Will Benadryl make a dog sleep through the night?

Sometimes pet parents will give their dogs Benadryl to creatively leverage this side effect—for car travel, during Fourth of July fireworks, or other occasions where the dog needs a mild sedative “to take the edge off.” While sleepiness is a side effect, Benadryl is not actually an effective sleep aid by any means.



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Yes, Benadryl is an antihistamine that causes drowsiness in most people. Some people use Benadryl for this side effect if they have trouble sleeping (insomnia), but this is not recommended long-term. The drowsy or sedation effect typically lasts about 8 hours, but may persist into the next day if taken at night.

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When administering Benadryl to dogs, the general recommendation is to give 2 to 4 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, or 0.9 to 1.8 milligrams per pound of your dog's body weight 1-2 times per day. The effects of the medication typically last for around 6-8 hours.

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