This weekend, my boyfriend and I had to take our dog to the vet. Within the past couple of weeks he has been scratching like crazy and there appeared to be a light rash forming on his belly and back legs.

When we took him in, the vet assured us that it was nothing to worry about and could be caused by him laying in something that irritates him, or brushing up against a plant outside. Basically, she said that my dog might have seasonal allergies.

So what do humans treat itching and allergies with? Benadryl. Apparently that little pink pill can be used for itchy pets too. Our vet advised us to give our dog 1 milligram of Benadryl per pound– so my dog needs about 16 milligrams. What we’ve been doing is cutting a 24 milligram pill in half to see if that will help with his itching. Surprisingly, my dog didn’t experience any kind of drowsiness, but the vet said that sleepiness is a common side effect.

For some more information on giving your dog Benadryl click here. Make sure to consult your veterinarian before giving your dog any kind of medication.