My cat has allergies. Can I give him Benadryl or other safe OTC meds?

Benadryl (diphenhydramine) can be used to alleviate allergy symptoms, but you will need to contact your veterinarian for confirmation and a safe dose. Legally, we are prohibited from telling you to medicate Kalisi in the absence of a physical exam and a VPCR (veterinarian-patient-client relationship). Your vet can confirm allergies or diagnosis a different underlying cause for the symptoms.

Some over the counter antihistamines may provide relief. These include Benadryl (diphenhydramine) or Chlorpheneramine. Antihistamines alone are usually not enough to provide real relief though. Ideally, you should contact your veterinarian to discuss the best treatment and dosing for OTC drugs. There are also prescription medications that can be dispensed after an exam. Fish oil supplements should be considered as a part of any treatment. They can promote healthy skin and coat and have some natural anti-inflammatory properties. Specific products are EicosaCaps, DermCaps or Welactin. Rule out other causes, if it hasn't been done already, such as fleas, skin infection or food sensitivities.

Unfortunately, by law it is illegal for the experts at Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to give the dose information for any drug, including OTC drugs, without seeing the animal in person first. That's because doing so requires a veterinary client patient relationship which cannot be achieved via an internet forum. In addition, the experts cannot say for certain if a specific drug is safe for your cat. I would give your vet a call to see if you can safely give Kitty an antihistamine, or take him into an ER vet.

Yes, Benadryl is quite safe for long term use, but often causes excitement in cats. Always talk to your vet before giving Zach any medications to assure that the medication is necessary, safe and dosed appropriately.

While cats can have Benadryl, it's against the law for me to say it's safe to give it to Buster. That's because doing so requires a veterinary client patient relationship which cannot be achieved via an internet forum. Keep in mind as well that the sneezing may also be due to a respiratory infection, and Benadryl will not help that. Benadryl is for allergic reactions, not respiratory infections, and you would be unnecessarily giving him a drug he doesn't need. I would have him seen by a vet for this sneezing. If he does have a respiratory infection, the vet can prescribe medication to treat it.

You can try liquid Benadryl. Look for the dye free, unflavored version. Another option would be to have it compounded into a palatable tablet or chewable. Your veterinarian may have a preferred compounding pharmacy that he or she works with for these cases.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Excellent question. They are all about the same though their efficacy is a bit different. This is because while they have the same mechanism of action, their bioavailability meaning how much is used by the body when taken is different. Benadryl appears to be the most effective out of the three in my experience and that is the one I would recommend though in theory they all should work. Good luck and have a great day!