Cetirizine/piriton.

[Huntley1]

Hi all,
My dog suddenly went lame, worked out that it’s pododermatitis, probably caused by seasonal allergies.
The aroquel is £50 a week, which just isn’t a possibility, has anyone used cetirizine?
Happy to ask my vet, but thought I’d ask you wise lot first (old member who’s forgotten password)

 

[CorvusCorax]

I have used off-brand antihistamines but only for things like stings and bites, not for extreme itching/infection/elephant skin, that's an Apoquel/Malaseb/Cytopoint job.

 

[Redders]

Sadly antihistamines won’t cut the mustard.
Your vet will be happy to provide a written prescription if it’s going to be an ongoing medication. Apoquel is the one I write prescriptions for the most - we can’t even buy it in wholesale for the price they sell it online.
After a full discussion with your vet, if that cost is too much, low dose steroids daily or every other day can be an option - cheap, but the trade off is long term steroids cause changes to organs/naturally produced steroids etc. caveat, have not examined so cannot discuss suitability. Discuss with your vet and let them know the sort of price level you can manage and go from there