Claritin for Dogs: Dosage Calculator
Loratadine (Claritin) is a non-drowsy antihistamine that vets sometimes suggest for allergic dogs. The published reference range is about 0.25–0.5 mg/kg once daily.
Enter your dog's weight to see the published reference range. Used for environmental allergy itch.
How "mg per kg" dosing works
Most dogs tolerate it well, but it helps only a portion of allergic dogs. Check with your vet before starting.
Vets dose by body weight because the same amount of drug is spread through a bigger or smaller body. Drag the weight to see how the reference range and the number of tablets move together, and why a tablet sized for a 70 kg adult human can be a big dose for a small pet.
Range 3.4–6.8 mg = 0.25–0.75 tablets of Claritin tablet, 10 mg. For comparison, a typical adult human dose is based on about 70 kg.
Warnings before giving Claritin
- Never give Claritin-D (contains pseudoephedrine).
- Check chewables, RediTabs and syrups for xylitol.
- Side effects are rare; occasionally sleepiness or vomiting.
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Questions owners ask
How much Claritin can I give my dog?
The usual reference range is 0.25–0.5 mg/kg once daily. A 20 lb (9 kg) dog comes to about 2.3–4.5 mg, around half of a 10 mg tablet. Confirm with your vet.
Claritin vs Zyrtec for dogs: which is better?
Both are once-daily, non-drowsy antihistamines. Responses vary between dogs, so vets often try one for a couple of weeks and switch if it does not help.