Can I give Suprastin to my dog? Dosage

Suprastin is a first-generation antihistamine. This "human" medication is considered safe. Widely used in veterinary medicine, Suprastin can be given to dogs to relieve allergy attacks.

Composition and action of the drug

The active ingredient in Suprastin is chloropyramine hydrochloride. This substance blocks the production of histamine, a mediator of allergic reactions, and competes with it at cell receptors. Thus, chloropyramine reduces the severity of the allergic reaction, eliminates itching, relieves smooth muscle spasms, and has a calming effect. Chloropyramine concentrations in the blood reach their maximum within 15-20 minutes, and the drug's effect lasts for 3-6 hours. The active substance is biotransformed in the liver and excreted in the urine.

Suprastin is available as tablets and injection solutions.

• Solutions for intravenous and intramuscular administration They are available in 1 ml glass ampoules, each containing 20 mg of the active ingredient, with distilled water serving as the solvent. A pack (5 ampoules) costs approximately 120 rubles.
• Suprastin tablets — disc-shaped, grayish-white, with the word "Suprastin" engraved on one side. Each tablet contains 25 mg of chloropyramine hydrochloride and the following excipients: stearic acid, starch, gelatin, and lactose monohydrate. A blister pack of 20 tablets costs from 108 rubles.

Indications for use

Suprastin is given to dogs for allergies caused by food, insect bites, contact with plants, or household chemicals. An inadequate immune response typically manifests itself with the following symptoms:

• severe itching, resulting in scratches appearing on the animal’s skin;
• conjunctivitis (lacrimation, redness of the sclera of the eyes);
• cough, salivation;
• rhinitis;
• asthmatic phenomena;
• swelling of the paws;
• diarrhea;
• vomit.

Veterinarians believe that Suprastin can also be given to dogs prone to allergies for prophylactic purposes, to prevent the development of an inadequate reaction to prescribed medications or vaccines.

Contraindications, possible side effects

Any medication has contraindications and potential side effects. The antihistamine Suprastin is contraindicated in dogs with cardiovascular disease, acute inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases (gastritis, colitis, ulcers), and in animals with an individual intolerance to any of the medication's components.

There are also age restrictions for this medication. It is prescribed to puppies starting at one month of age. Suprastin should be administered with caution to older dogs for allergies: its metabolites are eliminated by the kidneys and liver, and in older dogs, these organs are no longer as active.

Side effects of Suprastin are rare and may include mild weakness, drowsiness, and decreased physical activity. For humans, such side effects may be considered contraindications to taking the medication (for example, if a person's work requires increased attention), but for animals, this is not significant.

Overdose may cause agitation, anxiety, loss of coordination, and urinary retention. In such cases, consult a veterinarian. The dog will undergo a gastric lavage, and a single dose of glucose and/or sodium chloride solution will be prescribed to prevent dehydration.

Instructions for use, dosage

Suprastin tablets are commonly used to relieve moderate allergy symptoms in dogs. This anti-allergic drug is administered in injection form in emergency situations when there is a need to quickly relieve life-threatening allergic reactions (for example, with respiratory failure, seizures, or angioedema).

Suprastin tablets

Important! It's crucial to calculate the dosage correctly to avoid harming your pet with an overdose. One small Suprastin tablet contains 25 mg of the active ingredient, chloropyramine hydrochloride, with a maximum daily dose of 2 mg per kilogram of body weight. This means that one tablet is the daily dose for a dog weighing 12.5 kg! However, the medication must be divided into 2-3 equal doses, which may be difficult to administer to a small dog.

The daily dosage of Suprastin for a dog is shown in the table:

Typically, the course of treatment for relieving an acute allergic reaction is 3 days, but the number of days to give your dog Suprastin in each specific case should be determined by a veterinarian, as prolonged use of the drug or too high a dose of the medication can lead to undesirable consequences.

Tip! The tablet has a bitter taste, so it is not recommended to crush it or mix it with food. It is better to hide a small amount of your dog's favorite treat inside the tablet so that it swallows without chewing.

Suprastin in injections

Important! Each ampoule of Suprastin contains 1 ml of ready-to-use injection solution, which contains 20 mg of the active ingredient (chloropyramine hydrochloride). The drug can be administered intramuscularly or intravenously, but please note that the latter option should only be administered by a veterinarian in a clinical setting.

You can administer Suprastin intramuscularly at home. Moreover, breeders believe that every responsible owner should know how to inject Suprastin into a dog, as allergic reactions in animals are common, and timely administration can often save a pet's life.

For the procedure, you will need a 2-cc syringe with a 2-cm needle (since the drug needs to be delivered into the muscle, not under the skin!) and ampoules of Suprastin, which can be purchased at a regular pharmacy for humans.

Dosage of Suprastin in injection solutions:

Advice! It's best to give your dog intramuscular injections with an assistant, as the animal must be restrained during the injection process.

Please note that intramuscular injections can be given to dogs in the large muscles of the hind or front legs (the former option is preferable for inexperienced owners). Subcutaneous injections are given in the withers! Suprastin should not be administered this way!

The algorithm of actions will be as follows:

• Wash or disinfect your hands (it is best to also wear medical gloves).
• Warm the ampoule slightly in your hands before opening.
• Draw the contents into the syringe and release excess air.
• Part the fur in the injection area and lightly massage the muscle.
• With a confident movement, insert the needle at an angle of 90°.
• Slowly inject the medication by pressing the plunger (do not do this too abruptly, as this may cause a hematoma).
• Remove the needle with a quick movement and massage lightly.

Substitutes

Instead of Suprastin, other antihistamines can be used to treat allergies in dogs. Suprilamine and Chloropyramine contain the same active ingredient, chloropyramine hydrochloride. Similar medications with the same indications but different active ingredients are used in veterinary medicine:

• Tavegil (active ingredient - clemastine fumarate);
• Allervet (diphenhydromine hydrochloride);
• Claritin and Loratadine (active ingredient loratadine);
• Cetrin and Zyrtec (cetirizine dihydrochloride).

In mild cases, giving your dog 1-2 tablespoons of a desensitizing agent - a 10% solution of calcium chloride - may be enough to relieve allergies.

Before replacing the Suprastin prescribed by your veterinarian with another medication, you should consult your doctor: each allergy medication has its own contraindications that must be taken into account.

Reviews

Grigory, Moscow, veterinarian:

Suprastin is a medication found in almost every home, so every owner should know how to use it for acute allergy symptoms in dogs, especially if it's impossible to quickly get the animal to a clinic. Naturally, once a diagnosis has been made and treatment prescribed, I prescribe specialized veterinary medications for patients, but Suprastin is a truly excellent emergency treatment. The key is knowing how to use it and avoiding overdosing in small breed dogs.

Anna, Tver, mastiff breeder:

I'm allergic myself, so I always carry Suprastin with me. It's saved my pets in unusual situations more than once, including wasp and bee stings at the dacha, when no other antihistamines were available.

Olga, Sochi, owner of a Spitz:

Suprastin helped us cope with an unexplained allergic reaction that manifested itself in the form of itchy skin and a small rash. We were traveling, and apparently someone we knew gave Martin a treat he didn't like. The vet recommended giving him 1/4 tablet of Suprastin twice a day, and if that didn't help, to interrupt the trip and go for a checkup. It was all gone within two days! We had tests done upon returning home – everything was normal. I think it's a good idea to always have this medication with you as an emergency aid.

Read also:

• Prednisolone for dogs
• Allergies in dogs: symptoms and treatment
• Dexamethasone for dogs