The recommended dose for Claritin is 0.2 milligrams per pound of body weight every 12-24 hours. This is only a general recommendation, and as with all medication, you should consult with your veterinarian and have them give you the appropriate dose for your individual dog.
It must not replace your veterinarian's advice for your individual pet. Vets generally prescribe Claritin for dogs in a dosage 0.2 milligrams per pound of body weight. This can translate as giving a small dog around 5 milligrams of Claritin every day, or 10 milligrams for a larger dog.
Claritin® can be used but is not typically recommended by veterinarians as some forms of Claritin® contain decongestants such as pseudoephedrine which is very toxic to dogs.
Antihistamines. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl®), cetirizine (Zyrtec®), and loratadine (Claritin®) are commonly used antihistamines that relieve allergy symptoms or counteract allergic reactions. Antihistamines are usually safe but can make some dogs drowsy and others hyperactive.
The dose is 5–10 mg/kg once or twice daily (don't use if your dog is on ketoconazole or a macrolide antibiotic) loratadine (Claratyne®) – also second gen. It is available as 10 mg tablets. The dose is 5–20 mg/dog once daily.
Claritin-D should never be administered to your dog as it contains pseudoephedrine which is lethal to dogs.
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.
In dogs, Claritin is suitable for treating skin allergies, inflammations and inflammatory reactions (to other allergens or bites). It's also used to treat mast cell tumours, which cause similar symptoms to an allergy. Claritin can prevent or reduce symptoms like: Itchy skin.
Claritin is used to treat symptoms like runny noses and hives in humans, but it is primarily used to address itchy skin in dogs. It is not, however, appropriate for emergency use, such as during a life-threatening allergic reaction.
ANTI-histamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl®), cetirizine (Zyrtec®), and hydroxyzine, are commonly taken by humans to treat allergy symptoms and can be used for dogs as well.
“Zyrtec is found to be more potent, or stronger, in laboratory studies, compared with Claritin,” says Dr. Kung. “It also reaches a higher concentration in the skin, which can be more helpful for skin-related allergies. However, Zyrtec has a greater chance of making you sleepy while taking it.”
Claritin Dosage for Dogs and Cats
Loratadine is dosed in dogs at 0.1 mg per pound to 0.55 mg per pound of body weight (0.25 to 1.1 mg/kg) once daily or divided twice daily. Another way that loratadine is dosed in dogs is by the total dose.
You can safely give Zyrtec to your dog up to 20 mg per day.
Quercetin is a bioflavonoid that provides natural allergy relief for dogs reducing symptoms like itching, scratching, licking and chewing. Many veterinarians suggest quercetin because it is a safe, natural antihistamine for dogs. In fact, quercetin is often referred to as "Nature's Benadryl".
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.
Other safe antihistamines for dogs include Claritin (loratadine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine). They produce less sedation than Benadryl does but could still make your dog drowsy. Warning: Make sure your OTC allergy medicine only contains antihistamines.
The human antihistamine Claritin (loratadine) is generally safe for dogs and can provide allergy relief. But you should always consult with your veterinarian before giving your dog any human medications.
Benadryl is a great medication for use in dogs with mild-to-moderate allergies. Seasonal allergies, food allergies, environmental allergies, and allergic reactions to snake and insect bites all respond to Benadryl in most cases.
Toxicity to pets
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.
However, it can have lethal consequences if given to a dog. It overstimulates their central nervous system and heart, causing canine seizures, heart failure, and potentially death.
And when buying loratadine, make sure the product you buy only contains loratadine, because some products combine loratadine with a decongestant (such as Claritin-D) which can cause side effects in dogs such as a rapid heart rate and pulse and anxiety in a dog and possibly worsen the allergic condition you are trying ...
Rarely, they can cause acute self-limited liver injury. One study has reported a more serious long-term effect, a 3.5-fold increase in the risk of gliomas, a common type of brain tumor in patients with long-term antihistamine use for allergic conditions.