What is the best medicine for dog allergies

A guide to allergy medications and alternatives for dogs

Is Benadryl or Zyrtec better for dogs?

Every dog is different, and their systems may react differently to certain allergy meds. Vets have recently noted more adverse reactions among dogs who take Benadryl, resulting in Zyrtec becoming the more popular first-line choice for dog allergies. Zyrtec is also less potent than Benadryl and has a convenient dosing schedule ranging from half to one full tablet a day, depending on your dogs weight.

Are there any potential side effects of allergy medicines for dogs?

Yes. Most allergy medications come with their own set of side effects but keep in mind that each dog is different and may experience unique side effects to allergy medications. Common reactions include dry mouth, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart and respiratory rates, hypersalivation, and decreased globulin levels.

What is the best allergy medicine for dog allergies?

The best allergy medication for your canine is the one your veterinarian recommends for their specific allergies. Many veterinarians will recommend an antihistamine to treat their symptoms.

Is there a daily allergy pill for dogs?

Yes, Zyrtec and Claritin can be given to dogs once a day; Benadryl is given twice a day. Its always a good idea to check with your vet about the appropriate dosage for your dogs size and age.

What do vets prescribe for dog allergies?

What your veterinarian prescribes for dog allergies depends on their severity. For mild itching, vets may prescribe antihistamines. For severe allergies, vets may do allergy testing so they can do immunotherapyTrusted SourcePubMed CentralArchive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature.Go to source to boost your dogs immune system.

This way, reactions to allergens are much less intense. Immunotherapy is the closest that anyone can get to a cure for allergies, says Dr. Erica Irish. Intense itching can be helped with Apoquel, Cytopoint, or steroid medications. In other cases, immunosuppressant medications like Atopica may be necessary.

Types of Dog Allergies and How to Treat Them

Have you heard someone tell you that their dog has allergies? Has your veterinarian suggested that allergies could be a problem for your dog? Do you suspect that your dog has allergies? If so, then youve probably realized that allergies in dogs are not quite as simple as we might wish. For starters, there are several different types of allergies that could be causing your dogs symptoms.

Allergies are a misguided reaction to foreign substances by the bodys immune system, which, of course, people and pets can suffer from. There are quite a few different types of allergies in dogs. Skin allergies, food allergies, and environmental allergens all pose challenges for dogs and their owners, and to make things more complicated, the symptoms of all these different types of allergies can overlap.

Symptoms of Allergies in Dogs

The symptoms of allergies in dogs may vary depending on the cause. A dog that goes into anaphylactic shock, for instance, will have a drop in blood pressure followed by shock, which is very different from a skin condition.

In general, however, the following symptoms could be a sign of an allergic reaction.

• Itchiness
• Hives
• Swelling of the face, ears, lips, eyelids, or earflaps
• Red, inflamed skin
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Sneezing
• Itchy ears
• Chronic ear infections
• Itchy, runny eyes
• Constant licking

Some of these symptoms could also be a sign of another condition. Make an appointment with your veterinarian if you notice changes in their behavior to get an accurate diagnosis.

Types of Allergic Reactions in Dogs

Allergic Dermatitis in Dogs

Skin allergies in dogs, known as allergic dermatitis, is the most common type of allergic reaction in dogs. Skin allergies in dogs are mainly caused by one of three things: fleas, food allergies, and atopicor environmentalallergies.Flea allergy dermatitis is an allergic reaction to fleabites, and some dogs are allergic to flea saliva, which can cause their skin to become red, inflamed, or scabbed because their skin will feel extremely itchy. Its the easiest type of allergic dermatitis to treat, since you can apply flea medication for dogs to help heal their skin.

Another cause of skin allergy in dogs is from food allergies and sensitivities. Just like humans can be allergic to certain foods or ingredients, dogs can be allergic, which can cause itchy skin. Dogs with food allergies usually have itchy ears or paws, sometimes along with gastrointestinal symptoms. Dr. Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the AKC, says that food allergies are not as common as you might think. True food allergies result in an immune response, which can range in symptoms from hives, facial swelling, and itchiness to gastrointestinal signs like vomiting and diarrhea or a combination of both.

Environmental allergens can also affect the skin and be the cause of allergic dermatitis. Things like dust, pollen, fungus, and mold can cause these reactions, but in most cases, these allergies are seasonal. As with food allergies that affect the skin, the most commonly affected areas are the paws and ears (but also include the wrists, ankles, muzzle, underarms, groin, around the eyes, and in between the toes).

All skin allergies pose the risk of secondary infection. As your dog scratches, bites, and licks at his skin, he risks opening up his skin to yeast and bacterial infections that may require treatment.

Urticaria, or Hives, in Dogs

Also known as urticaria, hives on dogs are very itchy but are not life-threatening. Hives appear as a reaction anywhere from 6 to 24 hours after exposure to allergens. This consists of itchy, swelled skin, that usually looks like a red rash. Its easiest to spot hives on dogs that are hairless or have short coats. Dogs with longer hair can get them too, but its more likely that youd be able to fee the hives rather than see them. Your vet will prescribe an antihistamine in order to treat urticaria in dogs.

Edema of Face or Throat

Swelling of the throat or face looks severe, but its actually almost never fatal. This area of swelling, which can also include swelling of the eyelids or ear flaps, is known as angioneurotic edema. Its actually pretty easily treated, and despite how it looks, its a good sign in terms of allergic reactions.

If your dog has edema of any of these areas, the time for a fatal allergic reaction has most likely passed, and they arent in as much danger. Angioneurotic edema occurs anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours after exposure to an allergen, and can also come with hives.A veterinarian will often give dogs with this reaction an antihistamine injection. Untreated, it may take a day or two for the swelling to subside.

Anaphylactic Shock

Perhaps the most alarming of all the types of allergic reactions in dogs is anaphylactic shock. Like people, dogs can go into anaphylactic shock if they have a severe reaction to an allergen. This happens when antibodies produced by the host react negatively to the allergen, dropping your dogs blood pressure rapidly and sending them into shock. This can be fatal if not treated, but luckily, anaphylactic reactions are rare in dogs.

This can be a response to any allergen, most commonly bee or wasp stings, or vaccine reactions. Because of this, your vet will always recommend keeping a close eye on your dog after theyve been given any new vaccine, drug, or food item, as they might be allergic.

If a dog has had a past incident and survived, the owner may carry an epipen, but sometimes the first occurrence can lead to death. Fortunately these reactions are very rare in dogs.

In some rare cases, a severe food allergy reaction resulting in anaphylaxis can occur, similar to severe peanut allergies in humans. The best way to diagnose and treat a food allergy is to work with your veterinarian to manage your dogs symptoms and discover the ingredient causing the reaction.

Diagnosing Allergies in Dogs

Flea allergy dermatitis is typically the easiest allergy to diagnose. It is usually diagnosed by identifying fleas on your dogs body and applying a product that kills fleas before they can bite to see if that solves the issues.

The first thing your veterinarian will do in allergy testing is rule out any other condition that could be causing your dogs symptoms. If your veterinarian feels that an allergy is a likely cause, they may propose allergy testing to try and determine the cause of the allergen that is causing the reaction. However, keep in mind it may not always be possible to determine the cause of an allergy with testing.

If you have ever undergone allergy testing, then you know that diagnosing allergies is often complicated. Its the same for dogs, but its worth it to understand what to stay away from when it comes to your dog.Food allergies are often diagnosed using an elimination diet. A food trial consists of feeding a dog one source of protein and carbohydrate for 12 weeks.

Treating Allergies in Dogs

The best way to treat an allergy is avoidance of the cause and allergen, which may not always be possible. They type of treatment depends on the type of allergy your dog has. For example, the best way to treat flea allergy dermatitis is to kill the fleas, whereas the best way to treat a food allergy or food intolerance is a change in diet.

Depending on the cause and severity of your dogs allergic reaction, your veterinarian will prescribe different things. For hives, they might suggest antihistamines, cortisones, medicated shampoos, whereas with food allergies they might suggest fish oil or other Omega-3 fatty acid supplements. For skin allergies, they might prescribe dog-safe anti-inflammatory wipes or shampoo on skin to provide irritation relief.

In addition to any lifestyle changes that might be necessary, your veterinarian may also prescribe an allergy relief medication for your dog that will help control the signs associated with the allergic reaction, such as itching and any secondary skin infections that might have developed as a result of the irritant.

If your dog has a severe allergic reaction, your best course of action is to get them to an emergency veterinary hospital as quickly as possible.

Best Allergy Medicine For Dogs (Over The Counter And Prescription): Are Benadryl, Zyrtec & Claritin Safe For Dogs?

Whether your dog is suffering from digestive issues or skin problems, allergies can wreak havoc on a dogs body. How can you relieve your dogs suffering? Youre likely wondering, what can I give my dog for allergies? Our experts tell you all of the safe allergy medications, supplements, and other products that can help your pup.

What The Vet Says

Dog allergies often cause them to have itchy and sore ears. Unfortunately, allergies cant be cured, and since home, remedies dont tend to work and arent proven, the best thing you can do if your dog is affected by an ear infection or allergic skin disease is to get them veterinary treatment promptly to relieve their symptoms. Dr. Hannah Godfrey BVetMed MRCVS

Dr. Hannah Godfrey BVetMed MRCVS explains a little bit about dog allergy medications and how they work. There are a variety of dog allergy medications available, and the medication that I choose to prescribe for each case will vary depending on the severity and pattern of the symptoms, any other health conditions, or medications that the dog is receiving, the ease of giving the dog medication, and any financial constraints.

Dr. Godfrey goes on, Apoquel (oclacitinib) tablets and Cytopoint (lokivetmab) injections can both cause good control of allergy symptoms of course, allergies cant be cured. They can only be managed with medication. These medications are safe to give in the majority of circumstances, including with many other medications; however, they can be expensive. Steroids are less costly, but they are associated with side effects and arent suitable for use alongside many other medications, including anti-inflammatories and vaccinations. Steroid (prednisolone) tablets are favorable to the injectable forms (e.g., dexamethasone) as the dose can be tapered to the lowest effective dose, reducing the risk of side effects like a weakened immune system, diabetes, weight gain, and increased appetite, thirst, and urination.

Other options include anti-histamines; however, these are often ineffective, and Atopica (cyclosporin), which can lead to stomach upsets and suppresses the immune system. Atopica used to be used much more regularly before the availability of other drugs, and I have seen several dogs develop diarrhea in the first few days after treatment starts. This doesnt necessarily mean that Atopica isnt a suitable treatment for your dog, but the vet might choose to lower the dose or monitor closely, Dr. Hannah Godfrey.

Prescription Medications

Some of the best allergy medicine for dogs is available only by prescription from your veterinarian. These allergy medications are immunosuppressants, which work directly on your dogs immune system to suppress an allergic reaction.

Nonsteroidal Immunosuppressants

Nonsteroidal immunosuppressants relieve allergies without the negative side effects of steroids. The dog allergy medicine Apoquel (oclacitinib) is highly effective against airborne allergens and food and flea allergies. It begins to relieve itching and inflammation within four hours, and its effects can last up to 24 hours. Learn more about Apoquel for dogs.

Atopica (cyclosporine) is another nonsteroidal immunosuppressant that is most commonly prescribed for airborne allergies. Both Apoquel and Atopica are suitable for both short and long-term treatment.

Corticosteroids

Steroids help control allergy symptoms by reducing inflammation. But because they have significant negative side effects, theyre best for short-term treatment. The most common oral steroids prescribed for dog allergies are prednisone and Temaril-P (trimeprazine with prednisolone).

Some veterinarians use longer-acting steroid injections such as Vetalog, but side effects can be harsher with injections rather than steroid pills. Long-term side effects from steroids can include increased urinary tract infections (UTIs), susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections, obesity, muscle weakness, and more.

Whats The Best Antihistamine For Dogs?

Several over-the-counter (OTC) 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 (diphenhydramine) is the most popular antihistamine for humans and can be effective for dogs as well. Just be aware that Benadryl has sedative properties, so your dog could get very drowsy. Also, take note that diphenhydramine hydrochloride is the active ingredient in American Benadryl (found in the U.S., Canada, Singapore, Taiwan, Italy, and Hong Kong).

However, in the U.K. and Denmark, the active ingredients areacrivastinein Benadryl Allergy Relief andcetirizinein Benadryl Once a Day. Limited information exists on acrivastine and cetirizine use in dogs, soif youre in Europe, make sure the active ingredient is diphenhydramine, the only form of Benadryl thats considered safe for dogs.

Other safe antihistamines for dogs include Claritin (loratadine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine). They produce less sedation than Benadryl does but could still make your dog drowsy.

Warning

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

Dosing For Dogs*

• Benadryl: 1 milligram/pound of body weight, given twice daily
• Claritin: approximately 0.1 to 0.5 milligram/pound of body weight, given once to twice daily
• Zyrtec: approximately 0.5 mg/pound of body weight, given once to twice daily

*Learn more about the guidelines for antihistamine dosing for dogs. If youre wondering why antihistamine dosing differs from human dosing, its because dogs metabolize Benadryl and other antihistamines much faster than humans.

Other Over-The-Counter Allergy Relief For Dogs

If youre wary of giving your dog pharmaceutical drugs, youre in luck. There are a lot of safe and effective products on the market these days that can help ease your dogs allergy symptoms. They come in several forms, from dietary supplements and food toppers to shampoo and topical sprays and balms.

Talk to your veterinarian before using these products, especially the medicated shampoos, to help relieve your dogs allergies. Youll want to be sure that the products will not interfere with any other medication that your dog may be taking.

Dietary Supplements

PetHonesty has several excellent, all-natural daily supplements for dog allergies, including Allergy Support soft chews, Allergy Skin Health soft chews, and Allergy Anti-Itch Salmon Oil. Another highly-rated option is Zesty Paws Aller-Immunity Bites. These grain-free soft chews contain immune-boosting ingredients, a five-strain probiotic, apple cider vinegar, salmon oil, and colostrum.

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Probiotics

Giving your dog a daily probiotic can help ease such allergy symptoms as digestive problems and itching and scratching. We recommend Nusentia Probiotic Miracle, a powder that contains six different probiotic strains and a prebiotic to combat diarrhea, loose stool, yeast overgrowth, bad breath, constipation, itching & scratching, allergies, and digestive issues.

If youd prefer to give your pup a daily chewable probiotic, Pet Honestys Digestive Probiotics is an excellent option. It contains nine probiotic strains, prebiotic, and natural enzymes to support proper digestion. No matter what form of supplement you choose, just be sure to give your pup a probiotic specifically formulated for dogs.

Topicals

Pet MD Hydrocortisone Spray for dogs and cats helps relieve itchy and inflamed skin due to allergies, hot spots, skin infections, and more. It contains 1% hydrocortisone, is non-toxic and gets excellent reviews from pet parents. A fantastic all-natural, alcohol-free spray alternative is Wondercides Skin Tonic Spray, which contains heavily diluted essential oils to ease itching and help moisturize skin.

If you prefer a balm rather than a spray, the Natural Dog Company has an excellent all-natural Skin Soother balm that helps treat itchy and inflamed skin, rashes, hot spots, bacterial skin infections, cuts, burns, surgical wounds, mange, and more. This organic and vegan balm contains soothing and healing ingredients like lavender, chamomile, frankincense, cocoa butter, and vitamin E.

Shampoo

PetHonesty has a fantastic Allergy Anti-Itch Shampoo that contains chlorhexidine and ketoconazole to ease skin itching and improve skin inflammation, rashes, hot spots, skin infections, and wounds. Another effective option is Vets Best Allergy Itch Relief Dog Shampoo, a veterinarian-formulated blend of essential oils and key natural ingredients (oatmeal, D-limonene, and tea tree oil) to calm down and moisturize itchy red skin.

How Do I Know Whats Causing My Dogs Allergies?

Dogs can be allergic to a few different things. Allergies tend to fall into three categories: food, skin, and environmental. Often, allergic reactions are the first sign you have that your pup cannot have a certain food or be near a certain plant.

Consulting with your vet is the best way to determine what your dog is allergic to. But you can also do an at-home dog allergy test to discover if your dog has any insensitivities to many food ingredients and environmental allergens.

If you use an at-home allergy test, discuss the results with your vet so they can confirm the results and recommend the most appropriate allergy treatments for your dog. A food allergy may require a special diet to determine what the trigger is. This is often done through an elimination or hydrolyzed diet. You will need to work with your vet to determine treatment and reduce allergy symptoms.

AllergySymptoms

The signs of dog allergies typically involve skin and digestive issues. Symptoms depend on the allergen thats causing the allergy and the severity of the reaction. But here are some signs to look out for:

• Excessive itching
• Constant licking
• Biting or gnawing at the skin
• Red, inflamed skin
• Hives or rashes
• Swelling of the face, ears, lips, eyelids, or earflap
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Sneezing
• Itchy ears
• Chronic ear infections
• Itchy, runny eyes

Frequently Asked Questions About Allergy Medicine For Dogs

Here are some of the common questions we get from our readers about allergy medicine for dogs. If we didnt get to yours, let us know in the comments.

You should always check with your vet before administering any medication to ensure its safe for your dog. Each dog is different, and dosage amounts vary based on the dogs size and needs.

Can I Give My Dog A Decongestant?

Experts warn against a decongestant for dogs. Like pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine, decongestants can be life-threatening for dogs and can cause vomiting, severe blood pressure changes, abnormal heart rates and rhythms, tremors, and seizures.

Seek veterinary care immediately if your dog accidentally ingests any kind of decongestant (theyre commonly found in human cold and flu OTC medications, particularly ones with a -D at the end of the name.)

Can Dogs Take Claritin?

Yes, Claritin can be safe and effective for dogs. Vets recommend that you give your dog approximately 0.1 to 0.5 milligrams/pound of body weight once to twice daily. However, check with your vet before administering any medication to ensure its safe for your dog.

Can Dogs Take Zyrtec?

Yes, Zyrtec can be a safe and effective antihistamine for pups. Vets recommend approximately 0.5 mg per pound of body weight, given once to twice daily.

Zyrtec vs Claritin for dogs wondering which is better? Like with humans, it depends on the individual. You can speak with your vet about trying both individually to see which seems to work better for your pup.

Can Dogs Get Allergy Shots?

Yes, vets can use allergy shots to help deal with symptoms and provide your dog relief. Cytopoint is the most common allergy shot.

Home Remedies For Dog Allergies

There are a few different home remedies you can try, depending on the type of allergy your pup has.

1. Skin allergies and itchy skin may be helped with an oatmeal bath. Blend dried oatmeal up into a powder, then mix it into your pups bath.
2. Apple cider vinegar is another bath option, as well as a topical treatment to soothe the skin. You may also try a topical chamomile tea spray.
3. Probiotic supplements can be helpful to improve gut health and reduce food allergy symptoms.

Check out this three-minute video to see some cheap and easy home remedies that may help ease your dogs allergy symptoms.

Pet Insurance Can Help Pay Vet Bills

Dogs can develop many chronic problems over their lifetimes, as well as unforeseen accidents and illnesses. But if you get pet insurance early in your dogs life (before a condition is considered pre-existing), health issues that arise in the future (like chronic allergies) could be covered for vet visits and prescription medications. See our reviews of the best pet insurance companies, or use our free quote tool below to learn more.