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With Katy Nelson, DVM
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Dear Dr. Katy:
be safer for long-term use. Side effects will be common to other antihistamines, but because they don’t cross the blood brain barrier, side effects such as dry mouth or heart rate elevation are rare. In general, the biggest problem with long-term antihistamine use is developing tolerance, meaning the body may eventually fail to respond to the medication as well as it did initially, though this is rarely seen with Zyrtec, so it may be worthwhile to at least have the conversation with your veterinarian about Zyrtec usage for your pet.
One of my dogs has mild allergies. At the direction of my vet I have been providing her with Benadryl for over a year now. Although my vet has assured me that the dosage of this product will not cause any adverse effects I am still a bit paranoid. I would be grateful if you could provide your opinion. —Carly J., Washington, DC
Dear Carly,
The side effects of short-term diphenhydramine are generally mild. Some sedation can be seen, as well as anti-cholinergic effects such as heart rate abnormalities, slowing of GI motility and dry mouth. The long-term effects of daily diphenhydramine have not been studied well, but there are other products like cetirizine (also known as Zyrtec) that do not cross into the nervous system and may
Dear Dr. Katy: My dog has been experiencing a weepy eye for over two months now. I have taken him back to my primary vet twice for this issue and have yet to see any positive results from the medication and topical solution that were provided to me. Is there some sort of veterinary protocol that after so many visits by the same animal for the same symptom that a referral will be made to a specialist? I’m starting to get very worried. —Samantha T., Leesburg, VA
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You can follow her on Twitter @drkatynelson, on Facebook or send her an e-mail at bark@vamddcdog.com.
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The Virginia-Maryland-Washington DC Dog