Benadryl for cats?

Originally Posted by Yosemite

People, people, people, do NOT give your animals human medication except under and directly with vet's advice and even then don't just take his/her word as gospel. Question, question, question!

Vicks is NOT a good thing to give to cats either.

Some folks have been lucky in that they've done these things and nothing happened. But if you follow that advice and something does happen to your kittie or it has a severe reaction to whatever you've given it, how are you going to feel? Nobody here is a vet so we are NOT qualified to give out medical advice. If you follow medical advice given out here you are fully responsible for the consequences.

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I ditto this ...

FYI More HUMAN deaths are from OTC drugs than RX drugs every year

Buddy is really sensitive to Vicks, he squints from a foot a way - I use it all winter long, I'm one of *those* people Yesterday I opened the jar and set it up in his room. The air purifier seemed to lightly scent the air with the smell. I think between that, the air purifier, and possibly the sponge bath he is feeling a bit better.

Gina

Originally Posted by Cearbhaill

Original poster wrote "I called the vet and they recommended Benadryl (1ml once or twice a day).".

I'm guessing that meant that benadryl is safe for cats.

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I agree... just make sure it's plain benedryl and not benedryl with tylenol or ibuprofen. Just plain benedryl.

I don't let them lick Vick's, I let them sniff the jar, holding it with my fingers over the opening so they can't get in to it. On the rare occasions that they have acidentally licked it, it has not made them sick. I would never let them actually ingest it on purpose. I guess I shold have made my self clear. They just like the smell, and my vet said it was ok to let them sniff it if it helped.

i had to take madei to the vet yesterday because i noticed 2 spots on her face where hair is missing, one of which was irritated and had bled a little. I instantly thought it was ring worm so i took her in. i actually noticed the missing hair on her cheek behind her whiskers a week prior, but i really didnt think much of it...and when i think about it i realize she has had hair missing right behind her whiskers for atleast 2 months now, when i noticed it a while back i just thought she had hight cheek bones, haha, because thats what it looked like, until recently i realized it was only on one side. anyhow, yesterday was when i saw the second spot right on her chin and brought her in thinking it was ring worm. anyhow, the vet recommended antibiotics, antihistamines, and a cleansing soapy wipe they provided......now, im no vet, but ALLERGIES to cause hairloss....im not sure if i buy that...and ANTIBIOTICS for allergies...not sure about that either. but i chose to only purchase the wipes and antibiotics, i skipped on the antihistamine...i figured i could give her benadryl. what i was wondering was if childrens liquid benadryl is what people usually give cats...any thoughts on this? or better yet...any thoughts on the vets diagnosis.....allergies...the vet said maybe to a plastic bowl...which i alternate with a ceramic bowl, but have been doing so for years and never had a problem. i noticed the sore on her chin has a little scab and is hard now....the missing hair section behind her whiskers has no sore. any thoughts would be appreciated!!

Originally Posted by sharky

Benadryl can be used in dogs and cats ... I dont like to use it since I feel it drugs the animal to much.///

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My vet advised me to give my dog about 15 mg 3 times a day for some mild allergies.

I give him about half that dosage.. only once or twice a day. I just think the full dosage is too much.. I dont want him sleepy and doped up on benedryll all day.

Thanks for the tip.

Please be careful! You said 1cc per pound. Sometimes it ends up being a lot! If a cat weighs 10lbs, your not going to give 10cc.it's only a teaspoon for a 6 yr old child.

rugthugs said:

I have given my pets benadryl for allergies on vet advice many times. I like it best for the 'wet' type allergies-ie runny eyes, sniffles. It helps dry them up. I never had much luck with it for 'itchy' allergies though. Just make sure you offer plenty of water.
I'd ask your vet how much to give. Dosage is tricky with all animals-and often females have a higher body fat ratio which makes them more resistant to many medications-the dose that may be fine for a 7 pound male composed of mostly muscle may not be effective for the same weight female who genetically carries more fat, even when she's in good shape.

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I've used Benadryl for both my dogs and cats at various times under the direction of my veterinarian.  I concur that dosage is the key here.  Veterinary guidance is needed in this case IMO.  Apparently the vet is the one that recommended her dosage so I would go ahead with what was suggested.  I've had to give Zithromax to one of my cats once.  A totally different topic but it is a very strong human antibiotic and most certainly needs dosage information from the vet.  IMO any human medicine given to an animal needs to be cleared with a vet.  Just my too.  Your info on male/female dosages was interesting and I will certainly keep that in mind the next time I have to use any human medicine for my animals.  Thanks.

Help!

i have a cat rescue with many cats.

Last Saturday night one of my 1 yr olds started mouth breathing and drooling. i freaked!

We took him to the ER and were told its a virus, just like a human cold.

All the kitties have runny noses and eyes and they cant breathe.

Can i give them Childrens liquid Benedryl, and if so, how much?

i hate to see them all so miserable.

thanks

dale and the Cathugger Crew

Hey Dale. Start a new thread for this.  I cant help you, but Im sure someone has some advice.  The thread you posted on is an old one. Make sure your title lets people know you need help. Good luck!

Yosemite said:

People, people, people, do NOT give your animals human medication except under and directly with vet's advice and even then don't just take his/her word as gospel. Question, question, question!

Vicks is NOT a good thing to give to cats either.

Some folks have been lucky in that they've done these things and nothing happened. But if you follow that advice and something does happen to your kittie or it has a severe reaction to whatever you've given it, how are you going to feel? Nobody here is a vet so we are NOT qualified to give out medical advice. If you follow medical advice given out here you are fully responsible for the consequences.

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I could not agree with this statement by Yosemite more!  Please consult your vet before giving any human medication to ANY of your pets!

Dale,

Sounds like URI.

I used to have a shelter. I had great luck with http://www.ambertech.com/products/pet-s-cough-and-cold-tm.html/ and any basic anti-biotic.

This has been suggested by both Faithful Friends and Rose Animal Clinic in my area to treat my cat, Rena's, runny eyes and nose.

In my experiences - it's been effective... however... I don't advise splitting the pills. Get the children's 12.5mg Syrup and use an oral syrenge like when giving your cat antibiotics.

I went under the advisement of giving my cat 1/5 of a tab of Benadryl in a little ball of peanut butter.... but she decided to chew the peanut butter and as a result she tasted the horrid flavor of the pill and went bonkers with a drooly mouth spitting everywhere trying to get it out of her mouth. She was mad at me until the next night.
 

I never heard anything about Benadryl when Wilbur had allergy-related ear infections. He got eardrops for that,.then steroid shots for allergies in general before I had him tested for specific allergens via blood draw. He later got a dermatologist to treat the allergies and she said nothing about Benadryl either. Good thing because he would have run away from the pills. Shots were much easier.

4meezers3kids said:

According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, Diphenhydramine is NOT recommended for cats. Clorpheniramine (Chlortrimeton) however, IS.

PLEASE be careful using human meds in cats. They lack an enzyme involved in drug metabolism! (Bless em, it's why they are NOT used much in pharmaceutical research!

).

I do not remember the dosage of chlorpheniramine in cats ... but you should be checking with your vet, anyhow

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My vet recommended Chlortrimeton for my 12 yr old cat Luvbug (he has heart problems so maybe the Benadryl is not recommended because of it. (I'll recheck again.)

The dose recommended by my vet regarding the Chlortrimeton is 1/4 tablet 2x a day with the 4mg dosage.

Madei's Mom said:

I had to take Madei to the vet yesterday because I noticed 2 spots on her face where hair is missing, one of which was irritated and had bled a little. I instantly thought it was ringworm so I took her in. I actually noticed the missing hair on her cheek behind her whiskers a week prior, but I really didnt think much of it. When I think about it I realize she has had hair missing right behind her whiskers for atleast 2 months now. When I noticed it a while back I just thought she had hight cheek bones, haha, because thats what it looked like, until recently I realized it was only on one side. Anyhow, yesterday was when I saw the second spot right on her chin and brought her in thinking it was ringworm. Anyhow, the vet recommended antibiotics, antihistamines, and a cleansing soapy wipe they provided. Now, im no vet, but ALLERGIES to cause hair loss . . . I'm not sure if i buy that. And ANTIBIOTICS for allergies . . . not sure about that either. but I chose to only purchase the wipes and antibiotics. I skipped on the antihistamine. I figured i could give her Benadryl. What I was wondering was if children's liquid Benadryl is what people usually give cats. Any thoughts on this? Or better yet, any thoughts on the vet's diagnosis, allergies? The vet said maybe to a plastic bowl, which I alternate with a ceramic bowl, but have been doing so for years and never had a problem. I noticed the sore on her chin has a little scab and is hard now. The missing hair section behind her whiskers has no sore. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

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I am SO glad you asked about this! Of course I will not pretend to be an expert based on one cat, but personal experience tells me there is no reason NOT to agree with the allergy diagnosis. Symptoms of allergies in cats include itching, scabs, and fur loss. Wilbur had all of those and, early on, yeast ear infections, which also were blamed on allergies. A vet knew the first time I met him Wilbur's ear infections and fur loss both were caused by allergies. The only tool he needed to diagnose it was an otoscope. Over the years, he stopped losing fur, but gained 10 more allergies (at least) and got scabs all over his body - sometimes a few, sometimes a lot. So if your kitty has scabs, itching, and fur loss, believe the vet when he/she says it is allergies!

Scarlet187 said:

Please be careful! You said 1cc per pound. Sometimes it ends up being a lot! If a cat weighs 10lbs, your not going to give 10cc.it's only a teaspoon for a 6 yr old child.

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just a clarification - it's not 1cc of benadryl per pound of cat, it's 1 mg of Diphenhydramine (the antihistamine in benadryl) per pound of cat. There are 12.5 mg in 5 cc's of the children's formula or 25 mg in a regular pill. So if the cat is 10 lbs you'll give it 4 cc's which is 10 mg. 

I have been treating my older boy cat for about 2 years with generic Claritin (suggested by his drematology vet) with great success. Doesn't bother him at all and no asthma attacks. Cjhheap, safe, effective. Never tried Benadryl but I know Benadryl knocks ME out let alone the cat.

Great info regarding the Benadryl.  I got $100 meds from Pepe's doctor for his allergies and he refuses to take them.  I've tried the Greenies pill pockets and liverwurst but he can sniff the meds and won't even go for the treat.  I hadn't thought of using liquid medicine.

Thanks everyone.