Benadryl is safe for dogs, but don't give any to your dog without consulting a vet first as the wrong dose could be toxic.

Your vet may recommend Benadryl to help treat your dog for conditions like hives or anxiety and can guide you on delivering the correct dosage and medication.

Here's what you need to know about how much Benadryl your dog should take and when you need to see the vet.

Benadryl, or diphenhydramine, is a common over-the-counter medication that helps relieve itching, swelling, and other allergy symptoms.

Because of this, you can give it to your dog for conditions like:

The Merck Veterinary Manual recommends giving your dog 0.9-1.8 mg of Benadryl per pound of weight (2-4 mg/kg of weight).

If you want to try over-the-counter Benadryl, the best form is usually a tablet, which is typically 25 mg per tab, says Justine Lee, DVM, a board-certified veterinarian who specializes in toxicology and emergency care.

This means that, generally speaking, a 25-pound dog would get one pill and a 50-pound dog would get two.

If you have a very small dog, you may need to use a lower-dose liquid children's formula to get the proper dose for their weight.

"Veterinarians can also prescribe the dog a form of Benadryl, Vetadryl, which is the FDA approved form of diphenhydramine for dogs and cats," Price says. Though it is the same medicine and you could technically use any one, Vetadryl has some benefits like:

When using Benadryl, keep these precautions in mind:

Some of the most common side effects of Benadryl include:

"Although Benadryl is a safe drug, overdosing is possible," Price says. Some possible signs of overdose are:

"If you do suspect an overdose, you should call your veterinarian immediately and take in the packaging for medications that were administered," Price says.

If you gave your dog Benadryl for an allergic reaction, watch to make sure your dog's symptoms are getting better. "If your dog is showing signs of difficulty breathing or the swelling is getting worse, you want to get to a vet or an emergency vet immediately," Lee says.

Benadryl can be a helpful remedy if your dog has anxiety, allergies, motion sickness and other conditions.

You can get Benadryl over the counter, but it's best to talk to your vet before starting any new medication.

If your dog shows any alarming symptoms like seizures or dilated pupils, go to an emergency vet as quickly as possible

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