If you own a dog, it is likely that you already know that dogs can suffer from allergies just like we humans. However, unlike humans, dogs may not be able to control their feeling towards such situations which means that if left unattended to, you are likely to deal with more damage due to the uncontrolled biting and itching.
That said, therefore, it is upon you to find a medication that is safe to treat allergies in dogs so that you can avoid double trouble. While you might come across a variety of medications to treat allergic symptoms, today, I will take you through a commonly used medication – Zyrtec.
In this article, we will answer the questions related to this drug such as: Is Zyrtec safe for dogs? What it Zyrtec’s recommended dosage, among other questions. Read on as you look forward to treating your dog’s allergic symptoms safely and effectively.
Let’s begin by finding out; what is Zyrtec and how does it work?
Zyrtec is an over-the-counter medication that belongs to a family of drugs referred to as antihistamines.
The medicine helps to curb allergy symptoms by blocking a compound referred to as histamine. Histamine is released by the body while trying to fight infections, but it can sometimes result in unwanted effects such as swelling and redness and thus itchiness.
As a result, Zyrtec which contains cetirizine as the active ingredient helps to fight the effects of histamine thus eliminating the symptoms related to itching or dermatitis. Also, the drug helps to calm watery eyes, a running nose, hives, itchy eyes, and sneezing.
Although the drug is designed for use by humans, most vets prescribe it for use in dogs when you want to reduce itching and other allergy-related symptoms. Thus, this leads us to the next question;
Is Zyrtec Safe for Dogs?
Based on the fact that Zyrtec is designed for humans, is it correct to state that it is safe for dogs too?
Although it is not recommended that you share medicine with your furry companion, this is one of the exceptional cases. Zyrtec is considered safe for use with dogs since it is a natural remedy. In fact, the drug doesn’t result in drowsiness and excessive sleep such as other antihistamines which makes it a preferred medication for humans and dogs as well.
Also, there are various studies done to find out its effect on dogs with no recorded cases of side effects or adverse reactions. Hence, you can purchase and administer the drug confidently once you have a recommendation from your veterinary.
So, Can I administer Zyrtec to my dog?
I can confidently state that you can administer the drug to dogs.
However, this should be after you have received a prescription from your vet. The reason is that there are instances when you shouldn’t administer the drug to pets as we shall find out in the next section.
Are there instances when I shouldn’t administer Zyrtec to my dog?
Yes, there are instances when you shouldn’t administer this drug to dogs. Some of these cases include:
- Lactating mothers– Lactating pets shouldn’t be treated with Zyrtec since such pets transfer the medication to little ones in trace amounts. Hence, to keep puppies safe, veterinaries do not recommend pet parents to administer the drug to female dogs feeding puppies.
- Pets with liver or kidney problems– Dogs with liver and kidney problems shouldn’t be given Zyrtec. The reason is that the medication can result in urine retention which can worsen these situations. Instead of administering Zyrtec, it is recommendable that you increase the intake of Omega3.
- Pregnant dogs– Although a few studies have been conducted on pregnant mothers, none has rendered Zyrtec unsafe for the fetus. In fact, the development of the fetus remains up to mark, but, it is recommendable that you take caution and work with a vet when administering the drug to pregnant dogs
What of Zyrtec D, Is it safe for dogs?
Zyrtec D isn’t similar to the regular Zyrtec. The included letter “D” means that it contains decongestants like pseudoephedrine hydrochloride which is used to treat nasal blockage.
The decongestants are unsafe for use with canines since pseudoephedrine can overstimulate the central nervous system and the heart which can result in high blood pressure, seizures, and finally death for some breeds and ages.
Once you have decided to purchase Zyrtec for dogs, which formula should you purchase?
I recommend Zyrtec cetirizine hcl antihistamine 10mg;
Zyrtec Cetirizine HCL/Antihistamine Review
Zyrtec cetirizine hcl antihistamine 10mg
24-hour relief of indoor and outdoor upper respiratory allergy symptoms
This formula is used to temporarily relieve the symptoms of hay fever and symptoms related to the upper respiratory. It comes as two bottles containing fifty tablets each. Each tablet contains 10 mg cetirizine which makes it effective when it comes to treating allergens.
You can get the formula to relieve watery eyes, a runny nose, itchy throat, itchy nose, and sneezing. Besides that, the formula helps to reduce the swelling of nasal passages while restoring free breathing through the nose.
Also, it relieves pressure and sinus congestion temporarily which means that you can get the drug to relieve a variety of allergy-related symptoms. The formula acts as an effective relief for 24 hours after a single dose.
Key Benefits
- The drug doesn’t result in drowsiness.
- The medication is availed in a great packaging and affordable cost.
- Most users stated that they were pleased with the results after administering the drug.
Downsides
- Some users state that they were not satisfied by the product they received, where some ordered 100 pack of the Zyrtec brand only to receive a 100 pack of generic pills.
FAQs
Q1: Does Zyrtec result in drowsiness?
Zyrtec can result in sleepiness but in rare cases. So, you shouldn’t be worried about administering it if all you are concerned about is drowsiness.
Q2: After how long does Zyrtec start working?
The medication begins to work within an hour of administering it.
Q3: Which symptoms does Zyrtec receive?
Zyrtec relieves allergy-related symptoms such as a runny nose, watery eyes, itchy nose, sneezing, and an itchy throat.
Q4: Which class of medications is Zyrtec classified in?
This type of drug is considered an antihistamine which is a drug that blocks the action of histamine or rather an allergy-causing chemical.
Q5: How long does Zyrtec last?
Zyrtec provides a 24-hour relief which means that you can expect its action to last day and night.
What is the Zyrtec dosage for dogs?
Once you have decided to administer Zyrtec to your furry friend, it is necessary that you administer the right dosage based on the type and age of the pet so that it can reap the benefits of the medication. In this case, the dosage should depend on the condition you are trying to treat as well as the size of the dog.
For instance, when treating atopic dermatitis (which is a chronic inflammatory of skin and mostly triggered by environmental allergens such as dust mites), you can administer 0.5mg/LB for every 24 hours. On the other hand, when treating allergic dermatitis (which results once you expose the pet to an allergen and diminishes when the allergen is exposed), you can administer 0.5mg/LB for every 12 hours.
Other veterinarians recommend that you administer
- : 5mg once per day to a dog weighing 0-15lbs
- : 10mg once per day to a dog weighing 16-39lbs,
- : 10mg twice per day to a dog that is over 40 lbs.
For this reason, I recommend that you consult a professional vet before administering the drug since older pets might not benefit from a higher dosage.
But what happens once my dogs takes too much of Zyrtec?
Although it is difficult to give an overdose of an antihistamine, the reason Zyrtec is considered safe for use with pets; you should not experiment on your dog by giving it an overdose of this medication.
Hence, if you give a bigger dose than that which is recommended or once you note that your pet has eaten the medicine bottle, ensure that you consult a vet so that you can get peace of mind.
On the other hand, once you administer Zyrtec-D instead of Zyrtec, rush the pet to a vet even though signs of distress are inexistent. That way, you can rest with peace of mind knowing that your pet is safe.
Should I expect any side effects once I administer Zyrtec on dogs?
Maybe, maybe not.
The reason for this answer is that; same to humans, different dogs react differently to medication where you can expect side effects for some breeds while others do not react to the drug. Hence, it is upon you to watch carefully so that you can get an idea of how your pet reacts to the drug.
Some of the common side effects related to this medication include sleepiness and urine retention. However, you should be on the lookout for side effects such as vomiting, constipation, excessive salivation, and impulsive responses.
Note that these effects shouldn’t be extreme unless you administer the drug to a pet suffering from conditions such as kidney and liver disease which in the first case you shouldn’t.
Final Verdict
All you need at the end of the day is the best for your pups. That said, therefore, ensure that you take precaution when administering Zyrtec to your pets and only do that once you get a professional recommendation from your pets’ vet. That way you do not have to worry about adverse side effects on your pet or the failure of the medication once you administer it.
You may also like: Is Dramamine safe for dogs?
LEAVE A COMMENT