Can I safely give my dog Benadryl and Zyrtec at the same time?

Benadryl capsules can be used as long as it is not the Extended Release formula. Claritin (loratidine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine) can also be used in dogs. Contact your veterinarian for an appropriate dose. Do not combine antihistamines. Use just one and switch if it does not seem to be effective.

While it is safe to give these two medications together I'd check in with your vet before proceeding to make sure it is safe for Izzie specifically. Also, it may not be necessary to add in an antihistamine if the Apoquel is doing it's job.

Hi and thanks for your request. Once daily (once every 24 hours, so every day at 2am) would be correct. The dosage you are giving is on the higher range, make sure you do not exceed 20mg per day. https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/zyrtec/

Both drugs are used off-label - meaning that they are not approved for veterinary use, so it's important to only use them as recommended by your veterinarian. Xyzal has a similar drug to Zyrtec, but is different enough that a new dose would have to be calculated by your veterinarian. This drug also has a lack of safety information for use with dogs, so I would not recommend it. I hope that helps and all is well with Mo.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes this medication can be given to dogs. However, I would recommend you check in with your veterinarian first as they know his medical history. Keep in mind some of these drugs can interact with other drugs or diseases and be harmful to a patient which is why I recommend you check in with your veterinarian first. Best of luck!

Your dog could definitely have environmental allergies! Most people do not have much luck with these drugs as they are antihistamines, and as such are not very effective for these kinds of allergies in dogs. However, they tend to be very safe and very inexpensive, so I sometimes start with antihistamines if the itching is very mild and the dog does not seem miserable. Also, I have had great success with the oral pill Apoquel for some allergies as well, and this is a medication that is much safer to use long-term than steroids like prednisone. There is also an an allergy injection called Cytopoint that is very safe and works well for some dogs with seasonal allergies. Ask your veterinarian for his/her recommendation for your particular situation. Hope that helps!

Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Zirtek (cetirizine) and Chlor Trimeton (chlorpheneramine) are all available in the UK. Discuss other options, both OTC and prescription, with your veterinarian. Read labels carefully and avoid any antihistamine with paracetamol.