Temaril P For Dogs – A Complete Guide To Your Dog’s Prescribed Drug

What is Temaril P for Dogs?

Temaril refers to Trimeprazine and the P stands for Prednisolone. Each of these drugs is designed to compliment the other. The Trimeprazine works as an antipruritic and an antitussive. To us, this means it helps relieve symptomatic itching and coughing. The Prednisolone is an anti-inflammatory, part of the corticosteroid family. It helps to ease any painful swelling that might come along with the previous symptoms.

This medication’s main role is managing symptoms. Therefore, vets can prescribe it for a huge variety of conditions. This wide coverage is one of the main reasons for this medications popularity, and why you may well have come across it at some point.

Uses of Temaril P for Dogs

Temaril P for dogs has a wide range of potential uses. Allergic reactions make up a large quantity of the conditions it is used to treat. This includes allergic reactions that cause excessive itching and/or swelling. Many types of coughing in dogs including Kennel Cough and bronchitis are other conditions this medication can help with.

In the US this is a prescription drug. It is FDA approved for dogs, but not humans. It is similarly licensed in the UK for canine use by prescription only.

How does Temaril P for dogs work?

Trimeprazine is an antihistamine, allowing it to directly combat allergic reactions. It does this by competing with histamine in the bloodstream, attaching itself to histamine receptors. This lessens the effects of allergies directly.

Temaril P for Dogs Allergies

Dogs allergies can be flared up by multiple things. Like humans, pollen can be a major agitator, and is sometimes unavoidable. Food allergies, although treatable by removing the appropriate food, are also considered a good candidate for this line of treatment. It might take you a while to identify the particular food that your dog is reacting to, and the reaction can be quite drawn out.

In both of these cases it’s necessary to manage the symptoms to help make your dog a little more comfortable. This is where this medication steps up to the plate. Steroids are particularly potent in this regard, but are usually steered clear of unless they are thought necessary.

Temaril P for Coughing in Dogs

This medication is useful for many kinds of coughing in dogs, including Kennel Cough and bronchitis. Both the steroidal and antitussive effects of this drug can help to alleviate the physical stress and pain associated with a persistent cough.

In the event that your dog develops a cough, it is well worth your time to consult with a vet. Some coughs can be indicative of a more troubling condition. In any event, because Temaril P is prescription only, your vet will give her assessment and figure out the best course of action for your pooch.

Temaril P for Dogs with Eczema

Allergies are definitely this drugs forte, but it is used to treat other conditions too. Including eczema and even some of the effects of poison ivy! Vets often prescribe this drug in cases involving atopic dermatitis. This refers to the dry, itchy, and inflamed skin a dog can experience when exposed to an allergen.

Temaril P for Other Conditions in Dogs

Trimeprazine itself has been shown to have some efficacy as a sedative in a number of animals, including dogs. It therefore has the potential to be used before a surgical procedure. The main purpose of this is to reduce the quantity of opioids that need to used during and after surgery. This use was tested some time ago, but has not as of yet been popularized in dogs.

Temaril P Dosage for Dogs with Allergies, Itching or Coughing

The appropriate dosage for dogs, as with any drug, depends on the dog receiving it and what they’re suffering from. Your vet will let you know exactly how much to give. Don’t deviate from their advice. The dosage laid out on the Temaril packaging is designed to start fairly strong, and gradually go down before the treatment ends. This is likely to do with bringing about results as quickly as possible, and once these results are obtained, bringing the quantity down to just what’s needed to maintain the positive effects.

Temaril tablets contain 5mg Trimeprazine and 2mg prednisolone, as such 1 tablet won’t be right for every dog. Dogs under 10lbs take 1/2 a tablet once every 12 hours for the first four days. In a similar fashion dogs between 11 and 20lbs take 1 tablet, dogs between 21 and 40lbs take 2, and dogs over 40lbs take 3 tablets.

How Often Should I Give my Dog Temaril P?

Your vet will decide the dosage and frequency of that dosage for your dog. That being said, the usual indications for use are ½ a tablet once every 12 hours. So, a tablet a day. This is repeated for 4 days and then the dosage is normally halved. Again, the most important thing is to consult with your vet if you are unsure or would like to change the dosage or frequency.

Side Effects of Temaril P for Dogs

Every functional medication may produce side effects. New and unfamiliar chemicals in our dogs bloodstream might, understandably, throw them for a bit of a spin.

The best thing we can do is learn about these effects so we can identify any issues as they arise. The list of potential side effects for Temaril P is quite long.

Short Term Side Effects

Short term negative effects can include vomiting and diarrhea, this is common for most medications so shouldn’t be cause for alarm. If persistent though, they could lead to dehydration and admission at the vet’s. Another of Temaril P’s side effects, panting, can occur because of a dry mouth.

Long Term Side Effects

In long term cases, extended steroid use with Prednisolone in particular has been shown to reduce testosterone in male dogs, possibly irreversibly.

Steroidal Side Effects

Dogs on Temaril P are also at risk for a range of side effects common to all corticosteroids. These include negative nitrogen balance, suppressed adrenal cortical function, slow healing of wounds, and occasional blood in the vomit and stool. All of these side effects are to do with the Prednisolone. The Trimeprazine itself can cause drowsiness, sedation and tremors.

Is Temaril P Safe for Dogs?

Steroidal drugs come with potential side effects, but are also a powerful medicine at our disposal. Prednisolone is the steroid in this case, but the antihistamine effects of Trimeprazine are thought to lower the amount of steroids needed to treat skin conditions. So while the usual side effects of steroids are there, it’s less of a risk than in other steroid therapies.

Make sure you tell your vet about any medications your dog is on, or about any pre-existing conditions, so she can make the best call.

Temaril P Toxicity

Any medicine has a point at which it is too much, but we don’t always have that information. No one’s really sure at which point Temaril-P would become too much, just that the standard dosages are usually safe. This is further complicated by the fact that what constitutes ‘too much’ can differ from dog to dog. Different dogs will metabolize drugs at a different rate, so an amount that might harm one dog could be absolutely fine for another.

Using Temaril P for Dogs Safely

Only ever give your dog to dose prescribed by your vet. Don’t try to adjust it. Vets and manufacturers advise that you administer this drug with food. This allows the medication to be absorbed slowly, and makes it less likely to irritate the stomach. This isn’t just about preventing the inconvenience of a dog throwing up. If your dog throws up a tablet he’s been given, he won’t be getting the right dose. Your Temaril P tablets can even be wrapped in food to make them go down a little easier.

Steroid Overdose in Dogs

We know from other steroids that overdosing on prednisolone could lead to cardiac arrest. In the case of an overdose it’s also safe to assume the existing side effects we mentioned earlier would become much more pronounced.

If your dog gets into the medicine cabinet, or you accidentally give him too much Temaril-P, the best bet is to go straight to your vet. Let them know the exact amount your dog has eaten. Your vet will then be able to test for any signs that your dog might be in danger, and help give you some peace of mind.

How Long Can Dogs Take Temaril P?

The manufacturers advise that Temaril be taken for a period of 4-5 days. We advise that you prioritize the information your vet gives you. Vets prescribe medication with a plan in mind. If you are curious as to how long your dog will be taking the medication, feel free to ask your vet. If you think the medicine is making your dog unduly uncomfortable, or if you notice any of the aforementioned side effects, contact your vet immediately.

Contraindications for Dog Temaril P

Dogs with certain pre-existing conditions might not be eligible to take Temaril P. It also reacts with a lot of other dog medication. Do not give this medication to pregnant dogs, as it can interfere with fetal development in the last stages of pregnancy. For these reasons it’s essential that your vet knows your dogs full medical history before suggesting Temaril P.

Tell your vet about any medication your dog is taking. Temaril p and Benadryl would interact, for example, because Benadryl and Temaril both contain antihistamines.

If your dog starts displaying symptoms that could be side effects of this treatment, it’s best to let your vet know right away. They’ll be able to assess whether these issues pose any serious risks, and advise you on the best course of action.

Can You Give Human Temaril P To Dogs?

There is no combination drug like Temaril P for humans. However, doctors can prescribe the two constituent medicines trimeprazine and prednisolone for humans. This does not mean you can give your dog human doses of these medications. Importantly, there may be ingredients in the human versions like xylitol that are toxic to dogs. Always consult your vet before administering any prescription medication.

When Temaril P Doesn’t Work

There are many antihistamines and antitussives that your vet may prescribe. However, if she has prescribed a steroidal medication, it may be because other medications have already failed. If you think this medication is making your dog feel worse, or is exacerbating the issue, your vet should be happy to prescribe something else.

Temaril P For Dogs

Temaril P is a powerful medication that can help dogs suffering from allergies, itching and coughs. Because it contains both an antihistamine and a steroid, Temaril is well equipped for the fight against many ailments. Your vet will give you specific instructions on how you should administer this prescription only drug.

Powerful medications like Prednisolone, and therefore Temaril P, will always come with their own share of side effects. It’s important we look past these, as failure to treat this sorts of conditions is very likely to leave our dogs in more discomfort than Temaril P could ever cause them to feel. If in doubt, always speak to your veterinarian about your concerns.

Has a veterinarian prescribed this drug for your dog? Did they find it helpful? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.

Other Dog Medications

• Apoquel for dogs
• Cartrophen for dogs
• How to make a dog vomit
• Rimadyl for dogs
• Cephalexin for dogs

References and Further Reading

• Temaril – P Drugs/vet
• Timeprazine (Temaril) C. W. Laursen
• Trimeprazine Pubchem
• Pruritus K A Moriello
• Temaril P safety data sheet Zoetis
• Effects of prednisone on thyroid and gonadal endocrine function in dogs
• Temaril P Zoetisus
• Temaril P Pfizer Animal Health
• Medical Management of Pruritus S. R. Merchant
  Antihistamines for Integumentary Disease M. Shipstone
• Clinical observations on the use of trimeprazine tartrate as a sedative and premedicant in horses, cattle, pigs and dogs W. D. Tavernor
• Treatment of canine atopic dermatitis: 2010 clinical practice guidelines from the International Task Force on Canine Atopic Dermatitis T. Olivry et al