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Allergies may be as frustrating for dogs as they’re for humans. Nevertheless, there are a whole lot of excellent options for treatment, including allergy shots for dogs. This effective treatment might help give your pup some relief and, in some cases, even cure him. We offer you all the data that you must work along with your vet to make the precise allergy treatment decision to your furry friend.
Does My Dog Have Allergies?
There are few ways to find out in case your dog has allergies. First, does your dog have allergy symptoms? Some common symptoms include:
- Biting or gnawing on 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
In case your dog is exhibiting these symptoms, you need to use an at-home dog allergy testing kit to allow you to determine the reason for the allergy. Our experts have a full review of the EasyDNA dog allergy test, so you understand more about how it really works and how one can use it. But your best plan of action is to go to your veterinarian to get a correct diagnosis, and you may share your at-home testing results along with your vet.
Canine Allergy Treatment
Can dogs get allergy shots? Yes, vets use allergy injections for dogs to assist take care of itchy allergy symptoms and teach a dog’s immune system to tolerate allergies.
You will have heard about dog allergy injections but don’t know far more. Probably the most common anti-itch shot for dogs is Cytopoint. This shot for itchy dogs isn’t a dog allergy vaccine; it simply helps stop the itch.
Your vet may recommend immunotherapy. This dog shot for allergies might help make your dog less vulnerable to allergens and possibly entirely eliminate them.
Allergy shots for dogs with skin allergies should not the one answer. Our experts review the perfect allergy medicine for dogs, including Apoquel for dogs. Learning more about all the choices can offer you the data that you must feel informed. You then can work along with your vet to grasp the professionals and cons and other options which may work best for you and your dog.
Cytopoint For Dogs
The dog allergy shot Cytopoint treats dogs with skin reactions to allergens or atopic dermatitis. One injection reduces itching inside 24 hours and offers relief for 4 to eight weeks in most dogs. Some dogs might have year-round treatment with Cytopoint, while other dogs may only need Cytopoint seasonally.
How does it work? The Cytopoint allergy shot for dogs is a biological therapy that acts like your dog’s immune system. It has engineered monoclonal antibodies which are much like those your dog naturally makes. These specific antibodies neutralize a protein that causes your dog’s body to itch, reducing scratching and allowing the skin to heal. The Cytopoint shot for dog allergies could be a helpful tool in your pup’s allergy treatment plan.
Immunotherapy For Dog Allergies
Immunotherapy allergy shots for dogs are one other option to treat allergies. With the sort 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 scale back medication and the necessity for symptom management until it’s now not needed. Nevertheless, immunotherapy only treats environmental allergies, like pollen, molds, and mites, and won’t work for food allergies or flea bite allergies.
Side Effects
Chances are you’ll be wondering what your dog’s response to allergy shots will appear like. Each dog could have a distinct response. With Cytopoint injections and other allergy shots, unwanted side effects are possible and will include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Redness or swelling on the injection site
- Swelling of the face
Check along with your vet immediately in case you notice any unwanted side effects as they could be an indication of a severe allergic response, and might have immediate medical attention.
How Effective Are Allergy Shots For Dogs?
Results will vary for every dog, but allergy shots may be very effective.
In accordance with Dr. Scott Miller, an intern in small animal dermatology on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in relation to immunotherapy, “Overall, 60 to 80 percent of dogs with environmental allergy will respond thoroughly to allergy shots, often eliminating the necessity for other medications the pet could have been given to manage signs.” He also said, “Young dogs may respond higher to immunotherapy than do older dogs.”1
UW Veterinary Care on the University of Wisconsin-Madison weighs in on Cytopoint’s effectiveness by saying, “Cytopoint doesn’t work for each 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.”2
How Much Do Dog Allergy Shots Cost?
So, how much are allergy shots for dogs? Your location, your vet’s pricing, and the scale of your dog can all affect the price of allergy shots. The associated fee of living differs in other places, and dosing will depend on weight, so small dogs and massive dogs need different amounts, which might change the worth.
On the whole, immunotherapy costs for the vet are around $5 to $10 per ml, and dogs can require 1-3 ml per 30 days, and other supplies, like syringes, may should be purchased. This will translate to a value of between $300 and $500 for a 4 to six-month supply. Cytopoint averages $65 to $135 per injection. Your vet will determine the variety of injections your pup will need, they usually may additionally have additional costs to your allergy treatment plan.
Easing The Cost Of Care
Treating allergies may be very expensive. One of the best option to ease the price of care is to cover your pup with pet insurance from day one. Our experts review the perfect pet insurance firms to allow you to determine what is true for you. Remember, you may have to have your policy before diagnosis, so that you don’t have limitations for pre-existing conditions.
Sources: [1] University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, [2] University of Wisconsin-Madison
Tagged With: Reviewed By Dr. Racine, DVM
