How Much Allegra Can I Give My Dog
Has your pooch been prescribed Allegra for dogs?
Is this the commencement time you've heard of it, and you're wondering how it works and what side effects it may accept?
Peradventure your friend bought it over the counter to requite to their dog and you're wondering "can I give Allegra to my canis familiaris?"
All the answers to these questions and more tin be found right hither in our detailed guide to Allegra for dog allergies.
What is Allegra for Dogs?
If y'all have allergies yourself, yous may already have seen Allegra tablets and gel caps on the shelf at the drugstore, and you lot may have even tried them.
Allegra for dogs is exactly the same product (but only in tablet and gel caps—this is important and we'll come to why subsequently).
What is Allegra for Dogs Used For?
Allegra can convalesce the symptoms of hay fever in dogs, such as a runny nose and eyes, and an itchy coat.
Allegra can also assistance and reduce the itching acquired by atopic dermatitis, an excessive allergic reaction to irritants including flea bites, foods, and ecology allergens.
Severe atopic dermatitis frequently leads to "hotspots" on your dog'southward skin.
Treating itchy dogs with Allegra tin can relieve their discomfort and reduce the size of hotspots.
How Does Allegra Work?
Allegra products are all based on the chemical compound fexofenadine, a type of antihistamine.
Antihistamines piece of work past disrupting the body'due south immune response—blocking the chemical pathways in our body that cause itching and inflammation.
Dog allergies occur when their trunk launches an excessive immune response confronting something harmless such as pollen.
By dampening these over-the-meridian immune responses, Allegra can control symptoms like inflammation, itching, and runny optics and nose.
Where Does Allegra Come From?
Allegra was developed by the pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis as a "second generation" antihistamine—antihistamines that tin't cross the blood-brain barrier and therefore, are less likely to crusade drowsiness.
Allegra was approved by the FDA for use in humans in the U.s.a. in 2000.
The FDA has not approved Allegra specifically for use in dogs, simply that hasn't stopped vets trialing it and prescribing information technology, when appropriate.
In fact, Allegra for canis familiaris allergies has been a well-established treatment for over x years now.
Tin Dogs Take Allegra?
So, what evidence exercise we have that using of Allegra for dog allergies is suitable and condom?
The number of clinical trials of Allegra for dog allergies is still small, and the results are a little underwhelming.
In 2009, a joint study carried out past Sanofi-Aventis and the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia found that Allegra was comparable to the more established methylprednisolone (Medrol and Depo-Medrol).
Like methylprednisolone, Allegra was found to reduce itching and peel lesions in dogs with atopic dermatitis, yet, it took slightly longer to accomplish the same results.
More than recently, a team at Rowan University in New Bailiwick of jersey attempted to model exactly how fexofenadine—the active ingredient in Allegra—works on a dog's immune organisation.
Fexofenadine (Allegra) works in roughly the aforementioned way on dogs as it does on the human immune response, with some subtle differences.
There is however further scope to refine Allegra for dogs in the future.
Is Allegra Suitable for My Canis familiaris?
Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of guidance on giving Allegra to your dog.
Yet, 1 thing the small pool of studies does concur on is that dogs react to antihistamines in varied and unpredictable ways.
Information technology is estimated that upward to 10% of the domestic dog population suffers from atopic dermatitis at some betoken in their doggie life.
At best, only around 30% of domestic dog owners that gave antihistamines to their dog for dermatitis were satisfied with the results.
Therefore, finding the right antihistamine for your dog can be a matter of trial and error.
Allegra might be worth trying if your domestic dog has already been prescribed more than ordinarily used allergy medicines, and they accept failed.
Is Allegra safe for dogs?
As you may take gathered, Allegra was not originally adult for use in dogs, and at that place is no canine equivalent of the production.
You lot tin can still give your dog Allegra for allergies but it'southward all-time to do so under the guidance of your dog'southward vet.
Some forms of Allegra take been established as safe for dogs, merely only in tablet and gel cap grade.
Allegra also comes as Allegra-D, containing a decongestant, and Children's Allegra. Just neither of these products are suitable for your dog.
Allegra-D contains pseudoephedrine and Children'due south Allegra contains the sweetener xylitol, both toxic to dogs.
Allegra for dogs – side effects
Very little research has been done on the side effects of Allegra for dogs.
Some dog owners reported their dogs had increased discharge from the eyes and nose while taking fexofenadine (the active ingredient in Allegra).
Other dogs experienced a loss of appetite and skin rash.
The side effects in humans include headaches, pharynx irritation, viral infections, nausea, indigestion, drowsiness, and fatigue.
Giving your dog Allegra for allergies could likewise lead to some of these side effects, although the biology of dogs and humans are quite different.
Moreover, nosotros know Allegra doesn't work exactly the same way in dogs as it does in humans so there could nevertheless be some unknown side effects of Allegra for dogs.
How Can You Give Allegra to Your Dog Safely?
Allergies can be triggered by a myriad of causes so always consult your dog's vet earlier giving Allegra to your dog.
Other ailments with similar symptoms tin can hands be mistaken for allergies.
By taking your dog to a vet, you lot tin can be certain they're getting the correct diagnosis and will receive the treatment most likely to work.
Never exceed the Allegra dose prescribed by your dog'southward vet.
If your dog shows whatever side furnishings, or doesn't bear witness any improvement within a couple of days, stop giving Allegra to your dog and call the vet over again.
When is Allegra Not Safe For Dogs?
Practice non give Allegra to meaning or nursing dogs.
Do not give Allegra to puppies under ane-year-onetime without advice and monitoring from their vet.
Some other medicines, including antacids and some antibiotics and antifungal treatments, can interact with Allegra. which is another reason it's extremely important to consult with your vet before giving information technology to your domestic dog.
Allegra dosage for dogs
Because in that location is no veterinary conception of Allegra, there is no handy Allegra for dogs dosage nautical chart from the manufacturer.
Your vet will determine the correct dosage of Allegra for your domestic dog. Their cess will be based on their age, weight, and other medicines they may already exist taking.
Your vet may recommend cutting Allegra tablets in half to get the right dose.
You can usually requite your canis familiaris Allegra once a 24-hour interval. Still your vet can decide what is the best for your domestic dog.
Where can I buy Allegra for dogs?
Allegra is an over-the-counter remedy you tin buy at your local drugstore.
However, we strongly advise against giving Allegra to your domestic dog without your vet'south approval!
There are generic forms of fexofenadine your vet might have in stock. They will exist able to prescribe those, which are often cheaper!
Plus, generic fexofenadine may exist more practical in terms of measuring your dog's right dose. Allegra tablets contain 180 mg of fexofenadine, whereas generic fexofenadine tablets come in 30 mg and threescore mg.
Should I Give My Canis familiaris Allegra for Allergies?
If your canis familiaris suffers during the allergy season, Allegra may provide the relief they need.
Withal, the agile ingredient in Allegra (fexofenadine) is not too established or tested every bit some other domestic dog allergy therapies.
In maxim that, vets consider Allegra a safe alternative for dogs when other treatments have failed.
Allergies are miserable for humans and dogs akin. If your domestic dog has allergies, just inquire your vet to help salvage your dog's symptoms.
But never give your dog Allegra without consulting your vet kickoff. Likewise, only give your canis familiaris the Allegra products that are safe.
Does Allegra assistance with canis familiaris allergies in your household? What is your dog allergic to and how long have they been taking Allegra? Practice you think it has helped?
Delight share your experiences in the comments section below!
References and Further Reading
Allegra Allergy (visitor website)
U.s. Nutrient and Drug Administration
Alja, P. et al., 2009, The efficacy of antihistamine fexofenadine versus methylprednisolone in the treatment of atopic dermatitis in dogs.
Sader, S. et al. 2017. Tin human allergy drug fexofenadine, an antagonist of histamine (H1) receptor, be used to treat domestic dog and cat? Homology modeling, docking and molecular dynamic Simulation of 3 H1 receptors in complex with fexofenadine. Journal of Molecular Graphics and Modelling.
Plevnik A. 2006. Fexofenadine Handling of Atopic Dogs: Preliminary Clinical Results. Acta Veterinaria Brno.
Scott DW, Miller WH, 1999, Antihistamines in the management of allergic pruritus in dogs and cats. Journal of Small Brute Exercise.
Koch, South. et al. 2012. Canine and Feline Dermatology Drug Handbook.
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