Hay fever reduction for Dogs in Melbourne - anti-histamine dosage levels
If you walk your dogs in Melbourne in 2017 spring, you the owner and your dog might have some effects of hay-fever. In this article we look at common over-the-counter 'human' grade anti -histamines you can use with dogs, and their benefits and side effects.Hayfever effects can come on later in life with humans, and so with dogs.
Signs are often:
- sneezing,
- itching,
- red skin and eyes,
- eye discharge etc.
Note itching and skin allergy like symptoms can be the result of organ or gland issues, so its always advisable to see a vet to confirm the cause.
OMEGA 3
One of the glamour oils of the dog industry, and vital for many functions within a dogs body. However if you get the dosage and ratio right (to omega 6 amounts) it can considerably reduce inflammation issues and skin allergies on dogs (around 50%) have very positive reduction in allergy effects.
My dog used to lick all his feet so much this champagne coloured dog looked like he was permanently wearing brown boots. After about 4 months of daily doses of Omega 3 (and omega 6) much of his licking (ie itching) subsided. This is also great news for it working on other hidden areas of his body. However Omega 3 can only go so far, and sometimes the addition of an anti histamine can make a huge difference.
The value of anti histamines in an allergic dog
I heard the rumour before and didn't fully get the significance of it, then on a visit to a vet recently they gave me a badly photocopied sheet of dosage levels of some common anti histamines you can use for humans.The reason we use anti histamines of course is to counter the histamines created inside of our bodies as an over-reaction to an irritant. Reduce the histamine, reduce the inflammation, reduce the itching, problem virtually solved.
However like Omega 3, it doesn't prevent or even minimise allergy effects in all dogs - nor does it do it in all humans.
The chart doing the rounds (abbreviated below) is a list of first generation and second generation anti histamines and the dosage levels, as well as potential complications.
In this article I will deal mostly with the second generation (newest) antihistamines that are believed to have the most positive effect and least side effects. I will also go through the side effects and precautions, though you should always consult a vet.
The brilliant thing for many of these is that there is very little chance of overdoses of the generation two drugs. The thing is that increasing the dosage more will just waste money and have the potential of increasing any of the negative side effects, not increase the efficacy substantially, so its wise to stick to the dosage levels.
| SECOND GENERATION ANTIHISTAMINE |
||||
| Name |
Typ human tablet size |
DOG DOSE |
Side Effects |
Notes |
| fexofenadine (Telfast ) |
60mg capsules, 120 & 180mg tablets |
5-10mg/kg sid-bid (ie cat 60mg sid) |
* Possible ventricular arrhythmias in people |
# Do not use with ketoconazole or macrolide anitbiotics |
| loratadine (Claratyne ) |
10mg tablets |
5-20mg/animal sid (ie cat 5mg) |
||
| cetirizine (Zyrtec ) |
10mg tablets, 1mg/ml & 10mg/ml oral solution |
5-20mg/animal sid (ie cat 5mg) |
Inhibits eosinophils, neutrophils, basophils |
Not metabolised by liver |
How to choose the right anti-histamine for your dog or cat in Australia
Dog skin allergies connected to the environment cause a dog skin to be inflamed and itchy, but your dog like the owner will be more susceptible to some types of grasses or pollens than other ones.This means that its a trial and error test of which allergy medication works best with your specific dog.
From the above table though you might be interested in two main things before trying:
- the side effects and notes
- The price
Anti histamines for dogs and their side effect
1 TelfastPossible ventricular arrhythmias in people. This has not been substantially found in dogs.
Do not use with ketoconazole or macrolide anitbiotics
ketoconazole = is a synthetic imidazole antifungal drug used primarily to treat fungal infections.
macrolide are used as immunosuppressants or immunomodulators
So if your dog is not being actively treated using these drugs for these issues, then Telfast is fine to trial.
2 Zyrtec
Inhibits eosinophils, neutrophils, basophils these are all a specific types of white blood cell
Not metabolised by liver This is a major issue if your dog has a diagnosed or undiagnosed Liver Or Kidney Problems, because it can cause urine retention and worsen either situation.
People choose zyrtec for their dogs because rarely causes sedation (hence its replacement for Benadryl). Only use zyrtec where cetirizine is the only active ingredient as some formulations use pseudoepehedrine which is dangerous for dogs. NEVER give “Zyrtec-D” to your dog.
3 Claratyne (loratadine)
Do not give if your dog has a liver disease or disfunction.
Mixing clartyne with erythromycin, ketoconazole, and cimetidine can produce drowsiness.
Never give if it contains pseudoephedrine
Warnings below the dosage table:
"Do not combine 2nd generation (except Zyrtec) with ketaconazole, or other azole antifunguls, macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin, lincomycin, clindamycin) especially #Telfast."
one of the most common anti bacterial and anti fungal shampoos in australia is maleseb by Bayer. Active Ingredients: 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate, 2% Miconazole Nitrate.
BE AWARE THAT Miconazole is used to treat skin infections such as athlete's foot, jock itch, ringworm, and other fungal skin infections (candidiasis). Miconazole is an azole antifungal
Approximate cost dog anti histamines 2017
- Zyrtec 10 x 10 mg tablets $11
- Claratyne 10 x 10 mg tablets $11
- Telfast 180mg 30 Tablets = $18
Consider the dosage and cost required for a 20 Kg dog
Telfast dosage = 5-10mg/kg. So at the maximum rate of 10 mg per Kg, you would give your dog 10 x 20 mg = 200 mg close to the 180 mg whole tablets they sell. One tablet = $18 / 30 = 60 cents
Claratyne = 5-20mg per animal. Assuming the mid range, a 10 mg tablet cost $1.10
Zyrtec = 5-20mg/animal. Assuming the mid range, a 10 mg tablet cost $1.10
CONCLUSION
Anti histamines might or might not work with your dog. If they work they will reduce much suffering !
The good news is that if you take care of the side effects and what drugs not to combine them with they are relatively safe for most dogs (always consult a vet).
AND if one antihistamine does not work you can always "trial two (or more) in combination if single
antihistamine alone is insufficient – choose from different classes."
Consult your vet !
++
REFERENCE
H1 ANTIHISTAMINES - Anti hitamine sheet notes
1st GENERATION: more sedation, anticholinergic effects, shorter duration action, cheaper
2nd GENERATION: less sedation, more potent, anti-inflammatory, longer acting, expensive
SIDE EFFECTS: H1 antihistamines generally very safe for long term use. Sedation (often decreasing after 2-3 days) most common side effect, also see CNS excitation and GIT
effects (anorexia, vomiting, diarrhoea)
GENERAL PRECAUTIONS: Metabolised mainly in liver (except Zyrtec_) – use with care & decrease dose with hepatic disease. Increase risk of cardiac arrhythmias – use with care with cardiovascular disease (especially *Telfast_ and *Hismanal_).
Do not combine 2nd generation (except Zyrtec_) with ketaconazole, or other azole antifunguls, macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin, lincomycin, clindamycin) especially #Telfast.
Do not use 1st generation if glaucoma, cardiovascular disease or urinary retention problems due to anticholinergic effects.
COMBINATION THERAPY: Beneficial effects of individual antihistamines unpredictable – trial singly from different classes – can trial two (or more) in combination if single
antihistamine alone is insufficient – choose from different classes.
.
1st GENERATION: more sedation, anticholinergic effects, shorter duration action, cheaper
2nd GENERATION: less sedation, more potent, anti-inflammatory, longer acting, expensive
SIDE EFFECTS: H1 antihistamines generally very safe for long term use. Sedation (often decreasing after 2-3 days) most common side effect, also see CNS excitation and GIT
effects (anorexia, vomiting, diarrhoea)
GENERAL PRECAUTIONS: Metabolised mainly in liver (except Zyrtec_) – use with care & decrease dose with hepatic disease. Increase risk of cardiac arrhythmias – use with care with cardiovascular disease (especially *Telfast_ and *Hismanal_).
Do not combine 2nd generation (except Zyrtec_) with ketaconazole, or other azole antifunguls, macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin, lincomycin, clindamycin) especially #Telfast.
Do not use 1st generation if glaucoma, cardiovascular disease or urinary retention problems due to anticholinergic effects.
COMBINATION THERAPY: Beneficial effects of individual antihistamines unpredictable – trial singly from different classes – can trial two (or more) in combination if single
antihistamine alone is insufficient – choose from different classes.
.
