Just curious if anyone has a horse on benadryl that has done a 180 in calmness? Trying to figure out if its cabin fever with the weather in the snowiest city in the country or the benadryl. We are talking a horse who has never had a care in the world going to a horse that has become unsafe for my 9 year old to be on. Spooking at everything and bolting. (if he looked at anything before, it was a stop and snort. ) Thank you for any insight.
Benadryl can cause an animal or a human to be hyperactive. Some animals and people do not react “normally” to Benadryl and other medications. Your horse probably is one of those who cannot take Benadryl. Try another over the counter drug.
When my pony had hives last year, the vet said they prefer Zyrtek (or it’s generic equivalent). Dosage was 10 tablets.
You might want to try that and see if the behavior improves. I’m guessing the lack of turnout is the bigger issue.
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I had a gelding who hallucinated on acepromazine. He was terrified of everything, his hay, his grain, his water bucket, just everything. Horses, just like people, have unique chemistry, so it’s not always a “one size fits all” kind of scenario with drugs.
That said, I also agree with Mango in that lack of turnout/exercise is probably exacerbating the situation. Are you able to longe in the snow? We’re pretty snowed in here, but they don’t bolt far or for long when the snow’s up to their bellies…
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Benadryl is a 1st generation antihistamine, they have more mental side effects (drowsiness, wooziness).
Zyrtec is 2nd generation, the 2nd generation was basically developed to avoid the side effects from the 1st generation. And if Zyrtec doesn’t work there are a bunch of others: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H1_antagonist#Second-generation_and_third-generation_(selective,_non-sedating)
It may be a combination of both weather and Benadryl. Benadryl gives me restless legs and keeps one of our kids up and chatty all night long. I think it is very possible that your horse could get spooky on certain drugs.
He is turned out the majority of days…although with all of the snow they are standing around the hay able and not much else. It is my goal to get out there more over the next few weeks to do more with him and see if it changes.
I have a paradoxical reaction to a number of drugs including Benadryl and pretty much everything by prescription or OTC that is supposed to help me sleep. Benadryl makes me restless, and on Ambien I am wide awake within an hour and can’t function in the morning. Try something else, but keep an eye on him.
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