What are two potential uses of antihistamines in veterinary medicine?

Antihistamines serve important functions in veterinary medicine, particularly in managing allergic reactions. The correct answer identifies two relevant uses: treatment of insect bites and treatment of hives.

When animals experience allergic reactions to insect bites, antihistamines can help mitigate the response by blocking histamine receptors, thereby reducing itching, swelling, and inflammation. Additionally, hives, which are raised, itchy welts on the skin resulting from an allergic reaction, can similarly be alleviated with antihistamines. The action of these drugs helps to stabilize the allergic response and offer comfort to affected animals.

While other listed uses, such as treating seizures and respiratory allergies, may be relevant in different contexts, they do not directly align with the primary role of antihistamines. Antihistamines are not effective for managing seizures, which require antiepileptic medications, nor are they typically the first line of treatment for respiratory allergies, which may need a combination of therapies such as corticosteroids or bronchodilators to address inflammation and airway constriction.