Is Zyrtec or Claritin safe for my dog's daily itching, and will it cause drowsiness?

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2nd question: Bella wants to scratch/rub face on carpet. (Which probably caused ulcer) Scratches under chin too. she doesn't respond well to Benadryl (gets spacey) so vet said Claritin or Zyrtec can be tried and gave dosing info. Wants to see if this helps before trying apoquel since it's not causing any itching elsewhere. Is zyrtec or Claritin generally safe for daily use? Also, will it cause her to be out of it like Benadryl does? Pet's info: Dog | Yorkshire Terrier | Female | spayed | 9 years and 8 months old | 3.6 lbs

Rebecca, DVM · Accepted Answer

Dogs respond to antihistamines variably just like people. And some work better than others. Zyrtec and Claritin are 2nd generation antihistimaines and general don't have as many CNS side effects such as drowsiness or spaciness. They are safe for daily use. I would recommend giving it a try to see if it works for Bella. If it does antihistimaines have relatively few side effects in dogs so it may be a safe long term solution. If it isn't helping then consider apoquelor discussing further working up her allergies with her vet.

Is Zyrtec or Claritin safe for my dog's daily itching, and will it cause drowsiness?

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