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Can A Dog Have Claritin For Allergies

How To Tell If Your Dog Needs A Dose Of Claritin

Can dogs take Claritin for allergies?

Allergic reactions come from the bodys attempt to fight off allergies.

The body releases histamines, which should take action against allergens.

Histamines cause symptoms like swelling and itchiness to occur.

It is essential to acknowledge that allergic reactions can be either mild or life-threatening.

There are a few symptoms you can look out for to know when your dog has an allergic reaction.

If your dog has trouble breathing or has swelling in the mouth or throat, these are clear indications of an allergic reaction.

Are There Antihistamine Dosage Charts For Dogs

You can Google search a dose for any antihistamine on the market for your dog, but its hard to say whether or not these dosages are safe. Ideally, any dose should come from your veterinarian, and you should avoid getting dosing solely off the internet.

While overdosing your dog on anthistamines would be hard , dogs with liver or kidney disease should be dosed carefully.

How Much Claritin Can I Give My Dog

The dosage will be between 5 and 10mg, calculated according to your dogs weight. Again, best to check with your vet rather than the internet.

Claritin can cause side effects including vomiting and diarrhoea. Some dogs might seem drowsy, but thats actually unlikely with Claritin because it doesnt enter the brain. If your dog has just swallowed more Claritin than intended, the effects could range from drowsiness and vomiting to seizures and fever .

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What Does Claritin Treat

Claritin treats a wide variety of allergic symptoms. Its very good at treating allergies that create skin irritation in your dog, especially a condition known as atopic canine dermatitis. Atopic canine dermatitis presents with your dog licking and chewing their paws and legs, excessive itching, and hair loss.

Hot spots are also common. If you dont know what a hot spot is, it starts out as a small sore on your dog that they constantly chew or lick. The more they lick it, the bigger it gets. It eventually starts oozing, and the hair surrounding the sore begins to fall off. Hot spots are very painful and irritating, and they are easily infected.

Atopic canine dermatitis is usually caused by inhaled allergens like mold or pollen. Dogs who suffer chronically benefit from a regular schedule of antihistamines, anti-inflammatory medicines like steroids, a limited-ingredient diet, and fatty acid supplements.

Why Dogs Suffer From Allergies

Dog Allergies Claritin

If your dog suffers from allergies like Zachory did, there are solutions! But before we jump into treatment options, its important to understand why allergies happen in the first place.

Uncovering the role mast cells play in allergies

In humans, the cells that mediate allergiescalled mast cellsare predominantly located in the upper respiratory tract, which also happens to be the location that most of our seasonal allergy symptoms center around. However, for our canine companions, this is not the case.

In dogs, the allergy-mediating mast cells live in high concentrations in the skin. Thus, dogs are more likely to have seasonal allergy symptoms that center around the skin and ears.

Mast cells are a type of white blood cell that is made in the bone marrow then travels to the tissues of the body . They help protect the body against foreign invaders.

Mast cells look very distinct under a microscope. They are filled with tiny granules which contain several active substances, the most well known of which is histamine. Dont forget about histamine because it will come into play when we look at allergy therapies namely antihistamines.

When mast cells sense something they see as a potential threatin this case an allergen, like pollenthey become activated and start degranulating. This is the process of dumping the granule contents into the surrounding tissue. A chain of events ensues which summons the rest of the immune system army and causes allergy symptoms.

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Question #: Why Do Antihistamines Not Work Well For My Pets Allergies

Allergies affect people differently than pets. We suffer with runny noses and itchy, watery eyes during allergy season, and while some pets may have seasonal bouts of sneezing and reddened eyes, its uncommon, and allergies in pets usually manifest as itchy skin. Antihistamines are ineffective for pet allergies, because they work by binding histamine receptors on throat and nasal cells before the histamine can attach to the receptors. Histamine causes the cells to swell and leak fluid, which results in sneezing, congestion, and a runny nose, so antihistamines do not relieve a pets itchy skin.

Claritin For Dogs: Uses Dosage & Side Effects

Seeing your loyal companion suffering from endless allergy reactions can be a nerve-racking experience. Youll be running up and down, trying to find a lasting solution to their sufferings. In such cases, you can administer Claritin for dogs, but only under veterinary supervision.

Before using any drug on your pet, its vital to know its uses, dosage, and side effects. Thats because some medicines can cause more harm to the dog than you expected. This article helps you understand Claritin, how it works, its uses, dosage, and possible side effects on dogs.

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Pet Allergens Are Everywhere

Many people are allergic to pet dander, which can be suspended in the air like pollen . They are called aeroallergens. Dander collects on surfaces like carpets, upholstered furniture, curtains and mattresses. Because it travels easily through the air, these allergens may also cling to your clothes and hair and are easily transferred in public settings where animals arent present, like schools and offices. If you suddenly start sneezing at work, one of the causes may be your new cat-loving co-worker.

How Claritin Is Used In Dogs

Can I give my dog Claritin?

Claritin is an antihistamine with no sedating effects. It is most commonly used to treat allergic reactions, regardless of their nature. The medication can also be given if your dog has been stung or bitten by an insect. It can reduce the allergic reaction, as well as the poisonous effect.

Itchy skin and sensations can also be handled with Claritin, not to mention unexpected reactions to vaccines. Again, no matter what your dog suffers from, it pays off talking to a vet before making a decision. If you know the cause, you might as well seek a consultation over the phone.

Despite the diversified uses, Claritin is most commonly used medications for dog allergies. Alternatives like Benadryl could also be suggested by vets, but Claritin is based on loratadine. On the other hand, Benadryl is based on diphenhydramine, which can induce fatigue.

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Can Dogs Take Benadryl

Benadryl is an antihistamine called diphenhydramine. Its typically an allergy medicine for humans, but giving some to your dog could help his allergies, too.

You just have to be super careful that youre doing it correctly so you should only give your dog Benadryl with guidance from your vet.

Thats because you want to make sure youre giving your dog the right dose. The rule of thumb is usually that you can give your dog 1 milligram of Benadryl for every pound he weighs.

If you give your dog too much Benadryl, he could overdose, causing major problems for his cholinergic, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems.

Can You Use Claritin For Dogs

Today we will be discussing Claritin for dogs.

There is nothing worse than waking up in the morning sneezing, with a runny nose and watery eyes! Luckily, you have some Claritin in the medicine cabinet to help you alleviate the symptoms.

Toby has also been sneezing a lot, and you noticed he has a stuffy nose and hives on the skin. He probably has an allergy, and Claritin may also help. Before you give Claritin to your dog, you MUST visit your veterinarian to make sure that the underlying cause of the symptoms is an allergy and get consent to use Claritin for your canine companion.

In this article, we will answer some common questions about the use of Claritin for dogs.

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Allergy Medicine To The Rescue

Your dog hates his allergies as much as you might hate your own. So youre probably wondering if theres allergy medicine you can give your dog to help soothe his symptoms.

The Dodo spoke with Dr. Sara Ochoa, a veterinary consultant with Dog Lab, and Dr. Linda Simon, a veterinary surgeon and veterinary consultant for Five Barks, to find out everything you need to know about allergy medicine for dogs.

Is Loratadine Safe For Use In Dogs

Claritin for Dogs: Yes or No?

Loratadine is safe for use in dogs when following the guidance of your veterinarian.

Serious side effects from Claritin use in dogs are considered rare, and the medication has few drug interactions.

As long as you follow your vets dosing instructions and keep them informed on your pets symptoms along the way, your pup should be just fine when taking this medication.

While this is the case with any other medication, your dog will need to be closely monitored if they have any chronic conditions that impact their bodys metabolism.

Medical conditions like liver and kidney disease can make your pup more at risk of experiencing side effects, so these pups may require special consideration.

Your vet is the only one that is educated on your pets health and medical history, so we always suggest speaking with them before starting any new over the counter medications.

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Question #: I Feed My Dog A Corn

Many pet owners falsely believe that grain-free diets are the best option for pets with allergies. In fact, pets are rarely allergic to food, and are even less likely to be allergic to grains. A pet who suffers from a food allergy is usually allergic to the protein source, such as chicken, lamb, or fish.

What Can I Give My Dog For Allergies And Itching

Benadryl is a medication that can be used in dogs with mild to moderate allergies. Seasonal allergies, food allergies, environmental allergies, and allergic reactions to snake and insect bites all respond to benadryl. It is important to note, however, that some dogs may not respond well to this medication. If you suspect your dog may have a food allergy, you should consult with your veterinarian to determine the best course of action.

Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Peanut Allergy

Side Effects Of Claritin That You Can Expect

Medications often have side effects ranging from mild to severe.

Claritin is one of the most lightweight antihistamines available for dogs.

The side effects that occur as a result of using it are pretty mild.

Its not a guarantee that your dog will experience side effects such as:

  • Nausea/Vomiting
  • Stomach Problems

If you take you to the vets once you notice these effects, the vet might also identify increased heart rate in your dog.

Your doctor can take the steps of adjusting the dosage for your dog on noticing some of the symptoms.

Also, the vets might prescribe other medications to ease the side effects.

Some medications may react with this antihistamine, such as antibiotics and anti-fungals.

To prevent this, you can tell your vet about other medications that your dog is on.

You may also want to practice caution when applying it if your dog has underlying conditions.

If your dog is lactating, ensure that you get directions from your vet on administering Claritin.

Claritin For Dogs Usage Guidelines

What antihistamines can dogs take?

Claritin is available in various forms, including regular tablets, disintegrating tablets, chewable tablets, and syrups. The disintegrating tablets must not be used in dogs because they often contain xylitol an artificial sweetener that is extremely toxic to dogs, and the syrup is toxic to bother dogs and cats because it is preserved in propylene glycol and enriched with xylitol.

Additionally, dogs must never be given Claritin-D, a formulation with pseudoephedrine as a second active ingredient. While a helpful decongestant in people, pseudoephedrine is toxic to pets .

On the other hand, the Claritin Junior formulation is safe for dogs and can be convenient for use in toy dogs as it contains low Loratadine amounts .

We should also note that Loratadine interacts with certain medications and should not be used at the same time with:

  • Antibiotics like erythromycin
  • Antifungals like ketoconazole
  • Antacids like cimetidine

However, not all interactions are bad. For example, Loratadine acts synergistically with omega-3 fatty acids. Therefore, when giving Claritin to your dog, veterinarians recommend using a supplement like fish oil .

If your dog does not handle Claritin well, you can try another member of the antihistamines family, like Benadryl , Tavist , Zyrtec , or Allegra . They are all available over-the-counter and can help manage your dogs allergy symptoms.

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Can I Give My Dog Claritin For Allergies Complete Explanation

The daily dose of Claritin Dosage for Dogs and Cats loratadine is between 0.25 and 1.1 grams per pound of body weight. For cats, dosing is 1 to 2 times per day, depending on the cats weight. The following dosage recommendations for children and adolescents are based on data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .

Dosages higher than these are not recommended for use in children or adolescents because of the risk of serious adverse reactions associated with these higher doses. In addition, these doses may be too high for some children, adolescents and young adults, especially those with underlying medical conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure or hyperthyroidism.

How Does Claritin Affect My Dogs Body

As dog owners, we love to know what a specific medication does to our dogs body. This doesnt make us veterinary experts, but when we talk to vets in our team, we feel more at ease when we know what a drug does. Before we go into the specific effect Claritin has, we need to understand how allergies are triggered.

When an allergen enters the body, the dogs immune system responds. Common allergens can be completely harmless, and things like pollen or chicken wont harm them. However, their immune system thinks these things are a threat and releases histamines to fight off the intruders. The immune system overreacts, and histamines will trigger responses like redness, swelling, and severe itchiness. This can be painful, but it can become life-threatening when the reaction happens in the dogs throat.

Luckily, antihistamine medications, like Claritin for dogs, help block the effect histamines have on the dogs body. They might block the histamine release completely. These types of medications are usually the first thing your vet might recommend. However, that is only used for minor reactions. If you notice your dog has trouble breathing or their throat is swelling up, you should take them to the pet ER as soon as possible.

Want to know more about allergy medications for dogs? Check out this article – Which allergy medications are safe for dogs?

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Which Claritin Formula Can I Use

The plain Claritin formula or the childrens version are the only type you can safely use on your dog. Never give your dog Claritin-D. Claritin-D contains pseudoephedrine, which can be lethal to canines in doses as small as 240mg. If your dog has ingested pseudoephedrine, contact the ASPCA pet poison hotline at 426-4435.

Recommended Claritin Dosage For Dogs

Dog Allergies Claritin

The dosage instructions you are about to read are just general use for all dogs and should never replace advice from a professional veterinarian. Always ask for individual pet advice from the vet before administering over-the-counter drugs like Claritin on your dog.

Though Claritin can treat allergy symptoms in dogs, its only safe when you administer the correct dosage.

Similar to giving Benadryl to your dog, the ideal dosage depends hugely on your dogs weight and how severe the allergy symptoms are. The recommended formula is 0.2 milligram of Claritin for each pound of your dogs body weight. But you should give this medication as per the dosage recommended by the vet.

Here is a more precise insight on Claritin for dogs dosage.

  • For a small dog weighing between 1-14 pounds, give 2.5 milligrams of Claritin twice daily.
  • Dogs with bodyweight between 15-40 pounds, usually mid-sized, should get a 5-milligram tablet twice a day.
  • Lastly, those above 40 pounds should get 10 milligrams of Claritin twice a day.

Ensure you dont overdose your dog on Claritin. Overdosing may result in some nasty side effects. In the worst-case scenario, it can cause other severe conditions, such as stroke.

Remember to administer the right Claritin to your dog. Drugs like Claritin-D may contain pseudoephedrine which is lethal to dogs.

Checking the label is the only way to know if youre working with the right Claritin. Its active ingredient should read loratadine or loratadine for dogs.

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Making Diet Changes To Help Control Food Allergy Symptoms

Performing a food trial, which involves changing your dog to a hypoallergenic diet, can help diagnose and manage food allergies in dogs. If the allergy symptoms improve after your dog has been on the new food for six to 10 weeks, a food allergy is a likely the underlying reason for the symptoms.

Confirmation of the diagnosis comes if symptoms return within 14 days after being reintroduced to the old food or suspected allergen. Once a food allergy is diagnosed and the allergen is identified, continuing to eliminate it from the diet may help control allergy symptoms long term.

How do I choose the food for a food trial?

The goal of a food trial is to ensure that your dog is eating only food that its unlikely to be allergic to. This can be accomplished using a veterinary prescription diet or a homemade diet formulated by a veterinary nutritionist.

For detailed information on homecooked diets, check out my podcast: Homecooked Diets for Your Dog with Dr. Jackie Parr.If a commercial kibble or canned diet is going to be used, it is important to choose a veterinary prescription diet instead of an over-the-counter diet. Studies evaluating over-the-counter diets detected the presence of proteins not listed on the label due to cross-contamination during manufacturing. This means that its possible that an allergic patient may unknowingly continue to be fed the allergen, making it appear that the new diet didnt help improve allergy symptoms.

Types of hypoallergenic diets

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