Why is my dog's vet-recommended Zyrtec dose higher than a human's?

Hello, The answer to this is: maybe! Cetirizine anecdotally in very large dogs is sometimes still effective at a 20mg per day dosage, but some dogs will need up to a 1 mg/kg dose for relief. At Goose's weight, this would be three 20mg tablets. I'd suggest trying one 20mg tab per day at first, and going to three tabs per day if needed. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

The published dose for Zyrtec in dogs is 1 mg/kg which would be 7.7 mg for Mollie. Since the tablet only comes in 10 mg, your vet probably wanted to round so that Mollie wasn't underdosed. I wouldn't recommend changing the dose without talking to your vet first.

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/

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.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Ear mites won't be treated with zyrtec (which is an anti-histamine). They need a parasite treatment for this (ex. Revolution, Advantage Multi, etc.). Allergies also don't lead to ear mites. It could be that Corbin has a build-up of wax and itchy ears from allergies, which can be treated with Zyrtec. The typically dose is 1mg/kg so an 11lb dog would get about 5mg. Please ensure that Cetirizine is the ONLY active ingredient. Best of luck with Corbin!

Legally, we are prohibited from providing dosing information, even for OTC medications, in the absence of a physical exam and a patient-veterinarian-client relationship. Contact your veterinarian who can give you a dose based on Chloe's current weight.

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!