Can I give my dog levocetirizine for his grass and food allergies?

No, I wouldn't recommend doing this without speaking to your vet about it. That's because recommending to do this requires a veterinary client patient relationship which cannot be achieved via an internet forum. In addition, I cannot say for certain if a specific drug is safe for Zoey. Give your vet a call, and they can let you know if Levocetirizine 5mg is safe to give her.

Most OTC antihistamines can be used in dogs, however you should **never** give any medications to your dog without the advice of your veterinarian. Legally though, we cannot direct you to medicate your pet in the absence of a physical exam and a VCPR (veterinarian-client-patient-relationship). [Allergies](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/canine-allergies) can be frustrating to diagnose since they can have multiple causes ([environmental](https://www.petcoach.co/article/food-allergies-vs-environmental-allergies-whats-the-difference), [food](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/food-allergies), [flea bites](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/flea-allergy), etc.). Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Discuss [food elimination trials](https://www.petcoach.co/article/food-trials-for-allergies-in-pets-what-to-expect) and [allergy testing](https://www.petcoach.co/article/allergy-testing-immunotherapy-in-dogs) and if antihistamine use is indicated, he or she can give you a proper dose, The medication may provide some relief but your task is to try to determine what your dog is allergic to and decrease or eliminate it.

Yes, you can give cetirizine as needed. Be aware that if you use it constantly there is a chance he will become tolerant to it and will no longer work. It should also not be used in animals that have any underlying kidney or liver disease. Please review this article on the medication in regards to dosing, side effects, etc. ( https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/cetirizine/ )

Most OTC antihistamines can be used in dogs; however you should never give any medications to your dog without the advice of your veterinarian. Allergies can be frustrating to diagnose since they can have multiple causes (inhaled, food, contact). Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Discuss food elimination trials and allergy testing and if antihistamine use is indicated, he or she can give you a proper dose, The medication may provide some relief but your task is to try to determine what your dog is allergic to and decrease or eliminate it. Monitor her for side effects including lethargy and weakness, and if you see those signs, have her seen by a vet right away. 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!

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.

Yes, Claritin is among several over-the-counter antihistamine options that may be given for allergies. Frankly, they all offer only mediocre relief but can be helpful for very mild symptoms. I would still recommend touching base with your vet to make sure Claritin would be appropriate for Bruno with his medical history and any other medications he might be taking. If Bruno's allergies do not improve on an over-the-counter option like Claritin, there are much more effective options available by prescription from your vet. Hope this helps!