Zyrtec For Cats?

[catsknowme]

My vet has suggested using OTC cetirizine for my Maine Coon's crusty scabs rather than try using corticosteroids. Dose would be 5mg every 24 hours. The brand name for the drug is the allergy medication "Zyrtec". It sounds like a great plan but I am always interested in others' experiences, good or bad. Have you used in on your kitties?

 

[Willowy]

I have given it to a cat with no results (it wasn't an allergy, it turned out), but also no side effects. Seems to be fine. It feels weird to give a cat a whole adult-human-sized dose, but I guess cats are less sensitive to the active ingredient so they need more of it per pound.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

I did some digging, and the universal dosage mentioned was from 2.5-5 mg per day. Since you have a Maine Coon, the 5 mg sounds perfectly reasonable. I've never used Zyrtac on a cat, but Hekitty and I both take Claratin! Hers is PRN, mine is daily.

 

[catsknowme]

Thank you for the responses. The only flavor sold here for the syrup is artificial grape; my former urologist told me to avoid artificial grape flavor because it can be hard on the kidneys (yet it's okay for children? ). I normally don't do WalMart but their brand is bubble gum flavored so I may try ordering that. If I pill JC, he will gag until he vomits up the pill. He tries to do the same with liquids but maybe in some canned food, he won't notice.

 

[Tobermory]

I used it with Lily to see if it would help her allergies. I used the Costco equivalent which is Aller-Tec...which I take myself. Unfortunately, it didn’t help her. I used pill dough and cut the pill into very small pieces. She gobbled them right down!

 

[Willowy]

I just crushed the pills and mixed them with chicken baby food.

If she has to take it long-term, you can have it flavored at a compounding pharmacy. A flavor more cat-friendly than bubble gum or grape, lol.