Product title
Vendor
$19.99 | $24.99
Product title
Vendor
$19.99 | $24.99
Product title
Vendor
$19.99 | $24.99
Product title
Vendor
$19.99 | $24.99
Behavioral and Antihistamine Capsules for Cats and Small Pets
Product Description
Doxepin HCl 10mg Capsules are a prescription tricyclic antidepressant and antihistamine used off-label by vets for cats, small dogs, birds, and exotic animals. Working through dopamine and serotonin pathways in the brain alongside histamine H1 receptor blockade throughout the body, it handles anxiety, behavioral issues, and allergic skin disease at once. The 10mg strength is the lowest capsule option available, ideal for very small patients needing precise low-end doses.
Benefits
- Lowest Available Capsule: Gives the most accurate low-end dosing for cats, birds, and exotic species where any higher strength would be too much.
- Feline Anxiety Management: Helps cats with anxiety, psychogenic alopecia, and compulsive overgrooming at the lower doses feline patients typically need.
- Superior Antihistamine Strength: Provides significantly stronger H1 histamine blockade than standard antihistamines, offering more effective allergy itch control in small pets.
- Noise Phobia and Fear: Helps reduce fearful and phobic responses to thunderstorms, fireworks, and other startling stimuli in small dogs and cats.
- Avian and Exotic Use: Used off-label by avian and exotic vets for feather-destructive behavior and anxiety in birds and other small species.
Ingredients
Active Ingredients
Doxepin Hydrochloride
How to Use
Doxepin HCl 10mg Capsules are a prescription-only medication. A valid veterinarian prescription is required to purchase this product.
Please follow your veterinarian's specific instructions for the dosage and administration of this medication for your pet.
Disclaimer: Dosage and administration of this medication must be determined by a licensed veterinarian. Always consult your veterinarian before administering or adjusting any prescription medication for your pet.
Concealing the capsule inside a soft pill pocket or pill wrap treat is a simple and low-stress way to give this medication to small dogs or cats. This medication may be given with or without food, but always offer it alongside a small meal if vomiting occurs when given on an empty stomach. Make sure your pet always has fresh water nearby while taking this medication.
Shop Pill Pockets for Dogs | Shop Pill Pockets for Cats
Additional Information
Precautions
- Avoid With MAOIs: Keep away from pets that received selegiline, amitraz, or any MAOI in the past 14 days as a dangerous reaction can follow.
- No Amitraz Flea Collars: Amitraz flea or tick collars must never be used alongside doxepin as they carry a serious toxic interaction risk.
- Avoid Tyramine-Rich Foods: All aged cheeses and other high-tyramine foods must stay completely off the menu for the full treatment period.
- Avoid in Glaucoma: Do not give to pets with glaucoma or urinary retention as doxepin can make both of these conditions significantly worse.
- Caution in Seizures: Use with extreme caution in any animal with a prior seizure history as doxepin can lower the seizure threshold.
- Caution in Hyperthyroidism: Avoid in hyperthyroid animals as dangerous interactions with elevated thyroid hormones can develop during treatment.
- Drug Interaction Risk: Tell your vet if your pet takes cimetidine, fluoxetine, estrogens, sedatives, enalapril, verapamil, or ranitidine before starting.
Possible Side Effects
- Sedation and Drowsiness: Some pets feel sleepy or sluggish at first, but this usually settles as they adjust to the dose.
- Dry Mouth and Constipation: Reduced saliva and slower digestion can show up in some pets taking doxepin at normal doses.
- Blue-Green Urine Color: A blue-green tint in the urine can appear in some pets and clears up once the medication stops.
- GI Upset and Excitability: Some pets get unusually wound up or have stomach issues like vomiting when first starting out on doxepin.
- Cardiac Arrhythmias: Overdosing can trigger dangerous heart rhythm problems that need emergency veterinary attention as soon as they appear.
Storage Information
- Room Temperature Storage: Keep capsules in a sealed container at a steady temperature between 68°F and 77°F, well away from heat and moisture.
- Protect From Light: Sunlight and damp spots can break down the capsules over time, so keep them somewhere cool, dark, and dry.
- Keep Out of Reach: Put this medication somewhere children and untreated pets cannot get to it on their own.
Note: For generic medications, the product image shown may not reflect the actual item received. Generic medications can vary in size, color, and shape between orders depending on the manufacturer. Additionally, your medication may arrive packaged in a HardyPaw Pharmacy vial.
Shipping & Return
We offer ground, express, and priority delivery; see our shipping policy for details.
For return instructions or product concerns, please refer to our detailed refund policy.
Prescription items are NON-RETURNABLE and NON-REFUNDABLE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why is the 10mg capsule particularly important for cats and very small animals?
Ans: Cats and very small animals need tiny amounts of doxepin, and the 10mg capsule is the only size that hits those low levels cleanly without having to split or mix anything. Cats in particular are quite sensitive to this drug class, so getting the dose spot on from the start really matters.
Q2: Has doxepin been used in birds for feather-destructive behavior?
Ans: Yes, avian vets use doxepin off-label for feather-destructive behavior in birds, which tends to have both compulsive and allergy-driven roots. The 10mg capsule is the most workable size for birds and small exotic patients. Bird dosing differs significantly from dogs and cats, so an avian vet's guidance is essential before starting.
Q3: Can the 10mg doxepin capsule be opened and mixed into food for difficult-to-medicate pets?
Ans: The vet may suggest opening the capsule and stirring the powder into a small portion of food for pets that struggle with swallowing capsules. Check with the vet first though, as the powder tastes very bitter and many pets will refuse food with it mixed in. A pill pocket or compounded flavored version often works better for reluctant patients.
Q4: How does doxepin's antihistamine effect compare to diphenhydramine for cats?
Ans: Doxepin binds to H1 histamine receptors far more strongly than diphenhydramine, making it the better pick for cats with stubborn or severe allergic itching. Diphenhydramine is a common starting point but tends to give inconsistent results in cats, whereas doxepin's stronger binding makes a real difference for cats that have not improved on standard options.
Q5: What monitoring is recommended for very small pets on doxepin treatment?
Ans: The vet will watch for excessive sedation, heart rate and blood pressure shifts, urinary patterns, and any behavioral changes suggesting the pet is not tolerating the medication well. Bloodwork at baseline and at regular intervals may be advised for pets on long-term treatment. Flag any unexpected side effects to the vet right away rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit.