What Otc Allergy Meds Are Safe For Dogs

Essential Fatty Acids As A Supportive Therapy For Treating Allergies In Dogs

Essential fatty acids help decrease inflammatory signals in the body and improve the skin barrier. This can help reduce the amount of medication, particularly steroids or antihistamines, needed to control allergies.

Its important to point out that this is an additional therapy. In other words, it is ineffective as a single therapy to control allergies and itching but can be useful in conjunction with the other therapies discussed here. Also, it may take up to two months to see improvement.

Essential fatty acids come in oils or capsules that can be added to your dogs food and are relatively safe and relatively inexpensive. For more information on the importance of careful storage of Omega 3s and to learn which brand I recommend, read my article: The Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Your Dog.

The bottom line on essential fatty acids for dogs with allergies

BOTTOM LINE: Essential fatty acids make a great adjunctive therapy for dogs with allergies, but they are not sufficient as a sole means of allergy control.

Prescription Dog Allergy Treatments

For dogs with severe or persistent allergies, a visit to the vet is required for effective relief with a prescription-only medication. While there are quite a few choices, the following are often prescribed.

Immune-modulators

Immune-modulating medications dont simply treat the symptoms of allergies they actually tackle the problem at the source: the overactive immune system. By suppressing the release of histamine, these medications effectively halt the misery of allergic itching and other symptoms. These medicines can cause digestive side effects, however, including vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.

• Atopica, which is a brand name for cyclosporine, can take several weeks to provide full relief but is safe long-term for dogs with persistent allergies. While very effective for airborne allergies, its not as effective for food allergies. Give Atopica to your dog an hour before or two hours after a meal to help prevent digestive side effects.
• Apoquel works to relieve allergic symptoms caused by fleas, airborne allergens, and food. Your pooch will typically start to feel relief within hours of the first dose, but this isnt a long-term medication. Typically, dogs take Apoquel for up to 14 days at a time to treat allergy flare-ups.

Corticosteroids

The most common cause of dog allergies is fleabites, so flea control should be an important part of your treatment plan.

Canine Atopic Dermatologic Immunotherapeutic

An even more recent development in the management of allergies in dogs, has been the development of Cytopointan antibody that attaches to an itch-triggering chemical signal called IL-31. Once bound to IL-31, Cytopoint blocks the creation of further itch signals, thus offering relief to your itchy dog. Its not a pill, but rather, is given every one to two months as an injection at your veterinarians office. This is great news for owners of dogs who wont take pills .

The before and after photos below illustrate the marked improvement Cytopoint can make. The photo on the left was taken on November 25, 2020. The photo on the right was taken May 14, 2021.

Cytopoint starts working within one to two days after the injection and helps the dog for one to two months. Because it is targeting a very specific signal in the immune system, the risk of suppressing the immune system is low, so it can be used safely with other medications.

Unfortunately, because this medication targets the chemical signal associated with the itching feeling instead of modifying the action of cells in the immune system, its not as effective as steroids or Apoquel in reducing signs of allergy-related inflammation such as red and irritated skin or swelling of the ear canals.

The bottom line on Cytopoint for dogs

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Natural Alternatives To Treat Your Dogs Allergy Symptoms

Once you know that allergies are causing your pup to feel under the weather, youll want to help them feel better. There are many supplements designed to treat canine allergy symptoms. Here are a few of our favorite natural supplements that will give your dog some relief just remember that supplements treat, but dont cure, allergies.

For Dogs & Cats: Start Good Health Habits

A good monthly parasite prevention is critical for managing allergies in dogs and cats. Bites from fleas, mites, and ticks can make allergic skin disease worse. Pet parents also want to be sure the pet is eating high-quality foods, and that a food allergy isnt contributing to their symptoms. Daily use of probiotics can also help mitigate allergic conditions. Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are known for their anti-inflammatory effects and are a great addition to improve skin and coat health. These work especially well in combination with antihistamines . Fish oil is an excellent source of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. For dogs, the daily addition of a small amount of local honey exposes the pet to a very small amount of local pollens. The goal is to desensitize the immune system. Keep in mind this is a long-term treatment and wont work for every pet. Dont do this if a pet is diabetic or has other metabolic diseases!

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The Safest Human Meds For Dogs

Its important to note that many factors can render safe human medications to be unsafe for dogs.

These factors include your dog’s overall health, other medications being taken, breed, size, and age. You should never give anything to your pet that is not intended for them without consulting a veterinarian first.

You will also notice that as per dosage warnings among the safe human meds for dogs below, we have NOT included any dosing information this is done intentionally.

It’s unlikely these medications will have a dosage mentioned for animal use on their back label, and you should never rely on the internet to give you veterinary advice.

Imodium

Imodium is a tricky medication. Some dogs with diarrhea can take loperamide and it’s safe for them. However, it can cause side effects in other dogs as shown in studies, so it should never be given without veterinary supervision.

For example, one study found that the Collie breed will get poisoning from loperamide.

Also, if Imodium is given to a dog that carries the MDR1 gene mutation, a dog with diarrhea due to an infection or ingestion of a toxin, or a dog with certain health conditions, Imodium can cause constipation, severe sedation, bloat, and pancreatitis.

If your dog is experiencing diarrhea, there are a number of other dog diarrhea meds and treatments that your vet can prescribe it is best to utilize one of these options instead.

What Can Dogs Be Allergic To

Like humans, dogs can develop allergies to a multitude of substances, including a variety of foods, medications, shampoos, and environmental factors. What are the top dog allergies? The most common food allergens include dairy products, beef, egg, chicken, lamb, wheat,andsoy. Common environmental triggers include fleas and dust mites as well as molds and pollens from trees, grasses, weeds, and flowers.

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Is Benadryl Safe For Your Dog

Benadryl is a relatively safe and effective medication for dogs when used according to the instructions of a veterinarian. As with any new medication, always observe your dog closely after administration to make sure there arent any adverse reactions. If you have any further questions about Benadryl for dogs, contact your veterinarian for more information. And remember to keep all medicines out of reach of your curious canine pal.

What Are The Adverse Reactions To Aspirin

An important fact that dog parents should always keep in mind is that adverse reactions associated with aspirin use in dogs are relatively common. This warrants the need for pet owners to be aware of the risks and the signs indicating an adverse reaction or overdose.

You should stop giving your dog aspirin and seek immediate veterinary attention if your dog is showing any of the following symptoms:

• Digestive upsets vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Black, tarry stool this is brought about by mucosal erosion and stomach ulceration

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Environmental Allergies Such As Seasonal Allergies

This is called atopy, and about 15 percent of the U.S. dog population suffer from seasonal allergies.

• Dogs with atopy are seasonally itchy around their face, paws, and armpits.
• Recurrent ear infections are common with atopy.

Atopy is usually first seen in dogs ages 1 to 3 years of age. Secondary skin infections with yeast and bacteria are common.

Nsaids Approved For Dogs

These NSAIDs are often prescribed to dogs suffering from chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis or to help control pain after surgery. Although these products are approved for use in dogs, they are not completely without risk. Even when appropriately dosed, NSAIDs can cause injury in dogs with pre-existing liver and kidney disease.

To reduce the dose of a prescribed NSAID in dogs suffering from arthritis, vets will often recommend using a joint supplement along with the NSAID. Some of the most common and effective joint supplements ingredients include glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM. These are available in a wide range of formulations and strengths. Talk to your vet before giving your dog a joint supplement, even if its made for dogs.

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What Dog Meds Have Ivermectin

Ivermectin is one of the most commonly used heartworm prevention medications used for dogs. It is present in many different heartworm products, including Heartgard Plus®, Iverhart Plus®, Iverhart Max®, Tri-Heart® and others.

Hi, Im Jennifer. Im a certified dog behavior specialist, board-certified veterinary technician, and owner of Absolute Excellent Pets. With more than 15 years of experience working directly with dogs, I specialize in helping clients understand why their dogs are doing the things they are doing and how we can help them reach their goals to keep their best friend happy, healthy and out of trouble.

Can I Give My Dog Cough Medicine

Chronic coughing in dogs is never normal and always needs to be checked out by your vet. Common causes of coughing in dogs include:

Over-the-counter human cough medications should never be given to dogs. Many of these products contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is highly toxic to dogs. Cough suppressants may also include other medications like acetaminophen that can be dangerous for dogs.

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Whats The Best Antihistamine For Dogs

Several over-the-counter human antihistamines can work to help relieve dog allergy symptoms, but we recommend that you consult with your veterinarian before administering any of these medications.

Benadryl is the most popular antihistamine for humans andcan be effective for dogs as well. Just be aware that Benadryl has sedative properties, so your dog could get very drowsy. Other safe antihistamines for dogs include Claritin and Zyrtec . They produce less sedation than Benadryl does but could still make your dog drowsy.

Warning: Make sure your OTC allergy medicine only contains antihistamine. Some may contain other ingredients, such as decongestants, which arent safe for dogs.

Which Allergy Medicines For Dogs Are Best

Dogs have allergies too, you know. They have itchy eyes and skin and sneeze just like us. With some dogs it can be so severe they require a prescription, but most are just fine with an over-the-counter solution. There are a few types of medication that can be most beneficial depending on your dogs situation.

The best allergy medicine for dogs is Apoquel Tablets For Dogs. This medication treats the most common form of dog allergies, skin irritation, quickly and with minimal-to-no side effects.

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The Clinical Signs Of Dog Allergies

Clinical signs of allergies can mimic other diseases, so its best to see your veterinarian before deciding what is causing the issues. Some clinical signs of allergies are:

• Anaphylaxis this is always an emergency and can show up through facial swelling, closing of the throat, seizure, hives

These breeds may be predisposed. However, allergies can affect any breed of dog.

Can Dogs Take Claritin

Claritin is an antihistamine for humans, also known as loratadine. Claritin can be safely given to your dog as long as you have approval from your vet and are following their instructions.

The right dose of Claritin will be based on your dogs weight, so your vet can help you figure out the perfect amount to give him.

Youll also want to make sure to avoid Claritin thats dissolvable since it could contain xylitol, which is a common ingredient thats toxic to dogs.

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Best Otc Medication For Dogs

Some OTC medications for humans can be effective at reducing allergy symptoms in dogs. But before you hit the drugstore, chat with your vet to make sure these medications will work for your pups symptoms and that you know how to administer them properly.

It is important owners use the correct dose and use them often enough for them to have an effect, Dr. Simon said. You should also consider that antihistamines can make your dog drowsy.

There are some dog-safe antihistamines available to pet parents, which can obviously eliminate the dangers of taking medications meant for humans.

PetArmor is a dog-friendly antihistamine that has the same active ingredient as Benadryl.

Just be sure to double-check the dosages with your vet to make sure youre giving your pup a safe amount.

Home Remedies For Pets Allergies

There are home remedies that can help alleviate certain symptoms. Lifestyle changes that can make a difference include:

• Home improvements: Making your home as hypoallergenic as possible can help. Consider installing an air cleaner with a HEPA filter and cleaning fabric surfaces regularly.
• Soothing baths: Your veterinarian might recommend bathing your dog or cat with a pet shampoo that contains oatmeal, Dr. Marsella explains.
• Dietary supplements: Supplementing your pets diet with fish oil can reduce flaky or itchy skin. Probiotics can also offer pets relief from skin allergies by restoring balance to bacteria levels in their GI tract, Dr. Marsella says. By improving the health of their GI tract, probiotics can help reduce allergy symptoms.
• Physical blockers: A simple intervention for itchy pets is to have them wear a T-shirt, since it appears it may reduce their drive to scratch, suggests Dr. Sypniewski.

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What Papers Should You Get When Buying A Dog

When buying a dog, you need to know how much money you want to spend, and which breed you prefer. The first thing you should do is choose a breeder who has been breeding dogs for at least 10 years. Next, you should look at the pedigree of the parents of the puppies. If they come from a reputable breeder, then you should be able to find out about the health history of the puppy. Finally, ask yourself whether you want a purebred dog or a mixed breed.

Dosage: 12 Mg/kg Every 8 Hours

As long as your dog does not have any other medical conditions, this drug can be given at about 1 mg per kg. It needs to be given two or three times a day, evenly spaced out .

If your dog is about 25 kilos , you can give him one of the 25 mg tablets. If he is still scratching in about an hour you can give another, but do not give the next dose until 8 hours have passed.

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Other Allergy Medication For Dogs

Antihistamine medications are not the only option for dogs with allergies. As we said, dogs build up immunity to these meds, and over time, they lose their potency. There are also other options available to vets, and if they recommend them, you should probably take their advice. The other two options are corticosteroids and Apoquel.

Are Antihistamines All Your Dog Needs

In order for your dog to feel relief from his allergies, you need to find out what is causing him to itch. Unfortunately, finding out is not always easy. Antihistamines might provide some comfort at the moment, but they are usually not enough.

Your dog might need a dietary change, a new drug regimen like cytopoint or apoquel, or even a course of steroids like prednisone. Natural alternatives like oatmeal shampoos, coconut oil, and herbs help some dogs. The best thing you can do is find out what your dog is allergic to and prevent him from accessing it. There are a lot of options.

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Can You Give A Dog Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen should not be given to dogs except under the close supervision of a veterinarian. Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is used for fever, pain, and inflammatory conditions in humans. Like other NSAIDs, ibuprofen treats inflammation by blocking certain reactions and enzymes in the body.

Dog Antihistamine Dose Chart

Antihistamines can be used in dogs to reduce the signs of allergy. The following antihistamines appear safe in dogs .

These doses have essentially been worked out by trial and error and often scaled down from human doses.

Bad stuff: We dont know why, but dog allergies respond very poorly to antihistamines. Even the best only helps 20% of dogs. The response may improve if combined with EFAs and its worth trying a few before giving up.

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