Does your dog have bad allergies? Are they itchy with runny eyes and/or sneezing?
You want to know if Allegra can help so let’s get straight to the point:
Vets do prescribe Allegra, but one version is off limits to pets. Allegra-D contains pseudoephedrine which can easily harm your dog.
The regular over-the-counter formula is not toxic at low doses.
Dogs Can Take Allegra (with vet approval)
Never use a leftover supply!
Though this 2nd generation antihistamine reduces histamine effects in animals, it’s important to avoid putting your dog at risk.
A Vet’s View Regarding Allegra
We asked for Sara Redding Ochoa’s (DVM) input and here is what she told us…
“Allegra can help dogs with allergies. It can be given once a day and often has the same effect as Benadryl (which really needs to be given 3 times daily).
Allegra is typically for mild allergies, whereas more severe allergies may require Apoquel.”
Results of an Excellent Study
Fexofenadine was administered to 15 dogs with atopic dermatitis. The Slovenian researchers gave an amount on average that was 7.5 times the human recommended dose (or approximately 36mg per pound of each dog’s body weight).
Observed side effects were minimal and included “eye and nasal discharge, loss of appetite
and skin rash.”
Overall the treatment was successful.
In fact, it was concluded that Fexofenadine was, “effective in reducing the severity of pruritus and the presence of skin lesions in dogs with atopic dermatitis.”
This study, entitled The Efficacy of Antihistamine Fexofenadine Versus Methylprednisolone in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis In Dogs, is worth reading for additional information.
Confirm Correct Treatment
This drug (Fexofenadine or Fexofenadina) must be given for the right reasons and at the prescribed dose.
Allegra can block the mechanisms that trigger your dog’s allergies, but go about it responsibly.
Get a proper diagnosis!
What’s actually causing the underlying allergy should be determined. Allegra may not be the best treatment for your dog’s condition.
How to Address Allergies
Stubborn allergies often originate from the environment, food as well as various other external factors. Yet, it can be very difficult to pin down the exact problem.
Again, a thorough check-up will identify not only what the dog is allergic to but also optimal treatment options.
Only after an assessment of the situation would a good veterinarian prescribe an antihistamine (such as Allegra, Benadryl or even Claritin).
Causes And Symptoms
Typical allergen triggers include:
- Dander
- Mold spores
- Dust
- Feathers
- Cigarette smoke
- Food ingredients
- Harmful prescription drugs
Allergy-prone dogs can be affected in many different ways. Reactions can surface as red/itchy skin, watery eyes, increased scratching, sneezing, vomiting, diarrhea and constant licking.
2 Serious Side Effects
Although Allegra tends to have relatively few downsides compared to other antihistamines, coughing and/or vomiting could occur (thankfully rare) and would be concerning.
Stop use immediately and contact your vet if your dog experiences those two symptoms.
FYI: Mild stomachache and dizziness are common side effects besides those documented in the above-mentioned study.
Make Some Key Changes
Do an evaluation of your home before quickly reaching for Allegra.
If need be, clean the house. Sweep and mop the floors as well as vacuum the rugs and furniture.
Pet dander can turn up everywhere! Eliminating it, as best you can, may actually cure your dog’s allergies (something Allegra cannot do).
Effective Home Remedies
Does your dog suffer from skin irritations that manifest in the form of itching and scratching?
You can mix baking soda in water and pour it on the itchy parts.
Another approach is to bathe your buddy in oatmeal that’s been dissolved in cool water for about ten minutes. It often works!
The Bottom Line
Allegra also works on dogs, but the D version is super dangerous!
Really the ultimate source(s) ie. allergens should be pinpointed and eliminated to truly handle pesky allergies. Quite often a vet’s assistance is needed.
Going it alone, with any type of OTC Allegra, is a bit risky for the average dog.
Get your furry friend checked out! Otherwise, stick to safer remedies.
I have a 2 year old dog with bad allergies. He’s constantly scratching and bites both his tail and paws. He bites his tail until it bleeds.
A vet prescribed Apoquel, but it’s gotten more expensive. I’ve also tried apple cider vinegar for the itching but it doesn’t work. No luck with Benadryl either. Oatmeal baths only relive it for a while.
I feel so bad for him. He’s not active when he gets these allergies. He doesn’t eat or drink enough. It’s sad. I need to try something else. I’m hoping Allegra will work. I just started giving it to him today. I’m splitting a 180 mg pill in half. Wish us luck!
I have a Bichon. He’s all white and has the tear stains. I have tried everything. Many other Bichon owners avoid corn in their food and buy bottled water. I’ve changed his food accordingly and also bought a filter for my tap water. Yet he still has those tear stains.
I clean them with wipes but they drain within 2 hours, then more tear stains. I read that Clear Eyes is loaded with antibiotics which isn’t good. I would love to clear this up. Now I’m trying a small does of Allegra. Does anyone have another idea?
Marlo’s tear stains, without any other problems, are a result of dogs like yours and mine (Japanese Chin) having eyes that bulge out. They must tear all the time to keep their eyes wet to keep them clean and free of infection and disease. While it is possible that your dog has allergies, clearing them up will not stop the tear stains.
Heaven forbid you find something that stops your dog from tearing. Dogs with dry eyes have the same issues humans with dry eyes have. They are extremely injury and infection prone without all that tearing. It could blind the dog.
A typical Bichon show dog will have to live with constant bleach and peroxide treatments around their eyes. Bottom line is part of having a Bichon is having to accept that you’ll likely have a dog that has tear stains, which are harmless by themselves.
My vet gave me this info:
Zyrtec – 5mg once daily @ approx 30 lb
Claritin – 5 mg once daily @ approx 30 lb
Benadryl – 25mg tab 1.5 tab twice daily @ 30 lb
Omega 3’s (fish oil) – 600mg EPA/DHA total daily
Thank You! The expensive scripts from our vet caused too many side effects. She never suggested human OTC drugs for him.
Hi Maggie. Colleen has provided a very nice bit of information relative to dosing of specific OTC drugs. However, the information does not specifically provide dosing on a per pound of body weight basis.
From my own experience with dogs, it’s critical to understand that dogs metabolize drugs very differently than humans. As an example, last year my dog was prescribed a dose of 25mg of Atarax three times a day. The human dose is usually 10mg.
Consistently, throughout the posts, you will note that many of us with dogs have done well with the dose of 180mg. You will find reports of doses people have used with smaller dogs. Someone made a suggestion of using the children’s preparation.
If your dog is small, perhaps starting with the children’s dose would suffice. You can always increase the dosage gradually.
What’s the dosage for Allegra for a 65 pound dog?
What are the dosage levels for small, medium and large dogs by weight? Our dog is 8 pounds.
Your experience confirms what so many of us have found with using Allegra. Certainly it works better than all the meds prescribed by vets for the problems described. Thanks for the affirmation.
Many years ago I had a Cocker Spaniel that had severe allergies. We tried everything, changing her food, steroids and childrens’ Benadryl per the recommendations of our vet. The Benadryl worked better but not great. I had to give it to her several times a day which never went well.
She struggled with me every time. She was not good at taking the pill and hiding it in peanut butter never worked, she was always suspicious of what I was giving her.
That said, we had a human prescription for Allegra. I was desperate and split the pill in half to give her (the dog weighed approximately 30 pounds). She was always scratching at her ears and toes and tummy, licking till they were red. I basically thought to myself, this is ether going to help her or kill her but either way she will be better off. Luckily it helped her, dramatically.
The itching and scratching and licking stopped. Her ears became fine and her skin cleared right up. An added bonus was I only had to fight with her once a day to take a pill and if I missed a day it didn’t seem to wear off right away. She has since passed away, but it worked well for her when she was with us.
It didn’t have any adverse effects, and I would say that they are able to metabolize it pretty well from her experience. Made her existence so much better. She was always crying and whimpering as she scratched at her ears, otherwise without it, and I felt so sorry for her.
I found that giving a small amount of peanut butter is a very helpful way to give a dog a pill. The first time that I went to give my Lab a pill, he gave me a deep growl. So knowing that his treats are made of peanut butter, I got a spoon and put some on it with the pill. That was several years ago and I’ve been doing it ever since. This has made our life easier.
My dog rejects peanut butter unless it is on something. I have gotten good at hiding pills in various things. Cheese or ham is his favorite. I started using the children’s chewable tabs, often breaking them in half as they can be large. This way they don’t get a nasty taste if they bite the pill itself. It’s also harder for him to spit out. The ones that dissolve quickly are the best.
I use just a dab of peanut butter on a dog biscuit. Just enough to hold the pill on and down it goes.
I have 4 dogs and have found that by keeping the peanut butter in the fridge it makes it stiffer. This not only holds the pill better, but makes it easier and less messy. The girls all love their chilled peanut butter treat!
I have been reading up on Colostrum (from a cow) and it seems that animals have reacted very well to it, it helps alleviate allergies. Has anyone tried this before? Thanks
Hi everyone. I’m reading up on effective treatments for my dog’s allergies. He’s been on steroids so many times, and I hate to keep him on them. I’m at the end of a 3-month prescription-only diet. It has helped, but I’m realizing that environmental allergens still trigger his discomfort.
It makes me so sad that he doesn’t play and isn’t happy. I’ve tried Benadryl to no avail. I’m going to try 60mg per day of Allegra. I like what I’m seeing you all say about the results. Wish me luck!
My vet told me I could use Chlor-Tripolon for dog allergies as well. My German Shepherd scratches a lot and rubs her eyes; hoping the Chlor-Tripolon helps.
I did an internet search of the drug you identified, and discovered that the drug is also referred to as Chlorpheniramine and subsequently learned that it is also called Chlor-Trimeton (an over-the-counter antihistamine).
As a nurse I can tell you this is an older antihistamine and may be considered a first generation drug. I cannot attest to the “better” effectiveness of Chlor-Trimeton vs. Allegra. However, if you read through some of the other comments you will see that others including myself, have tried a plethora of prescription drugs but seem to have found success with Allegra.
Two things to bear in mind 1.) while animals may be treated with human medications, the drugs may not have the same effect, and the doses administered may be quite different than what is ordered for humans. 2.) Animal allergies present quite differently than in humans. In addition to scratching and biting, paw licking is very common even to the point of dogs developing lick granulomas.
If the drug your vet has prescribed seems to not work, you know from this site that others have used many antihistamines but have found that the Allegra does work. Good luck! I know how difficult it is to watch your pet suffer with allergies.
My Labrador has been constantly dealing with allergies and leaks his paws. We have tried Benadryl but it makes him drowsy. I was thinking of switching to Allegra which comes in 180mg tablets since I take it myself. Can you recommend the right dose for his weight? He is 76 pounds.
Thank you for the answer. Is there a way to know the correct dosage to give a dog? My dog is 24 pounds and I have the 10mg Allegra tablets.