per day |
30 – 40 lbs | 12 – 16 ml | 2 times per day |
40 – 50 lbs | 16 – 20 ml | 2-3 times per day |
50 – 60 lbs | 20 – 24 ml | 2-3 times per day |
60 – 70 lbs | 24 – 28 ml | 2-3 times per day |
70 and above | 28-35ml | 2-3 times per day |
Please note that some children liquid benadryl contain Xylitol that is toxic to dogs. Before buying liquid Benadryl for your dog chose that product that don’t contain xylitol and other toxic ingredients.
Is Benadryl safe for dogs?

Yes, A safe and recommended dose of Benadryl per pound bodyweight with some of the precaution is considered safe for canine use.
To better understand the answer to the question, Is Benadryl safe for dogs? you need to get proper knowledge and proof of recommendation.
This is true that Benadryl is not yet FDA-approved for veterinary use, but across the united states veterinarian often recommend the medicine for the canine use. This medicine can help your canine in many ways.
Servedogs Team always recommend the use of any medication with the vet advice only. Self-medication may lead your furry friend to severe health issues and sometimes become life-threatening.
Only chose the drug that contains the Diphenhydramine only and avoided that have Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine.
Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine may lead your canine to liver damage, increased heart rate and blood pressure.
Before offering any medication includes Benadryl, you must consult your vet first. Always feed the safe dose of the medicine and keep a close eye when offering any new medication for the first time. If you notice any apparent behaviors or symptoms, stop the medication and contact your veterinarian immediately.
How does Benadryl Help Dogs?
Veterinarians use Diphenhydramine, commonly known by the brand name Benadryl for many canine health issues. Benadryl is not yet FDA-approved for veterinary use, but still, it is recommended by the vets off the label and is considered safe for use in dogs across the U.S.
Below we are listing some of the common health issues in which Benedryl Help Dogs.
Benadryl for Dogs Allergies:
Diphenhydramine is mainly used in mild-to-moderate allergies in Dogs. Vet often prescribe the medicine when the canine is suffered from the below-mentioned Allergies.
- Food Allergies.
- Skin allergies.
- Seasonal allergies.
- Snake or insects bites allergies.
- Environmental allergies.
Please Remember: Always Use Benadryl and other medication with your vet advice only. Keep all the medicine out of reach of children.
Reactions to Vaccinations:
As for humans, doctors give some types of medication before vaccination to prevent the onset of any side effects of the vaccination. In the same way, your vet may prescribe the use of Benadryl for your canine before the vaccination.
Benadryl For Thunderstorms & Fireworks Anxiety in Dogs:
Can you give a dog Benadryl for anxiety? You may have noticed your obvious puppy behavior during Thunderstorms or Fireworks, known as Thunderstorms & Fireworks Anxiety in canines. According to vets and pet experts, Benadryl has a calming effect on dogs, so offering the medicine in stressful situation will make your canine calm.
How much Benadryl can I give my dog for thunderstorms? For thunderstorms anxiety You can give 0.4ml per 1 pound of body weight of children Benadryl or 1mg per 1 pound of body weight of tablet Benadryl 2-3 time a day with 8-12 hours gap.
Benadryl for Motion Sickness in Dogs:
Benadryl works fine in motion sickness in dogs and can reduce nausea in your pup when you are travelling in a car, boat or plane along with your pet.
The antihistamine diphenhydramine blocks the histamines from binding to their receptor sites. It is tacking their place and stopping histamines from conveying their messages and thus prevent your puppy from motion sickness.
For motion sickness, give the drug to your canine before 30 minutes from the rid because the medicine usually takes about 30 minutes to start the effect.
Benefits of Benadryl for Dogs:
- Benadryl helps your canine relieve allergies such as skin allergies, food allergies, insects bites allergies and seasonal allergies.
- It also helps to reduce inflammation, hives, headaches, watery eyes and sneezing.
- The Diphenhydramine can be given as a pre-shield against the onset side effects of canine vaccinations.
- Helps in relieving the anxiety and nausea and keep your dog relaxed in stressful times, such as during fireworks thunderstorms and help in motion sickness.
Side Effects of Benadryl for Dogs:
Benadryl also has a range of side effects that may lead your canine to some health issues, as with any medication. According to vets, these side effects usually occur when you feed the wrong dose or feed the medicine to dogs forbidden to take the medication.
Below we are listing some of the possible side effects of Benadryl for dogs.
- Decrease in Urination
- Sleepiness / Sedation
- Avoid food
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Dry mouth
- Drowsiness
- Hyper Salivation
How do I give my Dog Benadryl?
- Always give any medication with your vet advice only.
- Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine are toxic for dogs. Suppose your vet prescribes the medicine for your canine. In that case, you must make sure to buy the safe form of the drug.
- Read the medication’s ingredient label and do not buy the product containing toxic ingredients such as Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine.
- Only give Diphenhydramine Benadryl to your puppy.
- Make sure only feed a safe and recommended dose of 0.4ml per 1 pound of body weight of children Benadryl or 1mg per 1 pound of tablet Benadryl 2-3 times a day with 8-12 hours gap.
- If you want to give Benadryl in pill form, feed them the pill in their favorite healthy food.
- If you want to feed a liquid form of medicine, the easiest and most accurate way is to give it to your dog by using a syringe.
- Do not give Benadryl more than 3 times a day.
- Please do not give the Benadryl to a pregnant dog, Until your vet prescribes it for your canine.
- Do not give if your dog is sensitive to the medicine contact your vet for a safe alternative.
- Complete the recommended duration and dose, don’t stop in the middle for the best result.
- Feeding Benadryl regularly might lessen the effectiveness of Benadryl. Your vet can increase or decrease the dose.
What Dogs Should not be Given Benadryl?
Every medicine may work and react differently for different dogs. Some puppies may not tolerate the drug that is safe for canine use.
Remember, it is not true that a safe medicine for other dogs will be safe for your pup also. Only follow your vet advice.
If your canine is suffering from below mentioned health issues or has suffered from them in the past, then do not offer Benadryl until your vet prescribe it.
- Sensitivity to Diphenhydramine.
- Heart disease.
- High blood pressure.
- Lung disease.
- Glaucoma.
- Enlarged prostate.
- Hypothyroidism.
- Seizure disorders.
- Hypertension.
Benadryl Toxicity and overdosing symptoms in Dogs:
- Irregular Heart Rate.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Extreme Fatigue.
- Tremoring muscles.
- Muscle Spasms.
- High temperature.
Conclusion:
Benadryl is a human used medicine that is used for dogs off the label and over the counter. Around the world, a vet prescribes Benadryl (Diphenhydramine HCI) for canines health issues such as skin allergies, food allergies, seasonal allergies, insects or snack bite, motion sickness, and anxiety.
Under the direction of a vet Giving a safe dose of Benadryl by vet prescription is safe for your dog and help to relieve your pooch health issues. However, overdosing and feeding the medicine to dogs forbidden to take medication can lead to complications.
The Serious side effects of the medicine are more minor and infrequent, But still, need to be more care and precautions.
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FAQ:
How much Benadryl can I give my dog chart?
Dog’s Bodyweight | Benadryl tablet Dosage | Children’s Benadryl Dosage |
---|---|---|
1 – 10 lbs | 1 -10mg | 0.4 – 4 ml |
10 – 20 lbs | 10- 20mg | 4 – 8 ml |
20 – 30 lbs | 20-30mg | 8 – 12 ml |
30 – 40 lbs | 30-40mg | 12 – 16 ml |
40 – 50 lbs | 40-50mg | 16 – 20 ml |
50 – 60 lbs | 50-60mg | 20 – 24 ml |
60 – 70 lbs | 24 – 28 ml | 60-70 |
70 and above | 28-35ml | 70-80mg |
Self-medication is harmful. Always give medicine to your faithful companion on your vet advice only. According to veterinarians and pet experts, The safe dose of Benadryl for dogs is 0.4ml per 1 pound of body weight of children Benadryl or 1mg per 1 pound of body weight of tablet Benadryl 2-3 time a day with 8-12 hours time gap.

How much Benadryl can I give my 20 lb dog?
The ideal dose of Children Benadryl is 0.4ml per 1 pound of body weight of children Benadryl or 1mg per 1 pound of tablet Benadryl. The ideal amount of Benadryl for a 20 lb dog is 8-12 ml or 20-30mg 2-3 times a day with 8-12 hours gave.
Will Benadryl make my dog Sleepy?
Yes, Benadryl has a calming and sedative effect that can make a dog sleepy. Other possible side effects of the medication might be dry mouth, urinary retention, diarrhoea and vomiting.
Can Benadryl kill a dog?
The FDA has not approved Benadryl for veterinarians use. However, this medicine is used off the label for many canine health issues such as Allergies and motion sickness.
A safe dose will not hurt your canine, but overdosing and feeding the product that contains toxic ingredients such as Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrine may lead your puppy to severe issues and can even kill a dog.

How long does it take for Benadryl to work on dogs?
The effects of Benadryl depends on the pups health condition. Usually, it works and effect quickly and take about 30 min to 1 hour. You will not notice the effect of the medicine soon quickly. It may take time to build the body immune system to overcome the health issue.
How much Benadryl is too much for a dog?
The dose of any medication, drugs depends on the severity of the illness and the pet’s overall health. Your vet can prescribe the safe dose and how much Benadryl is safe for your dog in the best interest of your canine.
Always follow your dog’s advice. According to pet experts and vets, the dosage mentioned in the below chart is considered safe for dogs.
WEIGHT OF DOG | LIQUID BENADRYL DOSE | TABLET BENADRYL DOSE |
---|---|---|
1 – 10 lbs | 0.4 – 4 ml | 1 -10mg |
10 – 20 lbs | 4 – 8 ml | 10- 20mg |
20 – 30 lbs | 8 – 12 ml | 20-30mg |
30 – 40 lbs | 12 – 16 ml | 30-40mg |
40 – 50 lbs | 16 – 20 ml | 40-50mg |
50 – 60 lbs | 20 – 24 ml | 50-60mg |
60 – 70 lbs | 24 – 28 ml | 60-70 |
70 and above | 28-35ml | 70-80mg |
For dogs 10lbs to 40lbs give the medicine 2 times a day with 8 hours time gap and for dogs above then 40 lbs you can give the medicine 2 – 3 times a day with the same time gap.

Can I give my dog liquid Benadryl?
Can I Give My Dog liquid Benadryl? Yes, safe dose by body weight and safe form of children and liquid Benadryl is safe for dogs. Only use the medicine with vet advice only and chose the product for your canine that contain Diphenhydramine and avoid the medicine form that contain Acetaminophen and Pseudoephedrie and other toxic ingridients.

Is 50 mg Benadryl too much for a dog?
The safe dose of Benadryl depends on the bodyweight of the dog. Feeding an amount to a canine without considering the body wait is toxic and harmful. If you want to provide 50mg Benadryl, then this must that your dog body weight is 50-55 lbs.
The safe dose of banadryl for dogs by wight:
- 1 – 10 lbs is 1 -10mg
- 10 – 20 lbs is 10- 20mg
- 20 – 30 lbs is 20-30mg
- 30 – 40 lbs is 30-40mg
- 40 – 50 lbs is 40-50mg
- 50 – 60 lbs is 50-60mg
- 60 – 70 lbs is 60-70 mg
- 70 and above is 70-80mg
How much benadryl do I give a dog for a bee Sting?
Benadryl antihistamine works best for dogs with a bee sting. The medicine can prevent your canine from developing bee sting allergies and other skin allergies.
The safe and ideal dose of Benadryl for bee sting is 1 mg per lbs body weight of the tablet and 0.4 – 4 ml per lbs body weight of children liquid Benadryl.

Can dogs take Benadryl Daily?
Yes, you can feed your dogs benadryl daily 2-3 times daily at 1mg per pound of body weight. Please remember always offer any medecation with your vet advice only. Some medecine even safe medecine may cause severe side effects in your canine.