Is your dog facing relentless itching, hay fever, sneezing, cold & cough, and skin irritation due to allergies in summer vacation outside? Does anyone suggest you give Piriton to overcome this condition? How do you use this product, and is it not only meant for humans? If you need clarification on how, when, why, and how much quantity would be safe for your dog and want a final answer: Can I give dogs piriton? Let’s begin to know the concept behind it.
Can you give dogs piriton?
Yes! Piriton can be given to dogs under a veterinary suggestion. We prescribed this medicine because it blocks the histamine chemical in the body that causes rashes, itching, hay fever, and all kinds of allergies.
How is piriton effective for dogs? Piriton also works as an antihistamine to treat allergies in humans and dogs. Histamine is the chemical produced by the body’s immune system and can create inflammation, gastric acid secretion, and neurotransmission. When a human or dog’s body detects any allergy like pollen, pet dander, or specific food allergy, it triggers the histamine release that overpowers various tissues like skin, respiratory, and blood vessels, leading to itching, sneezing, nasal congestion, hives, and even more dangerous symptoms difficult breathing and anaphylaxis in extreme cases. So, after giving an antihistamine, the allergy problem can be lessened.
Is piriton safe for dogs?
Yes! Piriton is 100% safe for dogs if given in adequate quantity and under your vet’s prescription. The piriton contains a main ingredient, chlorpheniramine maleate which is an antihistamine to work as a cure for allergies. However, it is essential to know the correct dosage and time to use this medication as per the age, health, weight, and specific allergy conditions. A crucial aspect to highlight is that piriton is safe for dogs except in these conditions when your dog already takes other medications like:
Other antihistamine product
If you get an allergic-free dog, you give other medication with antihistamine ingredients, so stop using piriton right now as it might cause loss of eye-sight in dogs.
Sedatives and tranquilizers
Whenever you give a sedative or tranquilizer for a dog’s anxiety and to promote sleep, avoid using Piriton then; otherwise, this leads to central nervous system depression.
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
MAOIs are a class of antidepressant medications that can interact with antihistamines like Piriton, potentially leading to hypertensive crisis, restlessness, seizures, and toxicity. So, a vet prescription with your dog’s medication history is needed.
Heart medication
Suppose your dog has cardiovascular disease, and your vet prescribed beta-blocker or calcium channel-blocker medicines. In that case, there is a big no to using Piriton now because its safety is in danger at that time.
Medication for Urinary Retention
Piriton may worsen the condition, particularly in male dogs with enlarged prostates. Steer clear of using Piriton along with drugs that raise the chance of urine retention, like alpha-adrenergic agonists.
Moreover, avoid all the products that contain alcohol, amphetamine, caffeine, decongestants, and pseudoephedrine except antihistamines.
Can I give my dog Piriton every day?
The answer may be yes or no, side-by-side, and as a vet, I answer that your vet will decide the case. If your dog gets pollen allergy after outdoor activities and during the spring and summer fall, there is no need to give him piriton every day but before going outside. Instead, if your dog has some dust or food allergy, a dose of not more than 2mg (5ml) for up to 9 kg dogs would be safe for everyday intake.
When Piriton is given to a dog daily, the body may eventually tolerate the drug, decreasing its effectiveness. This implies that to provide the same degree of relief from allergy symptoms, the dog might need to take larger dosages.
How long can I give my dog piriton for?
The duration of piriton usage should be determined by your vet because every dog is different, and his allergy may be unlike others. However, as per the rough calculation, try not to give piriton for more than 2-3 weeks as over-the-counter medicine. I remembered that one year ago, a lady from Birmingham came with his 10-year-old Albert who had intense pollen and dust allergy he scratched his body and paws, that it was poorly swelled, so I prescribed him piriton three times a day with 10 ml Lintbells YuMEGA plus oil, 1000 mg evening primrose oil (1 capsule), and one tablespoon of coconut oil every day and due to inactive immune system and bad health, this medicine takes 6 months to completely dis-activate the histamine in that dog.
To make it short, the dosage of piriton depends differently on every dog.
If your dog is experiencing acute allergies like sneezing or itching, using piriton for 1-2 weeks would be ample. Still, now you have a dog with seasonal allergy, year-round allergy (dust mites, pet dander, and mold spores), or atopic dermatitis (skin allergy), the course can be prolonged to several months, but again, your vet will tell you.
How much piriton is enough for my dog?
Piriton dose for dogs relies on various factors like age, weight, breed, and intensity of allergy, and it is worth mentioning to give your dog a dose with your vet’s advice. Here, the formula is too simple:
1/2 tablet or 2 mg or 5ml for dogs under 9 kg
1-2 tablets or 8mg or 10-20ml for dogs over 9kg
The complete information about the piriton dosage is in the prescribed table.
Dog’s weight in kg | Syrup dose(ml) | Tablet dose (mg) | Safety considerations |
5-10 kg | 2.5-5 ml | 1-2 mg | Follow up with your vet's advice and see the reactions to the limited dose. |
10-15 kg | 5-7.5 ml | 2-3 mg | Store it at room temperature and discard it when it expires. |
15-20 kg | 7.5-10 ml | 3-4 mg | Shake syrup before every use. |
20-25 kg | 10-12.5 ml | 4-5 mg | Ask your vet to give it to pregnant and nursing dogs. |
25-30 kg | 12.5-15 ml | 5-6 mg | Be mindful to give piriton to kidney and liver patient dogs. |
30-35 kg | 15-17.5 ml | 6-7 mg | Report any adverse reactions to your vet. |
35-40 kg | 17.5-20 ml | 7-8 mg | Avoid giving piriton with dairy products and grapefruit juices. |
The problem of how to feed the tablet is solved by giving the dose as a whole by putting it in the dog’s favorite meal or by placing it on the back of your dog’s tongue if you forget to give the dose in the morning, not to provide a double dose at evening at once.
In what kind of allergies can you give dogs piriton?
Piriton is a famous brand name to soothe you and your dogs and eliminate allergies, but can you give your puppies piriton? It must be after your vet’s advice because puppies have developing immune systems compared to dogs. To them, it is 100% safe, and puppies can react to everything quickly. The common symptoms of allergies are under that can be treated with piriton.
- Sneezing
- Ear infection
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Skin rash
- Paw swelling
- Watery eyes
- Hair loss
- Fatigue or lethargy
- Brain fog
- Digestive upset
- Hives and hay fever
- Swollen lips, mouth, and throat
These are the common symptoms, but what kind of allergy can be cured with piriton:
Atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis or environmental allergy occurs when a dog develops a hypersensitivity reaction due to pollen, dust mites, grass, and mold spores. The symptoms of skin inflammation, rash, and hot spots could be eliminated by suppressing the histamine with piriton.
Food allergy
The allergy that can occur when adding specific protein (beef, chicken, dairy) and grains (wheat & corn)to the dog’s diet shows vomit & diarrhea, and anal gland problems in dogs which can be cured by giving piriton by changing the diet routine of an allergic dog.
Insect bite hypersensitivity
A flea allergy dermatitis occurs when dogs develop allergic reactions to proteins in the saliva of fleas, mosquitoes, or other biting insects. Piriton may help alleviate itching and discomfort associated with insect bite hypersensitivity by blocking histamine release and reducing the inflammatory response.
Contact Allergies
Contact allergies occur when dogs develop allergic reactions to specific substances that come into direct contact with their skin, such as certain fabrics, cleaning products, plants (e.g., poison ivy, oak), or topical medications. Piriton is the solution to this allergy kind.
What are the side effects of giving dog piriton?
Although piriton is a 100% safe medication to cure allergies in dogs, in some cases, like hypersensitivity, heart and kidney disease, glaucoma, and pregnancy, it might have side effects, so when starting any medication, do comprehensive research or consult with your vet.
Normal drawbacks
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Mood change
Adverse drawbacks
- Blur vision
- Sudden drop in blood pressure
- Loss of consciousness
- Breathing difficulty
What are the safe alternatives of piriton?
Even though Piriton was made for humans and no research was approved for its workability on dogs, I prescribed many dog owners to take Piriton with them, especially when they have fun with their dogs outside. But, if you don’t want to try it, here are the safe and suitable alternatives:
1- Natural remedies
Natural home remedies may work best to treat dogs’ allergies, particularly when there is a low-intensity level.
- Oatmeal bath has soothing effects that can help relieve itching and inflammation in dogs with allergic skin conditions.
- Diluted apple cider vinegar can help restore the skin’s natural pH balance and soothe the rashes; try not to spray on the broken or swollen areas.
- Apply a small amount of coconut oil topically to affected areas or add it to your dog’s food as a dietary supplement.
- Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil supplements, have anti-inflammatory effects that may help reduce allergic reactions in dogs.
- You can add small amounts of quercetin-rich foods such as blueberries, apples, or broccoli to your dog’s diet to cure their allergy.
- Do DIY remedies for allergy relief in dogs after discussing it with your vet.
2- Other safe antihistamines
To manage allergies and to block histamine chemicals in dogs, here are the safe antihistamine alternatives to piriton:
- Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) can be taken into the mouth or injected into a vein.
- Zyrtec ( cetirizine) to treat severe allergies.
- Claritin (Loratadine) for indoor & outdoor allergies.
- Allegra (fexofenadine) is for 24-hour allergy relief.
- Telfast (fexofenadine) a non-drowsy antihistamine.
- Apoquel (Oclacitinib) with no steroid chance.
3- Steroids
Steroids are medications used to reduce inflammation and treat various allergies, including allergic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and allergic asthma. The following steroids can be utilized:
- Prednisone: ( An oral steroid medication that works as an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic.)
- Dexamethasone: ( It is available in oral, injectable, or topical formulations, but be cautious because of its high potency for side effects.)
- Prednisolone: (It is the advanced version of Prednisone that is mainly prescribed to dogs with liver disease.)
- Methylprednisolone: ( It is less commonly prescribed than Prednisone or prednisolone.)
- Topical steroids: (They are used to cure localized allergy conditions. They include Hydrocortisone Cream, Betamethasone, Mometasone, and Clobetasol ointment.)
4- Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy, known as allergy shots or desensitization therapy, is well-known for treating dog allergies. Around 75% of dogs are successfully free from allergies with this treatment. If you want to search in-depth immunotherapy for dogs, read also:
Questions of the week
What is piriton?
Piriton is a brand name for an antihistamine medication that emerged in the 1940s. Chlorpheniramine was found to be effective in reducing allergies in humans, but during the 20s, it gained popularity for its usage by vets or even as an over-the-counter medication. It comes in syrup and tablets, but be mindful of giving it to pregnant and lactating dogs without your vet’s permission. It has some contraindications like drowsiness and consciousness, which are common negative symptoms.
How long does piriton take to work in dogs?
Piriton starts working within 30 minutes to 1 hour, but again, every dog differs. Usually, the vet prescribes it to take every 8-12 hours to lessen the chance of allergy. This medicine has no impact after 24 hours of usage.
How can we cure allergies in dogs? My suggestion as a vet
Here are some tips to get rid of this irritating condition in dogs.
- Switch your dog to raw dog food with fish oil, rice, carrots, and supplements because pre-packed food may contain protein in a ratio that dogs get allergic to.
- When you see your dog licking too much to the paws and swelling around the area, go to your vet, who might prescribe you a Cytopoint injection that lasts 4-8 weeks to cure environmental allergies.
- One recommendation is to use Jax and Daisy shampoo, a great comment I heard from the dog’s owner about its effectiveness.
- You can use veterinary advice to use Veterinary formula clinical care antiseptic & anti-fungal spray. Just spray a few pumps on the itchy area to relieve the symptoms of allergy for up to 12 weeks.
Recapping all
Piriton is a human-based medicine to cure allergies by blocking the histamine that flourishes in cases of environmental, food, contact, or incest bite allergy. However, vets often prescribe this medication to dogs with allergies. Dogs may also be allergic to scented candles with citrus, tea tree, pine, and peppermint, and if, by chance, it happens, piriton will do it right. A clear warning is not to use it over the prescribed time or in certain conditions mentioned above or others that your vet confirm.
