My cat has seasonal allergies and sneezes. What can I give her?

Benadryl (diphenhydramine) can be used for cats. Other over the counter antihistamines for use in cats include Chlor-Trimeton® (chlorpheneramine), Claritin® (loratadine) and Zyrtec® (cetirizine). You can get doses for any of the above from your veterinarian. Legally, we are prohibited from supplying doses for medications, even OTC meds, in the absence of a physical exam and a VPCR (Veterinarian-Patient-Client Relationship).

You could potentially try a dose of an anti-histamine but it is important to differentiate these signs from those of an infection. Viral respiratory infections are extremely common in kitties are the more likely cause of the clinical signs you are describing for Lucy. These infections are typically self-limiting and will resolve without medications. If the nasal discharge changes to green mucus, she will likely need an antibiotic.

Hello! Thank you for contact pet coach! Benadryl is safe for use in cats, however it is unlikely to help with sneezing. The dose of Benadryl for a 10# cat would be 10 mg if you wanted to try it. Otherwise I would suggest humidification (placing the pet in the bathroom and running a hot shower works like a “steam room” for them. This may help with congestion. You can also try nasal saline drops such as “Little Noses”. If she does not stop sneezing within a week or 2, or if other signs develop, you may want to consider taking her to a veterinarian to be evaluated. I hope this information helps, and Chloe gets the relief she needs!

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.

Hi, and thanks for your question. This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a chronic rhinitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics or antiallergic (steroids medications) may be needed. It is not necessary to perform expensive tests as treatment can be attempted to resolve the problem. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Unfortunately it’s impossible to say if Carol is sneezing due to allergies, a viral infection or something is stuck in her nostril. You can start her on a cat supplement called Lysine. Carol should take 500mg twice daily. This can help if it is viral. Keep a very close eye on her. Constant sneezing can be the first sign of an upcoming full blown respiratory tract infection. Watch for any nasal or ocular discharge. Watch for lethargy, squinting eyes or not eating well. If you end up needing to go in, there are two companies who may be able to provide financing: Care Credit and Scratch. You can find more information and an application on their websites. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

You can try giving Squirrel 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.