When accidentally ingested by dogs and cats, antihistamine poisoning can result in clinical signs of severe agitation, lethargy, sedation, aggression, abnormal heart rate, abnormal blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, inappetance, seizures, respiratory depression, and even death.
Frequently asked questions about antihistamines for dogs
The typical dosage for Benadryl in dogs is 2-4 mg/kg of body weight every 8-12 hours. Higher doses greater than 5 mg/kg can have toxic side effects such as seizures, respiratory depression and cardiovascular effects.
Benadryl can be dangerous for your dog if you give too much. An overdose of Benadryl can cause seizures and other side effects. The safest way to give Benadryl is to give it according to the weight of your dog. AKC says the dose for Benadryl is 2 to 4 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, two to three times per day.
If your pet has been exposed to any type of antihistamine or toxic substance, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately.
Treatment of Antihistamines Poisoning in Dogs
The induction of vomiting may be conducted in order to help rid the dog of the substance, depending on the timing of the ingestion. Once emesis has occurred, the veterinarian may give the dog activated charcoal to aid in the absorption of any residual toxic substances.
Antihistamines are usually safe but can make some dogs drowsy and others hyperactive. OTC antihistamine preparations may contain other ingredients such as decongestants that are not safe for dogs. Read the label carefully to ensure that the product only contains antihistamine.
Symptoms of histamine toxicity (Scombroid poisoning) typically begin within 5 to 30 minutes after eating spoiled fish, although there are cases when symptoms are delayed for as long as two hours. Symptoms typically last a few hours or a day. In rare cases, symptoms can persist for a few days.
Cetirizine (Zyrtec) ¼ - ½ mg per pound (one 10mg tab per 30-40 lbs) twice daily. Loratadine (Claritin): ¼ mg per pound (half of a 10mg tablet per 20 lbs) once daily.
It is recommended to give your dog 0.5mg per pound of body weight. You can safely give Zyrtec to your dog up to 20 mg per day.
The dose is 5–20 mg/dog once daily. cetirizine (Zyrtec®) – also second gen. It is available as 10 mg tablets and either 1 mg/ml or 10 mg/ml oral solution. The dosage is 5–20 mg/dog once daily.
Benadryl is safe to give your dog for allergies, anxiety, motion sickness, and vaccine side effects. Though a typical Benadryl pill is 25 mg, you should only give your dog 0.9-1.8 mg per pound of weight. Make sure that the Benadryl you're giving your dog only contains diphenhydramine.
If your dog is prescribed antihistamines you will need to try them for 2-3 weeks to see if it helps. If it doesn't, you'll need to stop giving it to your dog and try another until you find one that works, following the advice of your vet.
DO NOT USE ALLEGRA D IN PETS. Fexofenadine is also available an oral suspension that contains xylitol (NOTE: Xylitol may be toxic in dogs). The human oral suspension is not recommended for use in pets.
Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook recommends giving a standard dosage of 25 milligrams for a 25-pound dog two to three times per day. As a general rule of thumb, use 1 milligram per pound of your dog's body weight. For example, a 50-pound dog would be given two 25 milligram tablets.
Anti histamines for dogs and their side effect
ketoconazole = is a synthetic imidazole antifungal drug used primarily to treat fungal infections. So if your dog is not being actively treated using these drugs for these issues, then Telfast is fine to trial.
Dosing Information of Cetirizine for Dogs and Cats
Cetirizine is dosed in dogs at 0.5 mg per pound (1 mg/kg) orally once to twice daily.
It can be given either every 24 hours for atopic dermatitis, or every 12 hours for allergy symptoms. Here's the recommended Zyrtec dosage for dogs based on their weight: Less than 10 pounds: 2.5 milligrams (half of a 5-milligram pill or a quarter of a 10-milligram pill) 10–50 pounds: One 10-milligram tablet.
Antihistamines: Oral medications such as Curist Allergy Relief (levocetirizine), fexofenadine (brand Allegra), and cetirizine (brand Zyrtec) are great options that help treat allergy symptoms from pets, pollen or ragweed.
Taking more than the usual dose is unlikely to harm you or your child. If you take an extra dose, you might get some of the common side effects. If this happens or you're concerned, contact your doctor.
Zyrtec, or cetirizine, is generally regarded as a safe medication for most dogs. In healthy dogs with no underlying medical conditions, and when given at appropriate doses, significant side effects are rare.
Adults and children 6 years and over:
One 10 mg tablet once daily; do not take more than one 10 mg tablet in 24 hours. A 5 mg product may be appropriate for less severe symptoms.
Drinking plenty of water every day is essential for all bodily functions, including the regulation of histamine levels. Water does aid in the removal of histamines from the body as more that 95% of excess histamines are removed from the body through the urine.
Effectively healing a leaky gut to improve histamine intolerance often requires removing food sensitivities, following a wholesome diet, reducing stress, and supplementing when necessary. Part of the gut health regimen for this condition may include probiotics for histamine intolerance.