How long does dog skin allergy last

Allergy Shots For Dogs: Cytopoint, Immunotherapy, Cost, Side Effects & More

Allergies can be as frustrating for dogs as they are for humans. However, there are a lot of excellent options for treatment, including allergy shots for dogs. This effective treatment can help give your pup some relief and, in some cases, even cure him. Ill give you all the information you need to work with your vet to make the right allergy treatment decision for your furry friend.

Types Of Dog Allergy Shots

Can dogs get allergy shots? Yes, vets use allergy injections for dogs to help deal with itchy allergy symptoms and teach a dogs immune system to tolerate allergies. You may have heard about dog allergy shots but dont know much more.

The most common anti-itch shot for dogs is Cytopoint. This shot for itchy dogs is not a dog allergy vaccine; it simply helps stop the itch. Your vet may recommend immunotherapy. This dog shot for allergies can help make your dog less vulnerable to allergens and possibly entirely eliminate them.

Cytopoint Allergy Shot For Dogs

The dog allergy shot Cytopoint treats dogs with skin reactions to allergens or atopic dermatitis. One injection reduces itching within 24 hours and offers relief for four to eight weeks in most dogs. Some dogs may need year-round treatment with Cytopoint, while other dogs may only need Cytopoint for seasonal allergies.

How does it work? The Cytopoint allergy shot for dogs is a biological therapy that acts like your dogs immune system. It has engineered monoclonal antibodies that are similar to the ones your dog naturally makes. These specific antibodies neutralize a protein that causes your dogs body to itch, reducing scratching and allowing the skin to heal. The Cytopoint shot for dog allergies can be a helpful tool in your pups allergy treatment plan.

Immunotherapy For Dog Allergies

Immunotherapy allergy shots for dogs are another way to treat allergies. With this type of treatment, a vet injects small amounts of what the dog is allergic to, increasing the dose slowly so the dog can learn to tolerate the allergen. The goal is to reduce medication and the need for symptom management until its no longer needed. However, immunotherapy only treats environmental allergies, like pollen, molds, and mites, and wont work for food allergies or flea bite allergies.

How Effective Are Dog Allergy Shots?

Results will vary for each pup, but allergy shots for dogs can be very effective.

Immunotherapy

According to Dr. Scott Miller, an intern in small animal dermatology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, when it comes to immunotherapy, Overall, 60 to 80 percent of dogs with environmental allergy will respond very well to allergy shots, often eliminating the need for other medications the pet may have been given to control signs. He also said, Young dogs may respond better to immunotherapy than do older dogs.

Cytopoint

UW Veterinary Care at the University of Wisconsin-Madison weighs in on Cytopoints effectiveness by saying, Cytopoint does not work for every dog, but we estimate it helps in about 75% of cases. In some cases, the itch relief is dramatic and long-lasting; in others, it helps more modestly and/or may not last as long.

Side Effects Of Allergy Shots For Dogs

You may be wondering what your dogs reaction to allergy shots will look like. Each dog will have a different response; however, most dogs tolerate them well, even in long-term use. With Cytopoint injections and other allergy shots, side effects are possible and may include:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Lethargy
• Redness or swelling at the injection site
• Swelling of the face

Check with your vet immediately if you notice any side effects, as they may be a sign of a severe allergic reaction, and may need immediate medical attention. Its important to note that with immunotherapy, allergy symptoms could worsen temporarily. This is because your pup is being injected with allergens. This additional exposure could heighten symptoms.

How Much Do Dog Allergy Shots Cost?

So, how much are allergy shots for dogs? Your location, your vets pricing, and the size of your dog can all affect the cost of allergy shots. The cost of living differs in different places, and dosing depends on weight, so small dogs vs large dogs need different amounts, which can affect the price.

On average, immunotherapy can cost between $65 and $150 per month. However, keep in mind these costs arent ongoing because immunotherapy differs significantly from Cytopoint and its not needed over the long term.

According to Barrons Magazine, an annual regimen of Cytopoint could run you $1,200 to $2,400 per year, depending on several factors, including your pups size and the frequency of injections.

However, keep in mind that these costs are only for the injection and dont factor in your vet office visit and other charges. Your vet will determine the number of injections your pup will need, and they may also have additional costs for your allergy treatment plan.

Allergy Symptoms

There are a few ways to determine if your dog has allergies. First, does your dog have allergy symptoms? Some common symptoms include:

• Biting or gnawing at the skin
• Chronic ear infections
• Constant licking
• Diarrhea
• Excessive itching
• Hives or rashes
• Itchy ears
• Itchy, runny eyes
• Red, inflamed skin
• Sneezing
• Swelling of the face, ears, lips, eyelids, or earflap
• Vomiting

Does My Dog Need Allergy Shots?

If youve tried dog allergy supplements or a change in diet, and nothings working to ease your pups symptoms, your vet may recommend allergy testing. Veterinarian testing involves either a blood test or skin testing.

Intradermal (Skin) Testing

Considered the gold standard in dog allergy testing, anintradermal or skin testinvolves an injection of a small amount of a potential allergen under the skins surface. After about 20 minutes, the area is examined for a reaction at the site.

Large areas of your dogs coat must be shaved to allow the injection sites to be monitored for a reaction. Three things to note with intradermal testing:(1) your dog will need to be anesthetized; (2) its only performed by veterinary dermatologists, who may not be available in your area;and (3)the test may be expensive.

Serum Allergy Testing

Vets can also conduct a blood test if they suspect that your dog has allergies. The serum from your dog is tested for sensitivity to a variety of potential allergens, including dust, pollen, fungi, dust mites, and common ingredients found in dog food. No anesthesia or shaving of the injection area is needed. However, blood tests can be less precise than skin tests and are also prone to false positives.

You can also use a dog allergy testing kit to help you determine the cause of the allergy. See my reviews of the best at-home dog allergy tests to learn more about how they work. However, your best course of action is to visit your veterinarian to get a proper diagnosis, and you can share your at-home testing results with your vet.

Other Dog Allergy Treatments

Allergy shots for dogs with skin allergies are not the only answer. See my reviews of the best allergy medicine for dogs, including Apoquel for dogs. Learning more about all the options can give you the information you need to feel informed. Then you can work with your vet to understand the pros and cons and other options that might work best for you and your dog.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most common questions pup owners have about allergy shots for dogs. If you dont see yours here, please ask us in our comments.

Are Allergy Shots Worth It For Dogs?

For many dogs, Cytopoint allergy shots are certainly worth it to give them long-term relief from itching and other symptoms and can drastically improve their quality of life. If your pups allergies are relieved through immunotherapy, it can make a huge difference. Environmental allergies can be progressive and worsen as your dog ages.

Will Immunotherapy Cure My Dogs Allergies?

Unfortunately, in some cases, the answer is no. Immunotherapy can help with the current allergies your dog is experiencing, but many dogs who suffer from allergies develop additional allergies throughout their lifetime. This situation could mean that your pup needs to undergo additional testing later in life.

How Long Does A Dog Allergy Shot Last?

Cytopoint relief starts as early as one day after injection and can last anywhere from 4-8 weeks. You and your vet can work together to determine an ideal schedule for how your pup responds to this highly effective allergy shot.

Easing The Cost Of Care

Testing for and treating allergies can be very expensive. So, you may want to consider gettingpet insurancewhile your dog is still young and healthy to cover unexpected conditions, illnesses, and accidents. We havepet insurance reviewsfor each major U.S. insurer, including pros, cons, discounts, and links to our individual reviews for more in-depth information.

Why Trust Canine Journal?

Sally has over 20 years of experience in human health sciences communications, including 10 years as an expert on pet health conditions and treatment. Shes part of a team of dedicated canine professionals and long-time dog owners at Canine Journal. We test and research the best pet products, not only for our own pups but for all of our readers.

What To Know About Allergy Shots For Dogs, According To A Vet

If your dog has allergies, it can feel like youre always buying her allergy medicine.

And sometimes, even pricey prescription medications can seem like theyre not helping much.

Thats why some pet parents choose to get allergy shots, or immunotherapy, for their dogs. Its literally the only drug-free method that reduces (or gets rid of) environmental pet allergies for good which means no more expensive prescriptions.

So, how does it work?

The Dodo reached out to Dr. Lydia Harbour, a veterinary dermatology resident at Dermatology for Animals in Arizona, to find out everything you need to know about allergy shots for dogs.

JUMP TO: How allergy shots for dogs work | Pros and cons | Dog allergy testing | Immunotherapy vs. cytopoint | Side effects | Allergy shots cost

How do allergy shots for dogs work?

Immunotherapy is a great option for many dog parents because its the only thing that can permanently change a pets immune response to environmental allergies.

Once the [allergy] medications are stopped, [allergy] signs will return, Dr. Harbour told The Dodo. Allergy medications only control symptoms, but shots work by actually building immunity to specific allergens.

Keep in mind, though, that allergy shots are only effective for pets dealing with environmental allergies and wont work for pets with flea or food allergies.

With allergy shots, your vet will test your dog first to find out what substances in her environment shes allergic to, then create a formula based on her allergies. The formulas injected periodically so your dog becomes desensitized and ideally no longer allergic to the allergens.

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) works by giving the patient small doses of what he/she is allergic to, Dr. Harbour said. Over time, the immune system starts to change how it responds to the allergen and develops tolerance.

The amount of allergen in the shots is gradually increased so your pup slowly builds up a tolerance.

When your dog first starts getting allergy shots, she might need them a few times a week, but eventually its possible that shell only need them around once or twice a month.

If it's working, this is typically continued long-term for maintenance, Dr. Harbour said. Sometimes we can decrease the frequency of injections. Typical frequency is every two to three weeks at a maintenance dose.

Pros and cons of allergy shots for dogs

Just like with any medication, there are both pros and cons of immunotherapy for dogs.

Pro: Theyre effective

Allergy shots are considered to be pretty effective. Even in cases when they dont completely get rid of a dogs allergies, they can still help improve her symptoms.

It's about 70 to 80 percent effective, but that's along a spectrum, Dr. Harbour said. Some patients will completely improve. Others will have less severe flares, and we can potentially reduce their medications over time, and [in] others it may be hard to notice actual improvement, but it may be simply preventing progression/worsening of disease over time.

So even if the allergy shots dont seem to be helping with symptoms, its possible that immunotherapy can actually prevent her allergies from getting worse in the long run. (Though in some cases, it doesnt work at all.)

Pro: There are few side effects

Not only can allergy shots for dogs be effective in some cases, but there are relatively few side effects, too. Your pup might have some increased itching right after she gets her shots, but severe side effects are rare (more on side effects below).

Con: They can take some time to start working

You wont see immediate results with immunotherapy. It can take anywhere from three months to a year for allergy shots to start working. And once they do start working, youll need to continue with the shot every so often for maintenance.

This is not a quick fix, Dr. Harbour said. Typically we tell clients that this is something we commit to for the long haul.

In the meantime, your vet might recommend a prescription medication, like Apoquel or Atopica, to manage your dogs symptoms.

Or they might recommend a dog-safe over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine, which is usually best paired with an omega-3 supplement.

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Con: They can be expensive

Immunotherapy for dogs isnt exactly cheap. But if you take into account the cost of giving your dog prescription allergy medications or OTC antihistamines for her whole life, plus the fact that shell have to deal with constantly having annoying allergy symptoms, it may be worth it in the long run.

Dog allergy testing

Before your pup can get allergy shots, your vet will have to perform allergy testing to identify what shes allergic to so they can create the serum for the shots.

Your vet will check your dog for other possible causes of irritation, like fleas or infections. They might also have you feed your dog a hypoallergenic food for a few weeks to see if she has a food allergy that could be causing her symptoms.

Once these causes are ruled out, your vet will either perform a skin test (intradermal allergy test IDAT) or a blood test (serology). Skin testing is preferred, as this gives us a live clinical reaction and tends to be more accurate, but blood allergy testing is also a suitable method, Dr. Harbour said.

For a blood test, bloods drawn and analyzed for allergens.

To perform a skin test, an area of your dogs fur will be shaved, and your vet will inject small amounts of allergens into her skin to see what she reacts to (basically the same as a human allergy skin test).

Immunotherapy for dogs vs. cytopoint allergy shots

Cytopoint allergy shots are different from immunotherapy shots. Cytopoint shots are intended for short-term relief rather than as a permanent solution for allergy symptoms.

[Cytopoint] is an anti-itch injection given at the veterinary practice that lasts four to eight weeks, Dr. Harbour said. This is a monoclonal antibody that targets the itch mediator (IL-31) and prevents the signal of itch from going to the brain.

So instead of training the immune system to reduce allergy reactions for good, like with immunotherapy, cytopoint basically just tricks your dogs brain by making her think shes not itchy.

Allergy shots for dogs side effects

Luckily, there are very few side effects of immunotherapy in dogs.

Your dog might have an increase in itchiness for the first couple of days after an injection. This can occur up to 48 hours after the injection and can last for hours to days, Dr. Harbour said.

A more severe (but rare) side effect of allergy shots for dogs is anaphylaxis, or a severe allergic reaction, which can include the following symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Facial swelling
• Hives
• Redness or swelling at the injection site

Signs of anaphylaxis are extremely rare in dogs and cats, but because this is possible, we start with low doses and increase the volume of injections to a maintenance dose that the patient can tolerate, Dr. Harbour said.

Dog allergy shots cost

You might have to pay a bit extra up front for your dogs immunotherapy but for many pet parents, its totally worth it in the end.

You can expect initial allergy testing costs to be around $1,000 or more (which may be lower if you have insurance), and each allergy shot can cost anywhere from $5 to $25.

Keep in mind that once you reach a maintenance schedule for the allergy shots, you might actually save money by not needing to buy prescription allergy medicine, OTC antihistamines or medicated dog shampoo anymore.

Plus, if your dog has serious allergies that cause a lot of discomfort, the benefit from allergy shots can be life-changing (for both you and her).

Does pet insurance cover allergy shots?

If your dog develops allergies before you buy pet insurance, itll be considered a pre-existing condition, and allergy treatment wont be covered by your insurance, which is why its always a good idea to get pet insurance as early as possible.

But if you already have pet insurance and your vet recommends allergy testing and shots, itll likely be covered.

If your pup has bad allergies, allergy shots for dogs can be a great solution to get rid of those annoying symptoms, so talk to your vet to find out if they would be a good option for her.

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