Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Allergy Meds
Here are some of the common questions we get from our readers about dog allergy meds.
You should always check with your vet before administering any medication to ensure it’s safe for your dog. Each dog is different, and dosage amounts vary based on the dog’s size and needs.
Other Over-The-Counter Allergy Relief For Dogs
If you’re wary of giving your dog pharmaceutical drugs, you’re in luck. There are a lot of safe and effective products on the market these days that can help ease your dog’s allergy symptoms. They come in several forms, from dietary supplements and food toppers to shampoo and topical sprays and balms.
Talk to your veterinarian before using these products, especially the medicated shampoos, to help relieve your dog’s allergies. You’ll want to be sure that the products will not interfere with any other medication that your dog may be taking.
Giving your dog a daily probiotic can help ease such allergy symptoms as digestive problems and itching and scratching. We recommend Nusentia Probiotic Miracle, which contains six different probiotic strains and a prebiotic to combat diarrhea, loose stool, yeast overgrowth, bad breath, constipation, itching & scratching, allergies, and digestive issues.
BEXLEY LABS Curaseb medicated spray for dogs and cats can relieve itchy and inflamed skin due to allergies, hot spots, skin infections, and more. It contains chlorhexidine, ketoconazole, aloe vera, and vitamin E. It’s non-toxic and gets great reviews from pet parents.
If you prefer a balm rather than spray, the Natural Dog Company has an excellent all-natural Skin Soother balm that helps treat itchy and inflamed skin, rashes, hot spots, bacterial skin infections, cuts, burns, surgical wounds, mange, and more. This organic and vegan balm contains soothing and healing ingredients like lavender, chamomile, frankincense, cocoa butter, and vitamin E.
PetHonesty has a fantastic Allergy Itch Relief Shampoo that contains chlorhexidine and ketoconazole to ease skin itching and improve skin inflammation, rashes, hot spots, skin infections, and wounds. Another effective option is Vet’s Best Allergy Itch Relief Dog Shampoo, a veterinarian-formulated blend of essential oils and key natural ingredients (oatmeal, D-limonene, and tea tree oil) to calm down and moisturize itchy red skin.
Prescription allergy medication vs. OTC allergy medication
There are varying levels of effectiveness between prescription and OTC allergy medications — but it’s important to remember that each dog is different, and what works for some dogs might not be the best approach for your dog.
“Typically, prescription medicine issued by the vet will be most effective,” Dr. Simon said. “This tends to include strong anti-itch medicine, which can minimize itching and stop the itch-scratch cycle in its tracks.”
According to Dr. Ochoa, OTC medications are really only effective for mild allergy symptoms, whereas prescription allergy medication can help with more severe symptoms.
Some allergy symptoms include:
1. Allergy Meds for Dogs
Picture this: You see a sign for free kittens—their wide-eyed, fluffy faces are just too sweet and adorable to resist. Or, there’s a friendly stray dog that looks hungry hanging around your backyard. Soon you’ve got a new pet in your home, and it doesn’t take long for the sneezing and itchy, watery eyes to start. You’re allergic to your new cat or dog, and you’re not sure if there’s anything you can do about it.
“Pet allergy occurs when our body’s allergic system becomes activated with any pet dander exposure,” says Niha Qamar, MD, allergist, immunologist, and co-author of What? I Could Be Allergic to That?
What’s dander? It’s dead skin cells that are shed from pets, explains Manan Shah, MD, an otolaryngologist at The Colorado Ear, Nose & Throat Group in Lakewood, CO and co-founder and CEO of at-home allergy testing and treatment company Wyndly.
“Pet dander is very light and can stick to clothing, skin, hair, and numerous other surfaces,” Dr. Shah says. That means even households without pets can be exposed to dander if a pet owner enters their home, he adds.
So, how many people are allergic to dogs and cats? According to a 2018 study, as many as 10% to 20% of the worldwide population has pet dander allergies. While pet allergies are common, they’re especially prevalent in people who have a family history of allergies, says Dr. Qamar.
Besides direct contact with cat or dog dander, it’s possible to have an allergic reaction to a pet’s saliva, urine, sweat, or fur, which are all sources of allergens, says Alex Schechter, DVM, a veterinarian at Burrwood Veterinary in Royal Oak, Michigan. “Carpets, bedding, furniture, and clothing can all become stained with pet saliva,” Dr. Schecter says.