I recently spoke to my vet about trying Zyrtec for my horse’s allergies this season. I was wondering if anyone else has had success with Zyrtec and what symptoms it helped?
I used it for a couple of years for skin allergies. Helped some, definitely, but didn’t eliminate the issues.
Yes, I have been using it for my mare who has allergy-triggered head shaking for three or four years. She stays on it for 2-3 months in the spring. This year the allergies have been particularly bad (for people too) so she is not sneeze-free, but I do think it helps.
You can buy the Wal-mart version in two-packs less expensively than most other options. You will go through a lot of two-packs.
I have human allergies and I like Allegra better than anything else. However, if I take the 24 hour NON DROWSY stuff I can’t sleep at night. So I take the 12 hour. It makes me wonder if the horses would be able to sleep.
I also don’t sleep well if I take Claritin 12 hour non drowsy in the morning. I took 12 hour allegra the last two mornings and have slept well the last two nights Yay!
Used it on a horse with itchiness from gnats, it helped. He would get 20 pills a day, never noticed any drowsiness whatsoever.
If you go to Costco or Sam’s Club you can get 360 pills for just under $20.
I used 9 pills twice a day for 10 days and then 9 pills once a day there after for a pony with heaves.
It helped, but it didn’t completely get rid of the issue.
Since I moved barns, I haven’t had to use any. He was allergic to mold.
I use the Sam’s Club generic version for my Arabx with allergy-related RAO. He has a number of environmental allergens (pollens, hay, grain dust, etc) and is more than a moderately affected case. It doesn’t completely eliminate his allergic response but has improved him quite a bit. In his case, I have noticed greatly reduced nasal discharge and coughing. Not sure if it is helping these symptoms directly or by way of reducing overall inflammation but it may be noted he still has significant inflammation diagnosed via xrays and BAL and is on dex and clenbuterol.
My guy has allergy/pollen triggered headshaking and a combination of zyrtec and low dose steroids (prednisolsone) have his completely under control. The zyrtec alone or the steroids alone did not alleviate all his symptoms, but the combination works wonders. I get the generic at Sam’s Club, it is something like 400 pills for $17. They are small, so I just throw them right into his grain and he eats them with no problems (don’t grind them up - the dust from grinding them will choke you, ask me how I know!). My vet also knows someone who uses Allegra on their horse and it works for them. I think with allergies, it’s a lot of trial and error to see what works best for each horse.
I alternate between Benadryl and Zyrtec. I switch to Zyrtec when the allergies seem to get worse or do not respond to Benadryl. Zyrtec does seem to help more. In a study I read (human) it was said not to cross the blood brain barrier so it does not cause the behavioral changes that other antihistamines can cause. But it is significantly more expensive. I buy both from Amazon.
[QUOTE=LookmaNohands;8172912]
I have human allergies and I like Allegra better than anything else. However, if I take the 24 hour NON DROWSY stuff I can’t sleep at night. So I take the 12 hour. It makes me wonder if the horses would be able to sleep.
I also don’t sleep well if I take Claritin 12 hour non drowsy in the morning. I took 12 hour allegra the last two mornings and have slept well the last two nights Yay![/QUOTE]
Try taking the Childrens version. Theres no “time release” ingredients, just a smaller dose. Works for me, Zyrtec does not come in one though but that one knocks me out and leaves me groggy, sleeping is not a problem.
Honestly would have some concern about side effects in horses and probably testing if you show. I know Tri Hist is a no no and so is the…oh…is it ventipulmin or something? Cough stuff? That gave mine the shakes if used more then 3 days too.
Be careful.
