Insomniac dog, vets nurse sail try a benadryl ?

[Thattimeofyearagain]

He is a 10 month old lab cross. In the last week he has decreed that sleeping at night is optional. He whines, cries and barks. He is healthy, not hungry, didn't need to toilet,just wanted to be awake . I think the fireworks for the last week didn't help. Vet nurse suggests benadryl for the next 2/3 nights to get him back in routine. We're on our knees. Anyone tried it ?

[Cheerfulmarybrown]

Blimey I wouldn't - I would try training and behavioural methods before medication.

He does not just want to be awake He could be scared, worried, cold, hungry etc I would look for the cause. What time is his last meal?
Where does he sleep? What time is his last wee? What happens in the evening? Has anything changed recently?

[Floralnomad]

Have you had the actual vet look at him ?

[SoDiana]

How is he during the day

[Thattimeofyearagain]

No, sister in law was a vet nurse. He has been fine during the day, a bit itchy perhaps.

[Floralnomad]

In that case I'd get a vet to look at him before I self medicated .

[Toomuch2young]

Perhaps your SIL reccomended the Benadryl for the itching?

[Thattimeofyearagain]

She thinks that the itching is waking him, but said the benadryl was safe and would also make him sleepy. I'm so tired my heads mashed

[Floralnomad]

Surely you need to know why he is itchy not just mask it by medicating .

[Toomuch2young]

Yes that makes sense, it's used commonly, not a long term solution just a short term thing I am sure that is what she was thinking. Has she checked him for fleas? Does he have any rash or pink skin? Has he had any dietary changes recently? I am sure you can take him tomorrow to get his skin checked and hopefully when he is feeling better he will sleep better.

[Thattimeofyearagain]

We have flea treated him in the last few days, but he has been swimming in a local lake ( not our choice he just jumped in !), so maybe he has itchy skin from that ? It was dh that spoke to her, which is why I've posted for confirmation.

[TaintForTheLikesOfWe]

The vet nurse should absolutely not be prescribing human medicines for a dog! Zylkene would be better. It has a pheromone that is secreted in bitch milk and it works in a feel good/bonding/relaxing way. Don't use Benadryl, that is bad advice. Zylkene is not cheap but may be all you need to get him through this rough patch.

[kansasmum]

I have used Benadryl for my Labrador in the past on my vets advice. He had an allergy to something ( I forget what now) and the itching was bugging him. Vet checked him over and told me to try the Benadryl- worked like a charm! No itching = happy sleepy dog.

[Toomuch2young]

Yes the calming products may help. But zylkene won't help with the itching and takes a few days to take effect.
Benadryl is an OTC medication not a POM therefore she wasn't prescribing (which she cannot do as a VN) - just giving advice to a family member. Presumably as a very short term measure until OP takes to her vets to get the skin condition and subsequent restlessness under control.
One of my dogs who has multiple allergies has had Benadryl before. I have known vets recommend it for travel sickness and people use it for mild itching in dogs.

[Thattimeofyearagain]

Just spoken to sil, she has confirmed that she told dh to give the benadryl for the itching and get ddog looked at by the vet in the next few days- dh was a bit muddled in his knackered state