For many dog owners, keeping their dogs healthy is a priority.
As a dog owner, the task of keeping your dog healthy may get tricky during the pollen season.
Your dog is likely to suffer from allergic reactions during that season.
It’s generally almost impossible to protect your dog from allergens in the environment like smoke, pollen, or dander.
When you can’t protect your dog from environmental allergens, you can do a lot to ensure your dog’s safety.
You can always consult your vet on such matters.
Doing so will help you know how to treat symptoms of allergic reactions in your dog, since there’s only so much you can do to prevent them.
What is Claritin, and How Does It Work?
One of the most common substances recommended by vets is Claritin.
It’s a type of medication designed to treat allergy symptoms.
One important thing to note is that a vet’s input on the use of Claritin will do some good.
It’s important to understand that the medication is an antihistamine.
Its application helps clear allergic reactions in humans and dogs.
Its preference is since it doesn’t cause drowsiness, unlike previous versions.
It blocks the histamines in the body.
This medication is one of many substances available that can help you manage your dog’s allergic reactions.
You can get it in solid or liquid form.
If you want to stock up on it, you don’t require a prescription, and you can get it over the counter.
Even though getting it over the counter is an option, your vet gives you directions on administering it.
Consulting your vet on how you should administer the drug to your dog lets you know if you can use it along with other medication.
The last thing you want is to harm your dog, so take the time to take the proper steps.
How to Tell If Your Dog Needs a Dose of Claritin
Allergic reactions come from the body’s attempt to fight off allergies.
The body releases histamines, which should take action against allergens.
Histamines cause symptoms like swelling and itchiness to occur.
It is essential to acknowledge that allergic reactions can be either mild or life-threatening.
There are a few symptoms you can look out for to know when your dog has an allergic reaction.
If your dog has trouble breathing or has swelling in the mouth or throat, these are clear indications of an allergic reaction.
How Is Claritin Used?
Your dog’s body weight and age determine the dosage of Claritin you can give your dog.
The general rule of thumb dictates 0.2 milligrams of medicine for every pound.
You can feed your dog first or not before giving it Claritin.
Before choosing to give Claritin to your dog, it is essential to know that every tablet contains ten milligrams of antihistamine.
The vet structures a schedule of how you should take medicine.
Avail all information about how your dog reacts to medication to the vet.
Ensure that you administer the total dosage as advised by the vet.
Getting it in the right amounts is also essential.
Also, since there are different versions of Claritin, ensure that you stick to the recommended one.
Use all means necessary, including bribing your dog with delicious snacks to ensure they take them.
Side Effects of Claritin That You Can Expect
Medications often have side effects ranging from mild to severe.
Claritin is one of the most lightweight antihistamines available for dogs.
The side effects that occur as a result of using it are pretty mild.
It’s not a guarantee that your dog will experience side effects such as:
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Urine retention
- Stomach Problems
- Seizures
If you take you to the vets once you notice these effects, the vet might also identify increased heart rate in your dog.
Your doctor can take the steps of adjusting the dosage for your dog on noticing some of the symptoms.
Also, the vets might prescribe other medications to ease the side effects.
Some medications may react with this antihistamine, such as antibiotics and anti-fungals.
To prevent this, you can tell your vet about other medications that your dog is on.
You may also want to practice caution when applying it if your dog has underlying conditions.
If your dog is lactating, ensure that you get directions from your vet on administering Claritin.
Different Triggers of Allergies in Dogs
Getting to know what caused the allergy before administering Claritin is a vital step.
Pollen and smoke as allergens can be classified further.
Identifying allergens will help you learn more to prevent your dog from coming into contact with them.
Some triggers are hard to tackle, and those are the kind that you try to take care of using an antihistamine.
For the preventable ones, you can try to isolate your dog from them.
Here are some common triggers that are best to know about them.
- Food allergies: Dogs can eat almost anything. However, there are some dog meals like beef, chicken, and fish that can lead to allergic reactions in your dog. You can tell if your dog is allergic to these foods if it has diarrhea or vomiting.
- Environmental Triggers: Environmental factors like pollen and mold can trigger allergic reactions in your dog. This category of triggers is primarily seasonal. If there is no way of escaping them, you should always have your Claritin ready.
- Parasites: Parasites like ticks and fleas have saliva that can trigger allergic reactions in canines. Getting rid of them permanently is the best way to go.
Look out for the common indicators of allergic reactions in dogs to know how to proceed.
In an instance of elevated symptoms like anaphylaxis, it is better to rush your dog to the vet’s office.
Such instances are emergencies that require some level of urgency.
Conclusion
The most crucial point to remember is that the vet should always be your first stop before administering Claritin.
After the vet gives input, ensure that you follow all the instructions.
It will help you, and your vet knows what to adjust in case of problems.
Following the vet’s instructions ensures that your dog’s health improves as expected as well.
Also, there are different varieties of Claritin. Claritin D is a variety that has a toxic substance for dogs.
It’s a variety meant exclusively for humans.
Also, you are likely to use Claritin in its tablet form.
Ensure that you administer it without crushing it.
Keep in mind that Claritin only manages the symptoms.
If you can get rid of triggers for your dog’s allergies, it is a better alternative to medicine.