Many pet parents and their dogs deal with allergies of all kinds. Thankfully, there are medications available, such as Allegra. These medications help reduce or eliminate allergy symptoms. But what happens if a dog eats Allegra meant for a human? Can Allegra make a dog sick?
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Has your dog eaten Allegra? Are you worried that the Allegra will make your dog sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your dog eats something like this.
We’ve gathered information about Allegra and whether it can make a dog sick. Let’s get started!
What is Allegra?
Allegra (also called fexofenadine) is an antihistamine used to treat allergy symptoms. It may also be taken to relieve itchy, irritated skin, hives, and other causes of itching in humans.
There’s another form of this medication called Allegra D. Allegra D is different from Allegra in that it also contains a decongestant with the allergy medication. Allegra D is a combination drug that contains fexofenadine and pseudoephedrine. It works to relieve allergy and itching symptoms while keeping airways open.
While Allegra & Allegra D are safe for humans (when used as directed), what about dogs? Can Allegra or Allegra D make a dog sick?
Allegra, Allegra D, & Dogs
Allegra is used for both humans and dogs to treat allergies and skin itching. However, the dose for dogs is much smaller than that for humans. If a dog eats one or more human pills, he could become sick.
In addition, Allegra D is highly toxic to dogs due to the pseudoephedrine it contains.
Review symptoms, medications & behavior to keep your pets healthy with a Vet Online in just minutes.
Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Allegra & Allegra D Ingestion in Dogs
You may notice these symptoms if your dog has eaten Allegra or Allegra D:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Irregular heartbeat
- Hyperactivity
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Confusion
If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, call the vet immediately. This is an emergency.
Try to figure out how much medication your dog has taken. Be sure to tell the vet which medication your dog has eaten.
Treatment of Allegra & Allegra D Ingestion in Dogs
The vet may induce vomiting and use activated charcoal to remove the toxins from your dog’s body. In some cases, it may be necessary to use gastric lavage to ensure most of the medication has been removed from the dog’s system.
The vet will treat your dog’s symptoms as they arise. These can include medicine to treat seizures and other symptoms. Your fur baby may also require an IV with fluids and to administer medications. Fluids also help flush the toxins out of your dog’s system.
In some cases, your canine companion may need to be hospitalized until he’s in stable condition.
The prognosis is best for dogs that receive prompt medical treatment after ingesting Allegra or Allegra D. In the future, it’s best to keep all medications out of your dog’s reach. You’ll both be happier for it!
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
Review symptoms, medications & behavior to keep your pets healthy with a Vet Online in just minutes.
Ask a Vet Live Now
