My cat's asthma is better. Should I stop Zyrtec for her allergies?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

• Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

  Licensed Veterinary Technician

  Published on May 16th, 2017

  Ideally, Sissy should be examined by your veterinarian to rule out serious inflammatory conditions or infection. You can discuss a safe dose of Zyrtec with the vet if it seems to help. The fleas can be treated using a monthly topical preventative such as Revolution or Frontline. Treat her for 3 consecutive months, preferably year round. You will need to treat the environment as well. This means vacuuming everywhere she goes inside and washing all bedding. An area treatment such as Knockout ES can be used to prevent reinfestation indoors.

  

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• Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

  Veterinarian

  Published on December 16th, 2016

  Poor Storm! Zyrtec is an antihistamine, and it could be that she is suffering from allergies which may be why it's helping. I would caution against using it unless prescribed by a vet, simply because it's a human medication that is not licensed to use in cats. I would recommend taking Storm into the vet for an exam in the morning, especially if it's getting harder for her to breathe. The cause of her respiratory difficulties should be diagnosed in order to treat them properly. The causes can include allergies, respiratory infection, or heart disease. Allergies, should they be the cause, may need to be treated with steroids to help her symptoms. I would recommend rushing her into an ER vet immediately if she starts open mouth breathing or really struggles to breathe, as those are signs of respiratory distress and should be treated immediately. In the meantime, there are a few things you can try at home in case she has a respiratory infection. First, you can try starting her on an L-lysine supplement - this is an amino acid that has been shown to help the immune system fight off respiratory infections more effectively. Enisyl and Viralys are both good brands, and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription - just follow the dosing instructions on the label based on your cat's weight. If she's congested, you can also try using a humidifier or bringing her into the bathroom with the door closed while you take a hot shower - the steam and humidity help to break up congestion and temporarily relieve symptoms associated with respiratory infections.

  

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• Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

  Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

  Published on March 7th, 2018

  Some antibiotics can be mixed in food and administered that way, if you're not able to catch her to give the meds directly by mouth. I would recommend calling and discussing options with the veterinarian who saw her a few weeks ago - he/she should be able to prescribe something to help.
  
  In the meantime, you could also try adding an L-lysine supplement daily to her food - this can be purchased over the counter or ordered online without a prescription, and can be helpful in treating respiratory infections in some cats.

  

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