Can eating grass cause hives in dogs

Dog Hives (Urticaria | welts): Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment

What Are Dog Hives (Urticaria)?

Hives, otherwise known as urticaria by medical professionals, are one abnormality you may see. They occur when your dog is allergic to something, such as an insect, medication, or food. Recognizing hives in dogs and understanding the cause is essential to relieving your dogs discomfort and preventing dog hives in the future.

What do dog hives look like?

• Dog hives look like raised bumps on the skin, usually about the size of a nickel.
• Hives are usually red in color; however, you may not notice redness if they are on a very furry part of your dog. In this case, your pets hives may only look like fur-covered bumps. Sometimes, its difficult to see the raised bumps, and you may only feel them when petting your dog.
• Dog hives can appear anywhere on the body, including the face, tongue, neck, legs, chest, abdomen, or back. They can affect just one area of the body or the entire body.
• Dog hives are very itchy. This may be the first thing you notice before seeing or feeling hives on your dogs skin. Your dog will likely be trying to scratch, lick, or bite the areas affected as it will be itchy.
• Hives usually happen very fast within minutes after exposure to whatever caused them.
• You may notice excessive drooling and a swollen/puffy face if the hives affect your dogs throat or mouth.

What causes hives on a dog?

Dog hives are almost always related to exposure to an allergen. Once exposed to an allergen, mast cells in your dogs body release a substance called histamine. Histamine causes blood vessels to dilate, which leads to raised welts on your dogs skin.

The most common allergens causing dog hives include:

• Insect bite or sting, or ingesting an insect (photo recommendation: dog playing with bee)
• Vaccinations
• Acute allergic reactions to medications (chemotherapy, vitamin K, antibiotics)
• Food allergies
• Environmental allergies (grasses, trees, mold, dust mites, etc.)
• Contact allergens such as shampoos, insecticides, cleaning products
• Ingesting or skin exposure to toxic plants

Much less common causes of hives in dogs include prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures (hot or cold), strenuous exercise, parasites, or significant psychological stress.

Insect bites/stings, food, and medications are the most common causes of hives in dogs.

How are dog hives diagnosed?

As a pet parent, it can be worrisome to see these skin rashes, but luckily, for your vet to diagnose your dogs hives. Your vet will use a combination of your history and their physical examination findings.

Its essential to think about anything new your dog may have been exposed to. Did you see them playing with a bee? Were they recently vaccinated? Did they start a new medication or a new food? During the physical exam, your veterinarian will look at your dogs skin to evaluate hives and where the hives are located.

If your veterinarian is having trouble diagnosing your dogs hives or the reason for their hives, they may perform additional diagnostics, such as blood work, skin cytology, skin scrapings, or fecal analysis.

How to treat & get rid of dog hives?

Treatment for hives in dogs can be simple or more extensive, depending on the cause, severity, and duration of the allergic reaction.

To get your dog quick relief from the swelling and itchiness related to hives, your veterinarian will usually administer an injection of diphenhydramine (an antihistamine) and a corticosteroid. Once your dog is feeling better and discharged from the hospital, your veterinarian may also recommend that you continue giving your dog Benadryl two to three times a day at home for a couple of days.

To prevent hives from reoccurring, you need to understand what caused them in the first place so that you can avoid the allergen in the future. If there is no apparent cause for your dogs hives (such as insect bite, medication, or vaccinations), it may be more challenging to understand how to prevent hives in the future. Environmental and dietary allergies are two possible causes of hives that may require further diagnostics and treatment.

Environmental allergies

If your dog has recurrent hives or has other signs of allergies, your veterinarian may recommend testing for environmental allergies with serum allergy testing or intradermal allergy testing. With these results, your veterinarian can create a plan to desensitize your dog to these allergies with allergen-specific immunotherapy.

If you determine that you cannot eliminate the allergens in your dogs environment or pursue allergen-specific immunotherapy treatment, your veterinarian may recommend:

• Giving your dog daily antihistamines (such as Benadryl, zyrtec, or hydroxyzine)
• Giving your dog other prescription-strength allergy medications such as apoquel or cytopoint
• Starting daily skin health supplements, such as omega-three fatty acids.
• Frequently bathing your dog with medicated high-quality shampoo

Food allergies

Allergies that stem from food can also cause recurrent episodes of hives in dogs. The most common cause of allergies in dogs include chicken, beef, dairy, and egg 2. Recurrent episodes of hives can also be related to dietary allergies. To diagnose a food allergy, your veterinarian may recommend a diet trial for 6-8 weeks with a prescription food or an over-the-counter diet with a different protein source, like fish or venison. If your dog responds positively to a food trial, you can continue the special diet long term.

Are dog hives dangerous?

Dog hives are rarely life-threatening. However, there are a few less common situations where hives can affect your dogs breathing and become dangerous.

• Hives in the face, neck, or throat can cause severe swelling that impacts breathing, which can become life-threatening.
• The presence of hives anywhere may indicate your dog is having or about to have an anaphylactic reaction, which causes constriction of airways and difficulty breathing. 3 Besides hives, other signs of anaphylaxis include vomiting, diarrhea, facial swelling, drooling, blue gum color, and collapse.

If you notice that your dog has hives, pay particular attention to how they are breathing and for any other concerning changes in their behavior. If you are concerned your dog may be having severe allergic reactions, take them to the emergency room immediately to rule out a medical emergency.

At-home remedies for dog hives

If possible, take your dog to the veterinarian if you notice they have hives, especially if this is a first-time problem. If your dog chronically or intermittently has hives and the issue has previously been discussed with a veterinarian, some at-home remedies may help relieve the allergic reaction.

• If the hives are not affecting your dogs face, neck, throat, or ability to swallow, you can administer Benadryl by mouth. Always discuss if this is appropriate for your dog with your veterinarian first and receive instructions about dosage and frequency.
• If the hives were caused by a contact allergen (such as grasses/trees or chemicals) or insect bites you can help relieve itchiness by bathing with a gentle oatmeal-based dog shampoo can help your dog feel more comfortable.
• Apply a cold compress to the hives or the most severely affected areas of your dogs skin. Be careful never to apply a cold compress for more than 10 minutes at one time, and always wrap the ice or cold object in a towel before applying it to your dogs skin.

Hives and Rashes (Urticaria) in Dogs

Hives or skin rashes (urticaria) are localized patches of red, swollen, usually itchy, skin. They often develop and disappear suddenly. Hives are relatively uncommon in dogs. The most frequent causes are insect bites or stings, shampoos, and medications. Other causes include contact with toxic plants or chemicals. Friction, sunlight, heat, exercise, stress, and genetic abnormalities may cause or intensify the rash. Hives may develop after inhaling or consuming allergens. Hives can be seen while a dog is in estrus ("in heat") or seen in puppies with intestinal parasites ("worms").

The wheals (eruptions) appear within a few minutes or hours of exposure to the causative agent. In severe cases, the skin eruptions are preceded by fever, poor appetite, or dullness. They can develop on any part of the body but occur mainly on the back, flanks, neck, eyelids, and legs. In advanced cases, they may be found on the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, lining of the eyes, rectum, and vagina.

Often, hives disappear as rapidly as they arise, usually within a few hours. Treatment may not be required. They may return rapidly if exposure to the cause is not eliminated, however. Also, if your dog develops hives after receiving a vaccination or medication, contact your veterinarian immediately to see if treatment is needed. Treatment may include rapid-acting corticosteroids. If hives are chronic, environmental or food allergens should be considered as potential causes. Death does not commonly occur, unless anaphylaxis (a severe allergic event) or swelling of the respiratory tract is present.

Also see professional content regarding urticaria.

Plants That Cause Hives in Dogs: Avoiding Allergens of Mans Best Friend

If youre like me and love your canine companion with all your heart, the last thing you ever want is to see them suffering.

I can personally attest to this, as my dog Calvin has gone through a handful of painful situations. And Ill admit, they probably caused me more stress than him!

But hes a really rough and tumble mutt, so it never surprised me how he handled all of his injuries like a champ.

The list is too long and gruesome to recount, so Ill spare the readers.

Fortunately, despite all of his medical misadventures, Calvin has never experienced a severe allergic reaction.

Some dogs do however, have the misfortune of coming into contact with plants that cause hives and rashes.

To spare your pooch any painful allergic irritations, weve compiled a list that will tip you off to some problematic plants.

Afterwards we will mention some helpful home remedies so you can quickly soothe the symptoms should your dog encounter any of these plants.

To start off, lets examine the leading causes of hives in dogs.

What Causes Hives in Dogs?

The technical term for hives is urticaria. It is defined as skin inflammation that causes red bumps and patches on the surface of a dogs skin.

Watch out for these risk factors to keep your dog healthy and hive free.

• Bug bites or stings
• Food allergy
• Environmental allergens
• Plant irritants
• Chemical exposure
• Adverse effects of drugs
• Too much sun
• Excessive exercise
• Genetic defects
• Stress/anxiety

Fortunately, plant allergens are not among the most common cause for hives in dogs.

Some common plants can be quite troublesome though, so lets take a look.

Plants That Cause Hives in Dogs

Us humans think we have it bad during allergy season. But imagine being a dog when piles of pollen are dropping to the ground.

Relying on their noses constantly, they must be sniffing and rolling around in untold amounts of pollen.

The poor things!

It collects in their fur and eventually makes it down to their skin where it can really cause issues.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of plants that can potentially cause this problem for your pup.

The good news is that this list identifies and describes all of the most common hive causing plants to keep an eye out for.

Read on to learn what to watch out for when youre wandering in the woods or simply taking a walk around the neighborhood or a stroll in the park.

Birch Trees

Blooming birch trees can produce lots of pollen that may trigger allergic reactions in dogs and humans.

Oak Trees

In the springtime shortly after oak trees leaf out they produce pollen sacks that could cause allergies in people and pups.

Willow Trees

Affectionately known as pussywillows, the fuzzy pollen producing pods of the willow tree may lead to negative allergic reactions.

Poplar Trees

The cotton-like precursor to poplar seeds looks harmless enough, but it releases pollen that may agitate some humans and animals.

Bottlebrush

Vibrant bottlebrush flowers produce pollen that can disturb dogs and people.

Fruitless Mulberry

You might see it all walking down Mulberry Street, so keep an eye out for these blooming buds. The pollen is a known allergen to humans and canines.

Juniper

Only male juniper plants produce pollen, which can be an irritant for some. Male plants will have yellowish pollen sacks whereas female juniper develops blue berries. Direct skin contact with male plants could cause hives in dogs so be careful around this evergreen shrub.

Primrose

The shrubby, herbaceous wild flower can cause skin irritation if it is directly contacted. As pretty as it is, you should steer your dog clear of this flower if you encounter it in the forest.

Sage Brush

Big bushes of sage brush grow wild out west and their pollen and foliage can prove to be an irritant for pups.

Euphorbia

Types of euphorbia plants come in all shapes and sizes. Try to familiarize yourself with them because they can cause allergic reactions with their pollen and through skin contact. Their sap is also poisonous to pets.

Yew

Pollen and direct contact with the common evergreen shrub can cause symptoms of allergies. The females produce familiar bright red berries that are toxic, so keep a close eye on your dog if you happen to pass by yew plants in your neighborhood.

Sheep Sorrel

Called by many names (red sorrel, field sorrel, sour weed,) sheep sorrel is typically regarded as a perennial weed. Beware of its pollen which may disturb your doggys sensitive skin.

Wormwood

Widely naturalized in north America, wormwood grows wild in forested areas. Try to avoid interacting with its pollen which is known to cause skin irritation in dogs.

Ragweed

Commonly mistaken for goldenrod, ragweed is a primary contributor to allergy season. Its capable of producing a billion grains of pollen per season which waft effortlessly with the wind. Many people become victims of its pollen and dogs can suffer from it as well.

Day Lily

When walking your dog be careful around all lily varieties. Pollen and direct contact with the plant can cause allergic reactions.

Alliums

Alliums such as onions, garlic, leeks and chives will go to flower if you let them; and they actually look quite pretty. But keep your pets away. Direct contact and pollen can cause adverse reactions and the plant itself is toxic to pets.

Alliums may not treat your pets well, but they make great companions in the garden.

Wandering Jew

Wandering Jew is a popular houseplant, but may not be the best choice for pet owners. At the very least keep them well out of the reach of dogs and cats. Direct contact with the plant and exposure to its pollen can negatively affect curious pets.

Learn more about how to prapogate Wandering Jew.

Elephant Ear

Another plant commonly kept indoors, elephant ears should be kept away from pets. Contact with the plant can cause skin irritation for your dog.

Bermuda Grass

Remember rolling around in the grass when you were a kid and getting all itchy? Well its not so much the blades of grass as it is the pollen that will agitate your dogs skin. The tropical grass should be kept short to prevent it from developing pollen.

Castor Bean

The prickly red fruits of the castor plant are toxic to pets and children. The good thing is theyre easy to spot and avoid. Pollen and direct contact with the plant can also cause skin irritation for your dog.

Orchard Grass

Orchard grass belongs to the bluegrass family and produces tall blades topped with triangular flowerheads. Be careful about letting your dog romp wildly through grassy fields, they might ended up covered in irritating pollen.

Red Cedar Mulch

Cedar bark mulch can aggravate a dogs skin if its directly exposed. Train your canine pal to keep out of the garden beds to avoid this nuisance.

Read more about inorganic vs organic mulch.

Cocoa Mulch

Cocoa mulch is made from the pulverized shells of cocoa beans. It will agitate your dogs skin and is extremely harmful if consumed. Dog owners should not consider using this mulch around their homes.

Discover the in depth details of chocolate mulch.

Just because a particular plant falls on this list doesnt mean it will definitely give your dogs hives.

Most likely it wont, yet its good to know what could possibly trigger an allergic reaction.

Home Remedies for Hounds with Hives

It wouldnt be proper to discuss problems without offering solutions.

Here are some fantastic home remedies that will relieve your dogs hive outbreak.

Oatmeal Baths

Oatmeal has anti-inflammatory properties and will form a protective coating on your dogs skin, trapping in the moisture and preventing it from drying out. It will soothe and protect irritated problem areas.

Grind down rolled oats in a blender and add a couple tablespoons of the powder to a few cups of warm water. Massage the mixture into your dogs skin and let it soak in for 15 minutes. Rinse it out and gently dry off your dogs coat.

Green Tea Baths

Fill a tub with warm water and steep multiple green tea bags for 10-15 minutes. Plop your pup into the tub and let them soak as long as they like.

The antioxidants in green tea will soothe their skin, calming inflammation and relieving itchiness.

Apple Cider Vinegar Spray

Mix half purified water and half apple cider vinegar into a spray bottle. Lightly mist it onto hives or irritated skin.

The antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties of the handy home tonic make a perfect remedy for itchy rashes and hives.

Chamomile Tea

The tiny apple smelling flower has been used medicinally for millenia. Brewed as a tea and cooled down, it can be applied directly to irritated areas of your dogs skin. Its 100% safe for a dog to consume as well, so it can be administered orally to help relieve inflammation issues.

Plain Yogurt

Beneficial bacteria contained in yogurt can help soothe painful hives on your dogs skin. Make sure that its plain, unflavored yogurt with no added sugar. Otherwise the problem will be exacerbated.

Directly apply the plain yogurt to your dogs skin, slowly massaging it into problem areas. Let it sit for a few minutes and then give the dog a quick rinse with warm water and dry them off.

Coconut Oil

A superfood with medicinal merits, coconut oil has antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. Coconut oil will moisturize the skin and treat irritation and inflammation when applied directly.

Starting with a small amount, gently work the oil into affected areas of your dogs skin. Let it absorb for a while and it can then be rinsed out or left in to continue to protect and moisturize the skin.

As a side note, Ive consistently fed my dog coconut oil mixed in with his food throughout his life. He is healthy and has a handsome, shiny coat that I attribute to the steady supplementation of coconut oil in his diet.

Being able to treat your dog and alleviate their symptoms from home will give you great satisfaction and in my opinion, is the best solution.

But there is no substituting professional medical treatment. So if your dog shows signs of panting, drooling, swelling or going into shock or seizures during an allergic reaction, get them to the vet as soon as possible.

How to Keep Your Pup Hive Free

It isnt possible to completely prevent your dog from ever getting hives, unless you never leave the house. And of course, that would be unrealistic and unhealthy for both pet and owner.

While some of the plants in this list are capable of causing hives in your dog, chances are the majority will not.

So the best course of action to take is observe the plants in the environment where you and your dog typically take your walks. Take note if any of the plants listed are present in your area.

If and when your dog gets hives, youre able to retrace your steps and deduce what they came into contact with.

Its also possible that if your dog has hives, it came from another source that wasnt a plant. Bug bites and adverse reactions to food and medication are much more common causes of hives.

So be on a look out for potential allergen plants, but dont stress over it. If nothing else youll become more educated about what plants are growing in your area while being vigilant for the sake of your dogs health.

Its a win-win for the flora and Fido!