Does Claritin Help With Pet Allergies

Summary: Claritin Not Working

Claritin is a common antihistamine drug designed to reduce allergy symptoms without causing drowsiness. But what should you do if your Claritin stopped working effectively or Claritin doesnt work for you?

There can be several reasons for Claritin not working:

• You didnt start taking Claritin soon enough
• You dont take Claritin every day
• Youre expecting Claritin to be a decongestant
• The antihistamine Claritin contains doesnt work for you as well as other antihistamines would
• Youve built up a tolerance to Claritin, and now it doesnt work as well

If your Claritin stopped working, there are other drugs you can try to get relief from your allergy symptoms including other non-drowsy antihistamines, antihistamines in general, and decongestants.

Antihistamines For Mild Pet Allergies

For mild pet allergies with sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes, the first-line treatment is antihistamine pills, says Dr. Qamar, who explains that there are a few different types of antihistamines, but some people do better with one than another. For example, a person with mild allergies may do well with Claritin. Another person with more severe allergies may do better with Zyrtec. However, Dr. Qamar says that although Zyrtec may be more effective in some patients, around 10% of people can become sleepy with it.

If someone has prominent allergies and they become sedated often with medication, I usually recommend Allegra or Xyzal, she says.

Some antihistamines that are often used to treat pet allergies include the following.

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Can Dogs Take Claritin: Loratadine For Dogs

Veterinarians will often recommend Claritin for dogs with allergies. It usually doesnt have any side effects when administered properly. This means that you need to take into consideration your dogs medical history giving it to your furkid.

Youll find this drug sold under its brand name and under a generic. The name of the main active component in it is Loratadine. Make sure to look for other hidden ingredients when buying a generic.

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Pet Allergens Are Everywhere

Many people are allergic to pet dander, which can be suspended in the air like pollenX pollen A fine, powdery substance, typically yellow, consisting of microscopic grains discharged from the male part of a flower called stamens or from the male cone of a tree.. 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.

Always Talk To Your Vet

Now, you might be thinking that you can just do some math and cut the pill down to the appropriate size.

But cutting up pills can result in uneven dosages and is not recommended in veterinary treatment.

There is a bigger reason why you want to consult your veterinarian before giving your dog Loratadine. Age and medical history play an equal part along with weight in determining the appropriate dosage for your dog, so check your pup’s full record before introducing new pills.

Unless youre a vet or properly trained in veterinary medicine, treating allergies with medicine is too risky on your own.

Above, we discussed the most common reasons people want to give their dogs Claritin. It can help treat allergies in dogs from running noses to watery eyes. However, they are a few other important reasons you may want to give Claritin to your dog.

Mast cell tumors can cause deliberating inflammation that allows pain to course through the body resulting in an unfilled life. This is the last thing we want for our dogs, but fortunately, according to veterinary studies, Claritin for dogs can help as the symptoms of mast cell tumors closely mirror that of an allergic reaction.

Another reason pet parents always need to discuss giving Claritin to your dog with your vet is not all Claritin is safe – even in an appropriately-sized dose.

Instead, you should only give your dog the plain Claritin formula or the childrens version.

Be on the lookout for any of the following side effects:

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How Can Allegra Help

Living with pet allergies can be exhausting. But when you take Allegra, you can enjoy every moment with your furry friend, without hesitation.§

Allegra can help you live your life, not your allergies. With 24-hour Allegra tablets, you can take on the day with the #1 allergist recommended brand for non-drowsy relief.* This antihistamine gives you 24 hours of the fastest non-drowsy relief from indoor and outdoor allergy symptoms. And for kids, try Childrens Allegra for effective, non-drowsy, 12-hour relief.

*Allegra is the #1 allergist recommended non-drowsy brand of adult OTC oral antihistamines.Starts working in one hour. Applies to first dose only. Among single-ingredient OTC branded oral antihistamines.Starts working in one hour. Applies to first dose only.§Allegra is not indicated to relieve shortness of breath, post-nasal drip, facial pain, red eyes, skin rash, or hives. Allegra is indicated to relieve sneezing, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes or an itchy nose and throat. Allegra-D is indicated to relieve sneezing, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, itchy nose and throat, nasal congestion, sinus congestion and pressure, and swelling of nasal passages.

You May Have Built Up A Tolerance

If youve been using Claritin for multiple years and it worked in the past but the Claritin has stopped working, your body may have built up a tolerance to it. Building up a tolerance can happen for any drug you take. What happens is your body gets used to the drug after you take it over an extended period of time and stops having a response to the drug. This causes the drug to not work well or at all.

If this happens, it may help to increase your dose or switch to a stronger antihistamine, but you shouldnt do this without speaking with your doctor. Increasing your dose on your own can lead to serious side effects.

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For Cats: Allergy Meds

The most common medications for allergies in cats are antihistamines. They can provide great relief for some, but not all will benefit. Check with the Fuzzy Veterinary team first to be sure it wont interfere with other medical conditions or medications. You can give your cat Zyrtec – 5mg once daily .

Fuzzy wants pet parents to be equipped with the tools and resources they need to keep their pets happy and healthy. Knowledge is power, but so is access. Fuzzy offers 24/7 Live Vet Chat to make essential pet questions and parenting easier. Sign up and become a member today.

Facts You Need To Know About Allergy Meds For Dogs

If youre still curious about allergy meds for dogs, here are 3 facts you might not already know.

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Its Safe To Give People Medicine Like Benadryl Or Claritin To My Dog

Yes and no. Before you give any medication whether an over-the-counter or prescription drug to your dog , you need to discuss it with your veterinarian first.

Some human medicines can be given routinely at your veterinarians direction to your pets, but other drugs can be very toxic to pets. For example, your veterinarian may recommend giving your dog Benadryl or Claritin for allergies. But giving Benadryl-D or Claritin-D instead may result in a trip to the veterinary hospital or at least a call to an animal poison control center.

Always get specific instructions, including how much to give and how often, from your veterinarian. It may be safe to give a specific amount, as determined by your veterinarian. However, more medicine than recommended may cause unpleasant side effects, while not enough medicine may not relieve your dogs symptoms.

Talking to your veterinarian and following his or her instructions are the best way to keep your best friend safe.

The information in this blog has been developed with our veterinarian and is designed to help educate pet parents. If you have questions or concerns about your pet’s health or nutrition, please talk with your veterinarian.

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Guidelines For Use Of Claritin For Dogs

Before we talk about dosages of Claritin for dogs, it is essential to take into account the following considerations:

• Never give your dog Claritine without the approval of your veterinarian. Always follow their dosage instructions and alert your vet of any other medical conditions or medications. Pregnant bitches and dogs with liver and kidney disease cannot ingest Claritin.
• Do not give your dog Claritine-D. It contains pseudoephedrine , which is highly toxic in dogs.
• Only use normal Claritine or Claritin Junior in tablet form and make sure to give the tablet to your dog without crushing it.
• Medicines can only control the symptoms, not cure the allergies.

When talking about dosage and medical advice, ALWAYS speak with your vet, no matter what you see on the internet, because your veterinarian will advise you depending on your pets needs and circumstances.

These are just dosage guidelines, according to Valley Vet Hospital: Claritin : 5 mg daily if less than 15 lbs 10 mg daily if 15-39 lbs 10 mg twice daily if over 40 lbs.

Even though Claritin is not yet FDA approved for animals, Claritin for dogs can be beneficial in certain situations like allergies . If you do not want to give your dog Claritin, there are other natural alternatives and drugs such as Benadryl and Zynterc. Speak with your veterinarian first.

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Claritin Vs Zyrtec For Cat Allergies

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Your Environment And Dog Allergies

Most allergists agree that although medication may help, the best way to control dog allergies is to avoid contact with dogs. Here are some tips:

• Keep your distance. Don’t touch, pet, or kiss a dog. As best you can, avoid going to homes with dogs. If you have to stay in a house with a dog, ask if it can be kept out of the room in which you’ll sleep for a few months before your arrival.
• Use your medicine. If you know that you’ll be coming into contact with a dog soon, start taking your medicine a few weeks ahead of time. By taking medication preventatively, you might stop an allergic reaction before it starts.
• Be wary of visitors who own dogs. Dog dander can cling to clothing and luggage. So even if your house guests leave their dogs at home, they can bring the dander with them — and that can cause you a lot of trouble.

Of course, some of the above advice won’t help that much if you already have a dog in your home. Even then, there are still things you can do:

Will bathing your dog have any effect on allergy symptoms? Experts aren’t sure some studies have shown that baths reduce the amount of airborne dander, while others haven’t found a difference. You can certainly try out weekly baths and see what happens. Just make sure that someone without dog allergies is doing the actual bathing.

So if you or a family member has dog allergies, talk to a doctor. Getting control of symptoms will not only make you feel better, but it will help protect you from becoming sicker.

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Precautions When Giving Your Dog Claritin

So, can my pets take Claritin for allergies? They can, but you should discuss with a vet first. At the same time, this is a medication. It is not a natural supplement. All medications out there come with potential side effects, so there are a few precautions to take in consideration.

If your dog is under other treatments, make sure all the medication you give is safe. For example, if something could react with Claritin, you must avoid it. On the same note, if your dog suffers from any liver infections, it pays off talking to your vet first. Address this issue upfront.

Claritin is available in a few different forms. While you can also find it in formulations, stick to the classic pills. Formulations have decent amounts of alcohol, which are not really safe for your dog. Plus, they can cause all kinds of reactions. The pill is more difficult to administer, but it represents the best option.

Make sure you never mix Claritin with other antihistamines. Claritin is normally safe for dogs. When mixed with other antihistamines, your dog is likely to end up with an overdose. It is also worth noting that certain substances like erythromycin or cimetidine will react with Claritin. While healthy dogs not undergoing any treatments should stick to Claritin, there are situations when Benadryl could be the better option. Again, discuss it with your vet first.

Comparing Claritin Zyrtec And Allegra

Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra are all considered newer generation antihistamines. First-generation antihistamines, such as Benadryl and Atarax , can be helpful for allergies and hives as well, but their use is limited due to side effects such as fatigue and sedation .

So while Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra are all newer generation antihistamines that can treat hay fever or hives, there may be some advantages for each of these over the others.

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Conditions Loratadine Can Help Treat

Loratadine is especially effective in treating allergies that result in skin irritation, such as atopic canine dermatitis.

Symptoms of atopic canine dermatitis include:

• chewing of the feet and legs
• excessive scratching
• hair loss and hot spots

Causes can include inhaled allergens such as dust mites, mold or pollen. Dogs that suffer from this condition often benefit from a combination of treatments that include antihistamines, anti-inflammatory medications, changes in diet and fatty acid supplements.

Another condition that loratadine can help treat is inflammation that results from mast cell tumors. These tumors, which are most common in boxers, cocker spaniels, and golden and Labrador retrievers, develop on a dogs skin or in his digestive or respiratory systems. They are caused by the overgrowth of mast cells, which are supposed to protect a dog from parasites.

Loratadine is helpful in treating the side effects of immunizations in some dogs. If your dog is prone to reactions from his routine course of shots, giving him loratadine beforehand can help lessen or eliminate his allergic symptoms. Loratadine has also been used to treat allergic reactions resulting from insect stings or snakebite.

In addition to its histamine-fighting qualities, loratadine has the added benefit of being a non-drowsy antihistamine, unlike diphenhydramine and other commonly used over-the-counter antihistamines.

Can Dogs Take Claritin For Allergies

Claritin is the brand name for loratadine. It is one of the most popular options on the market for allergies in people. It is an antihistamine with a major difference over Benadryl another alternative.

Practically, it does not have sedation side effects. Apart from allergies, the drug is just as common against insect bites, so it can reduce the poisonous effect.

It is available over the counter, but now, you probably ask yourself can dogs take Claritin for allergies? As a general rule of thumb, even if you can get it without a prescription, you are not a vet. Therefore, it is safer to just talk to your vet first.

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How To Live With Pets Youre Allergic To

So what can you do to help yourself if youre living with pets youre allergic to? One way is to maintain certain physical boundaries, preventing those pets from going in certain parts of your home and keeping as much of their allergenic proteins away from you.

Ideally, you dont allow them into your bedroom and, especially, on to your bed, Dr. Hong says. This is, after all, where you sleep and allergic reactions would certainly play havoc with your ability to get good rest. Additionally, dogs and outdoor cats can bring in pollen from outdoors on their fur.

You should also keep them in areas of your home where the floors are hard surfaces, like linoleum or hardwood, so that its easier to clean up after them. The same goes for furniture, Dr. Hong adds, saying, Its better to have them in areas with furniture that you can wipe down as opposed to upholstery.

How Long Does It Take Otc Allergy Medications To Manage Symptoms

When used appropriately, OTC allergy medications such as antihistamines and decongestants can start to relieve symptoms within 15 to 30 minutes. Corticosteroid nasal sprays may take 6 to 8 hours to begin working and may take several days to a couple weeks until they reach their maximum effect.

Its important to understand your symptoms and select the best medication for you.

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Cautions For Claritin Users

There are no major side effects to the administration of Claritin reported. In very rare cases it might cause a dry mouth sensation, gastrointestinal distress, urinary problems or headaches. In patients with serious hepatic function disorders, a smaller dose might be necessary. Therefore, it is recommended that treatment starts with a lower dose. To date, studies and clinical trials have not shown any sideeffects if administered during breastfeeding.