My dog has itchy skin and allergies. Is Allegra D safe for him?

Unfortunately, by law it is illegal for the experts at Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to recommend using any drug, including OTC drugs, without seeing the animal in person first. That's because doing so requires a veterinary client patient relationship which cannot be achieved via an internet forum. In addition, the experts cannot say for certain if a specific drug is safe for Dakota. I would give your vet a call to discuss if using an anti-histamine in addition to his prednisone is safe for him. Best of luck.

Most OTC antihistamines can be used in dogs, however you should **never** give any medications to your dog without the advice of your veterinarian. Legally though, we cannot direct you to medicate your pet in the absence of a physical exam and a VCPR (veterinarian-client-patient-relationship). [Allergies](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/canine-allergies) can be frustrating to diagnose since they can have multiple causes ([environmental](https://www.petcoach.co/article/food-allergies-vs-environmental-allergies-whats-the-difference), [food](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/food-allergies), [flea bites](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/flea-allergy), etc.). Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Discuss [food elimination trials](https://www.petcoach.co/article/food-trials-for-allergies-in-pets-what-to-expect) and [allergy testing](https://www.petcoach.co/article/allergy-testing-immunotherapy-in-dogs) and if antihistamine use is indicated, he or she can give you a proper dose, The medication may provide some relief but your task is to try to determine what your dog is allergic to and decrease or eliminate it.

Yes, there is an OTC in the form of antihistamines, but legally I cannot recommend it for you to use on her, nor can I give you the dose. That's because doing so requires a veterinary client patient relationship which cannot be achieved via an internet forum. In addition, I cannot say for certain if a specific drug is safe for your dog. I would give your vet a call to get the name of the OTC option as well as the dosage.

Yes, Claritin is among several over-the-counter antihistamine options that may be given for allergies. Frankly, they all offer only mediocre relief but can be helpful for very mild symptoms. I would still recommend touching base with your vet to make sure Claritin would be appropriate for Bruno with his medical history and any other medications he might be taking. If Bruno's allergies do not improve on an over-the-counter option like Claritin, there are much more effective options available by prescription from your vet. Hope this helps!

Singulair is not used for dogs, all other over the counter anti histamines you mentioned are usually non effective in dogs at all, Benadryl and Piriton are usually the only ones that sometimes work, but as a general rule anti histamines are not as effective in dogs as they are in humans unfortunately. for severe allergies most dogs will need a course of steroids which are prescription only.

Many allergy medications are safe to give to dogs over the counter. It is always best to double check with your veterinarian regarding the dose and the drug you are about to give. What you have in the picture is generic system and is quite safe for dogs. The dose that I typically use is 0.5mg/kg of body weight every 24 hours. My own dog used to get this. He was 20lb and his dose was 4.5mg every 24 hours. I rounded this to 5mg every 24 hours to make it easier for dosing. So that would be 1/2 tablet every 24 hours. There are other options for allergies as well if antihistamines are not effective but your veterinarian will have to prescribe these. Please let me know if you have any other questions and I would be more than happy to help!

Most OTC antihistamines can be used in dogs; however you should never give any medications to your dog without the advice of your veterinarian. Allergies can be frustrating to diagnose since they can have multiple causes (inhaled, food, contact). Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Discuss food elimination trials and allergy testing and if antihistamine use is indicated, he or she can give you a proper dose, The medication may provide some relief but your task is to try to determine what your dog is allergic to and decrease or eliminate it. Monitor her for side effects including lethargy and weakness, and if you see those signs, have her seen by a vet right away. Best of luck.