What’s wrong with giving pets OTC human allergy meds?
The problem with common over the counter (OTC) anti histamine, allergy medicines intended for humans, are many.
Many people will turn to over-the-counter antihistamine medications, unaware that these drugs could lead to an increased risk of cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s in humans. For years researchers have investigated the possible relationship between anticholinergics and declining cognitive health.
Why would the same not be true for animals?
Most of them fall in the anticholinergic category. The same class of drugs that tricyclic antidepressants and sleep aids belong to. It blocks acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter that is involved with attention and memory.
A person with “hayfever” like sniffling and sneezing, can be assumed to be living in an environment where the dust mites and pollens in the house are constant. So theoretically it might make sense to suppress the release of histamine all day long in allergic humans.
The idea is to suppress the allergic response before it happens.
But in our housepets, people tend to want to jump in with “allergy relief medication” after the dogs start rubbing their face and itching their bodies. By this time the histamine has already been released, and an antihistamine will have minimal effect.
You would have to give it three or four times a day and you will notice drowsiness and dry mouth symptoms as well as slow cognitive decline.
In Florida, you would have to use this type of medication for about six months every year. This is highly troublesome – don’t do it!
Besides, the vast majority of our itchy patients are suffering from “Insect Bite Allergies” (Fleas, mosquitoes,no-see-ums and ants) This condition is five or ten times more itchy than hayfever and you will find OTC human allergy meds almost useless.
We prefer to use a combination of Chinese herbal supplements and Mushroom and Ashwaganda Immune products, but do not think of these as “anti-itch medicines” That is not how they are supposed to work. It is up to YOU to provide an insect bite free environment and then the supplements will work as a preventative, not a so called “cure”
Call our office to get the formula for a natural insect repellent you can make. We can teach you to make anti-itch poultice out af Aveeno oatmeal and aloe vera.
We can also teach you how to reduce pollens and dust mites in your house and on your pets.
