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.
Claritin dosage chart for dogs by weight
loratadine 0.25–0.5 mg/kg, once daily. Tablets rounded to quarters and kept inside the range. Reference only: confirm with your vet.
| Dog weight | mg range | Claritin tablet, 10 mg | Children's Claritin chewable, 5 mg | Children's Claritin syrup, 1 mg / mL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lb (2.3 kg) | 0.6–1.1 mg | less than ¼ (ask vet) | less than ¼ (ask vet) | 0.6–1.1 mL |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 1.1–2.3 mg | less than ¼ (ask vet) | 0.25 | 1.1–2.3 mL |
| 15 lb (6.8 kg) | 1.7–3.4 mg | 0.25 | 0.5 | 1.7–3.4 mL |
| 20 lb (9.1 kg) | 2.3–4.5 mg | 0.25 | 0.5–0.75 | 2.3–4.5 mL |
| 30 lb (13.6 kg) | 3.4–6.8 mg | 0.5 | 0.75–1.25 | 3.4–6.8 mL |
| 40 lb (18.1 kg) | 4.5–9.1 mg | 0.5–0.75 | 1–1.75 | 4.5–9.1 mL |
| 50 lb (22.7 kg) | 5.7–11 mg | 0.75–1 | 1.25–2.25 | 5.7–11.3 mL |
| 60 lb (27.2 kg) | 6.8–14 mg | 0.75–1.25 | 1.5–2.5 | 6.8–13.6 mL |
| 70 lb (31.8 kg) | 7.9–16 mg | 1–1.5 | 1.75–3 | 7.9–15.9 mL |
| 80 lb (36.3 kg) | 9.1–18 mg | 1–1.75 | 2–3.5 | 9.1–18.1 mL |
| 100 lb (45.4 kg) | 11–23 mg | 1.25–2.25 | 2.5–4.5 | 11.3–22.7 mL |
For large dogs, vets often stay at the low end of the range or cap a single dose. Your highlighted row follows the weight you entered above.
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 = 0.5–0.5 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.
Related calculators
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.