Antihistamine for Horses?

Barbara F · Grand Prix

Antihistamine for Horses?

horsekrazcort · Yearling

I don't think they have an official one for horses.
But a few summers ago Kiss got a bad reaction to a bug bite so we bought some cheap Benedryl and just put about 15 - 20 of the small pink pills in her grain and she ate them. They did make her a little sleepy so we only fed them at night. But it did the trick. She didn't itch her face and the bug bite slowly went away.

Not saying this is the best method but it did work quite well. And Benedryl can be found at dollar stores.
Is your horse having an allergic reaction?

justice · Grand Prix

Tri-Hist Granules? Maybe check out a tack magazine or online and look under respiratory aid/support.

Barnmouser Ash · Grand Prix

I'm not sure if it's entirely true for horses, but corticosteroids have been shown to be more effective than antihistamines in humans.

Dexamethasone

"Dexamethasone is given systemically to decrease inflammatory and immune responses. It is used in high doses in emergencies for anaphylactic reactions, spinal-chord trauma or shock. It is used in lower doses to treat allergic reactions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), hives, itching, inflammatory diseases including arthritis and to manage and treat immune-mediated hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. It sometimes is used systemically as a "performance-enhancing” drug because corticosteroids decrease inflammation, possibly enhance glucose metabolism (there is some debate about this) and may have some mood-elevating properties. Other corticosteroids are preferred for intra-articular use."