can I give my cat benadryle for his flea allergy?

Question

instead of taking him to the vet for a shot?

before you go getting into a tizzy about how I don't take care of my cats, you should know this cat goes and gets a shot every 3 months but a friend said to not do that,and to give him the allegy meds, I was just asking

Answer 1

Simple answer is NO. OTC medication can be toxic to pets., especially if you don't know what kind or the correct dose to give. It can cause a number of different reactions from allergic reactions to the medicine to even death. The best advice I can give is ALWAYS check with your vet first to see what he/she recommends. Remember a phone call to your vet is price less and can save your pets life. I am sure they will be more than happy to talk to you over the phone about possible solutions to your cats allergy.

Answer 2

Flea allergy is relatively common in cats. The shot the vet is giving your cat is probably a long acting steroid called depemedrol. Ask your vet if you can try antihistamines instead. Benadryl is not the drug of choice for cats but there are other safe ones. Unfortunately, antihistamines are not very effective on flea allergy (where they get miliary dermatitis--little bumps around the neck and down the back). Good solid flea control is very important for your kitty--using the Advantage monthly and doing all you can to keep him flea-free is critical.

Answer 3

The advise about the injectable medication that your cat is getting is right. Depomedrol injections are VERY bad for cats, and should only be used as a LAST RESORT. Oraly steroids can still have side affects, but is a better choice (prednisolone).

Sometimes antihistamines work with flea allergy dermatitis, but often steroids are what is used. Although Benadryl can be used safely in cats.....approx. 6-12mg/cat....it is usually not the veterinarians first choice....as is is short lasting. I have seen claritin(loratidine) used sometimes, but you should really speak to your vet about it....

You ahould be using advantage/frontline plus or revolution every 3 weeks along with the steroid or antihistimine to truley help your cats properly

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=599

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1622

http://www.fleabuster.com/

Answer 4

Yes, you can give Benadryl. Hopefully you are using a flea preventative. It doesn't help much to treat the symptoms and let the fleas infest the cat.

I give my cat, Sheba, Benadryl Children's liquid with the medicine dropper. 4 ML 3 times per day. She doesn't have flea allergies, hers are from pollen. It works well and doesn't have a lot of side effects.

And Yes, this was prescribed by my Vet.

Good luck with your kitty's flea allergy.

Answer 5

DO NOT SELF MEDICATE YOUR PET W/ HUMAN MEDICATION!! animals do not react the same way as humans do when given human medicine!! JUST TAKE YOUR CAT TO THE VET!! your cat could die, benadryle is made to stop human allergies, like water eyes, sneezing, or stopping allergic reactions, not to get rid of flea's! TAKE CAT TO VET!!

Answer 6

not over the counter benadryl because the dosage is too high. 1/4 of an INFANT(as in newborn age) dose of the liquid pediatric benadryl should be OK. The doctor has that already in pill form and it's the exact same benadryl, but at an escalated price.

Answer 7

Go to the vet and get the flea drops that go on the back of the neck. Be sure to get the ones that KILL the fleas, not the ones that just sterilize them. There are also flea traps that use sticky paper and small light bulbs, and you can treat your carpet with food grade diatomaceous earth to kill the larvae. Here's one site, there are quite a few other sources. http://www.dirtworks.net/Diatomaceous-Earth.html?gclid=CK-l4P_Qh40CFRg_gQoda2T5gw
If there's nothing biting him, he won't be reacting.

Whatever you do, DON'T experiment with human meds on your pets, the results can go well past unfortunate.

Answer 8

tub your cat in teatree shampoo, if the fleas are fairly undesirable, supply her a 4fleas pill, those are in basic terms stable to kill fleas interior a 24 hour era, however the do die directly. Then cope with with a frontline form product, some cats are allergic to frontline with reason there neck to pass crimson uncooked and swell, so pass on your vets and get an decision that are purely as stable. do not use food market or puppy shop manufacturers for this final degree or you would be lower back to sq. one. this would desire to then make your persian flea loose. additionally pay attention as fleas reason persian fur to get knotty greater without delay, if she is unquestionably knotty, you could would desire to get her shaven.

Answer 9

NO ! It would kill the cat.
Drugs in people don't work the same in animals.
Not even between different animals.
For example, if you used dog flea and tick product on a cat, it will kill the cat, as will some brands of dog food.

So let me just take this opportunity to also say that drug and product testing on animals is not only barbaric, cruel, and unnecessary, but it is also worthless.

Answer 10

treat him for the fleas. yes benadryl is safe for cats but you will have to get your proper dosage from your vet