My dog is sneezing due to allergies. Is Zyrtec safe and will it help?

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!

Yes, you can. Please read the attached link about using Zyrtec in dogs so you know what to watch for as far as side effects, etc. https://www.petplace.com/article/drug-library/drug-library/library/cetirizine-zyrtec-for-dogs-and-cats/

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!

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.

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.

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.

Dogs around 10 pounds in weight should only get a half tab once per day. If the Zyrtec doesn't seem to be working, or seems to wear off too quickly, I would contact Hope's vet. It may be time to switch to a stronger medication, or try a different OTC such as Claritin to see if it is better for longer-term control of Hope's allergies.