Author: World Arabia

Key points

• Benadryl is an antihistamine medication used to treat allergies in humans and animals;
• Although the FDA has not approved Benadryl for use in animals, it is considered to be safe for cats by the majority of veterinarians;
• You can use Benadryl if your cat has itchy skin, allergies, nausea, or motion sickness;
• Some of the most common side effects of this medication are lethargy, sedation, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, and changes in urination frequency;

While some people are allergic to cats, many cats have allergies of their own. Some cats are even allergic to their owners, as perfumes, cigarette smoke, and cleaning products found in human homes can often cause felines to experience adverse reactions. Pets can also be allergic to food, pollen, and almost anything that makes us, humans, sneeze, wheeze, or break out in hives. Diphenhydramine – sold under the brand name Benadryl – is a versatile antihistamine medication that can help relieve allergic reactions in cats.

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Key points

• Most skin rashes are caused by a sensitive reaction to various irritants. In dogs, rashes most commonly appear on the head, groin, belly, chest, and hips. In most cases, groin rashes are not dangerous to dogs and usually resolve on their own.
• Dogs can suffer from different types of rashes, including flea allergy dermatitis, puppy pyoderma, hot spots, and atopic dermatitis. Usually, a rash on a dog’s groin will look similar to pimple-like lesions.
• The most common causes of canine rashes include allergies, fleas, ticks, or mites. Dogs can also develop heat rashes and skin conditions caused by ringworms, poor diet, yeast infections, poisonous plants, hormone imbalance, bacterial infections, excessive licking or chewing of the skin, and genetic conditions.
• The treatment of a rash will depend on its cause, but it can include a hypoallergenic diet, topical ointments, and different medications.

Seeing a rash on your dog’s belly and groin could be startling and frightening, even though this skin condition is latively common in dogs. Most pet owners who encounter canine rashes for the first time jump to conclusions and start worrying about their pet’s health. However, most of the time, rashes aren’t dangerous for dogs. The causes of this skin condition may vary, and a rash can be caused by something as innocuous as a minor infection or allergic reaction or as severe as Cushing’s disease. 

Therefore, it’s essential to find out what’s causing the rash on your dog’s groin as soon as you notice the issue. That way, you’ll eliminate the risk of the rash transforming into a severe condition that will require veterinary care or even hospitalization. And if the inflammation is minor and doesn’t bother your dog, the pet likely won’t need any special treatment, and the rash will disappear on its own.

Keep on reading if you want to find out more about what can cause a rash and how to identify it. We’ll also provide some tips on treating groin rashes in dogs correctly. 

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Key points

• The normal body temperature for canines is around 99.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.5 – 39 degrees Celsius, which is slightly higher than the normal human body temperature.
• Fever is a common condition many dogs experience. It can occur due to an ear infection, infected bite wound, scratch or cut, urinary tract infection, bacterial or viral disease, infected or abscessed tooth, or ingestion of a toxic substance. It can also occur as a side effect of certain medications or vaccines. 
• The signs that your dog has fever include red eyes, warm ears, lethargy, a warm and dry nose, nasal discharge, shivering, dehydration, loss of appetite, rapid heart rate, vomiting, increased respiratory rate, and coughing.
• If your dog has a fever, don’t panic and don’t give it any medications without your veterinarian’s guidance. Instead, make sure your dog stays hydrated and use a soaked towel to cool its body if necessary.
• Keep monitoring your dog and if you become concerned about the fever or your pup develops other symptoms, then take it to see a veterinarian. Don’t rush into giving the pet any over-the-counter medications without a veterinarian’s prescription.

Fevers are a relatively common canine condition, and it’s important to know why they happen and how to deal with them, as they often occur as a symptom of an underlying medical condition.

You may know about a traditional method of determining whether your dog has a fever by touching its nose. The common belief is that if a dog’s nose is wet and cold, the pup is healthy, but if it’s hot and dry, it may have a fever. But this belief is largely a myth, and most of the time, just touching your puppy’s nose isn’t enough to diagnose a fever.

You may also find yourself looking for over-the-counter medications that will help to reduce your dog’s fever as soon as you notice it. But it’s important to understand that not all of these drugs are safe for canines. In fact, voluntary treatment without veterinary supervision can be dangerous for your dog’s health. Therefore, if you’re trying to be a responsible pet owner, it’s essential to know what’s safe for your dog and how to act in stressful situations. This article will help you become more prepared, explain the causes and symptoms of fever in dogs, and let you know how you can help your dog when it has a fever. 

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Key points

• Keppra is a medication that contains levetiracetam as the active ingredient. It is a commonly used anticonvulsant for dogs suffering from seizures and epilepsy. It can be used alone or combined with other drugs such as phenobarbital and potassium bromide.
• Keppra can be given to dogs in the form of regular or extended-release tablets, liquid oral solution, or injections. 
• Keppra has minor to no side effects. When present, typical side effects include drowsiness, appetite loss, behavioral changes, diarrhea, and vomiting.
• You should never stop giving your dog Keppra without a veterinarian’s approval since it can cause your dog to have more frequent and severe seizures. Never give your dog double or extra doses of Keppra as well.

Keppra is one of the many brand names for levetiracetam, an anticonvulsant commonly prescribed for conditions such as seizures and epilepsy. Statistics show that about 5% of all dogs suffer from seizures at some point in their lives. Dogs experience attacks when there is increased electrical activity in their brains, resulting in temporal behavioral abnormalities. Generally, seizure episodes are not life-threatening to your dog, and with an appropriate medication regimen, you can ensure your pet’s long-term health and well-being.

In most cases, veterinarians will prescribe phenobarbital and potassium bromide to dogs as a seizure treatment. But sometimes, these remedies are ineffective, and some dogs don’t tolerate them well or experience unpleasant side effects. In those cases, Keppra is used as an alternative anticonvulsant treatment.

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Key points

• Arthritis is a medical condition which is characterized by inflammation of joints. It can be caused by a variety of factors, such as injuries, genetics, excessive physical strain, or poor nutrition;
• The most common symptoms of canine arthritis are stiff or lethargic movements, limping, and reduced interest in physical exercise;
• Although arthritis cannot be cured, you should try to prevent your pet from developing it. The best ways to avoid arthritis include helping your dog maintain a healthy weight, ensuring proper nutrition, and keeping your dog active;
• If your pet is diagnosed with arthritis, you can use natural home pain management remedies such as yucca, alfalfa turmeric, etc. to improve its condition;

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Key points

• Although aspirin is often prescribed to dogs for pain management, it comes with many risks;
• Your dog may experience a number of side effects such as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea (possibly bloody) or black, tarry stools, bleeding disorders, and stomach ulcers after taking aspirin;
• Aspirin for dogs and human aspirin differ significantly, and dogs generally can’t digest pills meant for humans;
• The safe amount of aspirin depends on the dog’s size – the larger the animal, the larger dose it needs;

Some pet owners think that what is good for them must also be suitable for the pet they love. For example, acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin®) is one of the most common human pain relievers. Although veterinarians often prescribe human drugs to animals, there are no aspirin formulations that have been approved specifically for use in dogs and cats. However, when a veterinarian prescribes medication to pets extra-label, they use all of their knowledge and experience to evaluate the situation and determine whether the drug will be safe and beneficial to the pet in the specific circumstances. Since you, as a pet owner, likely don’t have the necessary education to make an informed decision regarding your pet’s treatment, you should never give aspirin to your dog unless it has been prescribed by a licensed vet.

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Key points

• Cephalexin is an antibiotic prescribed to treat various bacterial infections in humans, dogs, and other animals;
• Cephalexin is effective against urinary tract infections, skin infections, otitis, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenza, etc.;
• The most common side effects of this medication include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, panting, drooling, hyperexcitability, and skin rashes;

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Key points

• Hiccups are contractions of the diaphragm that occur in response to a certain irritant. The most common things to cause hiccups in cats include anxiety, eating too much or too quickly, and hairballs.
• If hiccups are infrequent and don’t bother your cat for prolonged periods of time, then there’s nothing for you to be worried about. 
• It’s better to consult a veterinarian about your cat’s hiccups if they happen regularly and last a long time since they may be a symptom of an underlying health condition.

Have you ever seen your cat experiencing something similar to human hiccups? Then you may be wondering whether felines can get hiccups, and the answer is yes! Interestingly, kittens are more likely to get hiccups than adult cats. But what causes hiccups in cats? Let’s take a closer look at feline hiccups in this article.

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Key points

• The most common symptoms of lethargy in cats are lack of response to surroundings, abnormal sleepiness, and low energy;
• There are many possible causes of feline lethargy. These include overeating, parasitic infection, stress, depression, medication side effects, arthritis in older cats, etc.
• The treatment will always depend on the underlying cause of lethargy. For example, if lethargy is caused by a parasite, deworming your cat can solve the problem;

In this article, we will talk about what lethargy is, what symptoms of this condition cats can display, and most importantly, what you can do to help your cat.

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Key points

• Carprofen is an anti-inflammatory medication prescribed for dogs with osteoarthritis or as a pain management therapy after surgery;
• Generally, veterinarians consider the drug to be safe for canines since side effects occur very rarely. However, you should observe your dog for adverse effects;
• A professional diagnosis and vet prescription are needed if you want to give a dog carprofen.

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