As pet owners, we frequently wonder if we can give our dogs the same medication when we discover one that works wonders for our health.
If your dog is anything like mine, they experience allergies just like people do. For our furry friends, the itchy eyes, runny nose, and persistent sneezing can be a real pain. Additionally, our furry friends experience allergies for the same reasons as do we. Your overactive immune system and bothersome histamine, which causes allergies, are to blame for everything.
Fortunately, we can take a few steps to lessen their suffering. One popular method is administering Claritin to your dog. Claritin’s active component, loratadine, reduces allergy symptoms by blocking histamine receptors.
When the weather starts to change, many people will want to keep Claritin in their medicine cabinets. Your face is red and your nose is blocked one moment, but after taking a Claritin, you are breathing deeply and prepared for that summer marathon. Antihistamine Claritin was created to prevent allergic reactions in people.
You might wonder if this medication is safe for dogs given that the same conditions that cause allergies in humans and dogs also cause them. So let’s jump into this article and find out!.
Can you give loratadine to dogs to treat allergies? Loratadine tablets and solutions should not be administered to dogs that are allergic to or sensitive to them. You might be tempted to grab a bottle of Claritin from the medicine cabinet to administer to your dog if they have allergies. But it’s crucial to keep in mind that dogs are not miniature humans, so what works for us might not be safe for them. You might be concerned about giving your dog Claritin for allergies. The short response is possibly, but you should first discuss this with your veterinarian. For dogs who have trouble swallowing pills, some veterinarians might prescribe the disintegrating tablets.
It’s not that Claritin or Loratadine don’t work or have worse side effects in dogs than they do in humans. Instead, you should always exercise caution when using a medication designed for humans to treat dog allergies.
Many prescription medications have a double-edged sword where they initially have few side effects but then increase in severity as dosage increases. When that happens, serious side effects seemingly blossom from nowhere.
Owners of large dogs, such as Mastiffs or Great Danes, may not need to be concerned, but small animals run the risk of overdosing on Loratadine.
Now, you might be thinking that you can simply use math to determine the proper pill size.
But fragmenting pills can lead to uneven dosages, so it is not advised for use in veterinary medicine.
Before giving your dog Loratadine, there’s a more important reason to speak with your veterinarian. The correct dosage for your dog is determined by weight, age, and medical history. Consult your dog’s complete medical history before introducing any new medications.
It is too risky to treat allergies with medication on your own unless you are a veterinarian or have received adequate training in veterinary medicine.
We previously talked about the most typical justifications for giving dogs Claritin. It can help dogs with allergy symptoms like runny noses and watery eyes. However, there are a few other crucial factors that may influence your decision to give your dog Claritin.
Mast cell tumors can produce deliberate inflammation symptoms that cause the body to experience constant pain, leading to an unfulfilled life. Veterinary studies suggest that Claritin for dogs may be able to help, which is fortunate because the symptoms of mast cell tumors closely resemble those of an allergic reaction.
Another reason dog owners should always discuss giving their dog Claritin with their veterinarian is because not all Claritin is safe, even in an appropriate-sized dose.
Due to the presence of pseudoephedrine in Claritin-D, you should avoid giving it to your dog. This substance is generally harmful to dogs and can be fatal in even small doses (240 mg).
You can get side effects from pretty much anything you can eat; you just need to take a big enough dose. g. you can die from drinking milk and water.
Drugs, however, present side effects with much lower dosages than food and drink, and it is simple to take or administer too much. A medication like Claritin may even have negative effects that are more severe than the allergic reactions it is intended to treat.
Ingesting Claritin can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy in dogs. If your dog is taking additional medications, it may also result in drug interactions. Giving your dog Claritin won’t help and might even make things worse if he is allergic to something he has eaten or insect bites.
If you give Claritin to your dog, watch out for any of the following side effects:
Overdoses of Claritin Loratadine in dogs are extremely uncommon when the right formulations are used and the right dosage is given. If you accidentally gave your dog too much Claritin, you will be able to tell, and you need to take immediate action to prevent them from having a stroke.
It may be safe and effective to treat allergies with Claritin for dogs to help them enjoy the allergy season without experiencing allergic reactions like watery eyes, itchy skin, or a running nose. However, misuse of this medication, like many others, can have negative effects on dogs, and we don’t want anything negative to happen to your little nugget.
Therefore, before giving your dog any new veterinary-approved medication, whether it be Claritin, Apoquel, or another medication, always consult your veterinarian.
The general rule of thumb is to prescribe 0. 2mg of Claritin per pound of body weight. The tablet form of Claritin can be taken either alone or with food.
Based on your dog’s allergies and symptoms, your veterinarian will develop a customized treatment plan. Understand how your dog experiences allergies, Claritin, and any side effects before you speak to your veterinarian.
An antihistamine called Claritin can help dogs with allergies to environmental triggers like pollen, mold, or dust mites. It can also be used to treat food allergies. Contrary to Benadryl, another antihistamine used to treat allergies in dogs, Claritin does not have the potential to make you sleepy.
Drug Name:
10mg tablets, 5mg tablets that dissolve quickly, 5mg chewable tablets, and 5mg/5mL syrup
Side Effects and/or Signs of Overdose:
Higher doses cause headaches, drowsiness, and dry mouth in human patients. Lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, and urine retention have all been observed in dogs.
Depending on how much was consumed, overdose symptoms may include a rapid heartbeat, hyperactivity, or depression.
Topical antibiotic ointment. Common topical antibiotic Neosporin® is applied to minor cuts and scrapes. Every first aid kit should contain this ointment because it is generally safe for dogs. Check to make sure the ointment only contains antibiotics and not steroids, which can actually slow down the healing process. Prior to applying the antibiotic ointment, clean your dog’s wound. Cover the area to prevent your dog from licking the ointment off.
First, you must determine the proper dose to administer because human doses and doses for dogs differ. In order to prevent any negative events, your veterinarian should review your dog’s medical history because drug interactions can be dangerous. Third, many over-the-counter (OTC) medications are NOT safe for dogs. Do not rely on the fact that a drug can be purchased without a prescription as proof that it is safe for your dog.
Steroid sprays, gels, and creams. OTC steroid preparations are typically very safe and have a lower percentage of active ingredients than prescription steroids. The benefit is that they lessen itching from bug bites and hot spots. Steroids have the drawback of delaying healing, especially if the wound is infected. Have your dog’s wound examined by your veterinarian if it doesn’t look better after a few applications.
Hydrogen peroxide. If your dog consumes something he shouldn’t have, hydrogen peroxide can be administered orally to cause vomiting in addition to being applied topically to clean out a superficial flesh wound (i e. , your medications, rodenticides, toxic plants). However, vomiting might do more harm than good, so speak with your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary facility PRIOR to giving your dog an oral dose of hydrogen peroxide to learn how much to give.
FAQ
How much Claritin do I give my dog?
For a small dog weighing between 1-14 pounds, give 2. 5 milligrams of Claritin twice daily. Dogs with a body weight of 15 to 40 pounds, which are typically medium-sized dogs, should take a 5-milligram tablet twice daily. Finally, people who weigh more than 40 pounds should take 10 milligrams of Claritin twice daily.
Can you use human Claritin on dogs?
Given that it contains the highly toxic substance pseudoephedrine for dogs, do not give your dog Claritin-D.
What type of Claritin is safe for dogs?
Loratadine (Claritin): once daily, 1/4 mg per pound (or half a 10mg tablet per 20 lbs). twice daily. Dogs weighing more than 60 pounds should take 50 mg of EPA and DHA daily. recommend “Welactin” due to it’s high-potency and purity.
What happens if you give a dog Claritin?
Common antihistamines include diphenhydramine (Benadryl®), cetirizine (Zyrtec®), and loratadine (Claritin®), which relieve allergy symptoms or prevent allergic reactions. Antihistamines are typically safe, but some dogs may become drowsy or hyperactive when taking them.