My dog has seasonal allergies. Should I give him Zyrtec or Claritin?

Singulair is not used for dogs, all other over the counter anti histamines you mentioned are usually non effective in dogs at all, Benadryl and Piriton are usually the only ones that sometimes work, but as a general rule anti histamines are not as effective in dogs as they are in humans unfortunately. for severe allergies most dogs will need a course of steroids which are prescription only.

Dogs respond to antihistamines variably just like people. And some work better than others. Zyrtec and Claritin are 2nd generation antihistimaines and general don't have as many CNS side effects such as drowsiness or spaciness. They are safe for daily use. I would recommend giving it a try to see if it works for Bella. If it does antihistimaines have relatively few side effects in dogs so it may be a safe long term solution. If it isn't helping then consider apoquelor discussing further working up her allergies with her vet.

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!

Unfortunately, by law it is illegal for the experts at Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to recommend using 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 Dakota. I would give your vet a call to discuss if using an anti-histamine in addition to his prednisone is safe for him. Best of luck.

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!

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.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Zyrtec is a human antihistamine that Vets use OFF-LABEL (not FDA approved or tested to be safe in dogs and cats) with success. Harper's sneezing could be from allergies. Please read the following links below for further information: https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/zyrtec/ https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/ I wish Harper the best!