Give 1mg of Benadryl per pound such that if your dog weighs 30 pounds, you should give it 30 mg of Benadryl. Talk your veterinarian - while antihistamines are generally safe, there are the potential for side effects particularly if your dog has chronic organ failure (renal failure, liver failure, congestive heart failure, etc.).
1 Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain.  Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes (called meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord.
Encephalitis is a rare but serious condition in which the brain becomes inflamed (swollen). It can be life-threatening and requires urgent treatment in hospital. Anyone can be affected, but the very young and very old are most at risk.