Allergy Injection for Dogs – Pros and Cons

Allergies in dogs can be just as frustrating as they are in humans. However, there are several effective treatment options available, including allergy injections for dogs. This powerful remedy can provide relief for your dog and, in some circumstances, cure him. In this article, I will look into all the details you need to work with your veterinarian to determine the best allergy injection for your dog.

Let’s get into it!

What Common Allergies Do Dogs Need Injections For?

Dogs can be affected by a variety of allergies. Skin allergies are the most common. Your dog’s skin allergy is most likely caused by one of three things:

1) Flea allergy dermatitis is an allergic reaction to flea bites in your dog. It causes itchy, red, and inflamed skin in your dog. Flea allergies can be controlled by using preventative medication to keep fleas away from your dog.

2) Food allergies can cause itching, hives, skin infections, and ear infections, among other things. Food allergies can also cause itchy ears, itchy paws, and digestive issues. True food allergies, on the other hand, are far less common than you may believe.

3) Dust, pollen, smoke, mould, grasses, and other substances in the environment can cause environmental allergies. The immune system of your dog may react to these allergens as if they are foreign invaders (such as viruses or bacteria).

Darkening af skin on abdomen
Labrador with darkened skin on the abdomen

Seasonal allergies in dogs can occur once or twice a year. Other dogs suffer from allergies all year. Seasonal allergies in dogs, on the other hand, can develop into year-round allergies. The best way to slow the progression and severity of dog allergies is to detect them early and treat them.

Is there An Injection For Dog Allergies?

Yes! Vets administer allergy injections to dogs in order to alleviate the symptoms of allergies and “teach” the dog’s immune system to tolerate the allergens. In fact, allergy shots are one of the most effective therapies for dog allergies.

Allergy injections for dogs can be classified into three categories:

  1. Cytopoint
  2. Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy (ASIT)
  3. Steroids

1) Cytopoint (Lokivetmab)

Cytopoint is also known as Lokivetmab. It’s the newest type of shot used to treat allergies in dogs. Cytopoint is a monoclonal antibody that acts by blocking the circulatory protein before it can send itching signals to your dog’s nervous system.

2) Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy (ASIT)

ASIT is what most people commonly refer to as the “allergy shot”.  ASIT can be used to help dogs overcome their allergies. However, ASIT can only be used to treat dogs with environmental allergies.

3. Steroids

Steroids which are used to treat allergy symptoms in dogs suppress the dog’s body’s immunological response to allergens. However, due to the wide spectrum of adverse effects, injectable steroids, in particular, have recently fallen out of favour for the treatment of allergies.

What Shot Do Vets give Dogs For Itching?

Cytopoint!

Cytopoint for Dogs

Cytopoint is the most common shot vets give to dogs to reduce or treat the itching. However, this shot is not an allergy vaccine for itching in dogs but rather, a shot that relieves itching in dogs.

The Cytopoint shot is used to treat itching in dogs that have allergic skin responses or atopic dermatitis. In most dogs, one injection relieves itching within 24 hours and lasts for four to eight weeks. However, some dogs may require Cytopoint medication all year, while others may only require it seasonally.

How Does Cytopoint Work?

The Cytopoint allergy shot for dogs is a biological treatment that mimics the immune system of your dog. It has generated monoclonal antibodies that are identical to those produced naturally by your dog. These antibodies work by neutralizing a protein in your dog’s body that causes itching, reducing scratching and helping the skin to recover.

What Are The Side Effects of Cytopoint?

Lethargy is the most common side effect of Cytopoint in dogs. However, this side effect is self-limiting.

Some dogs may also develop Cytopoint side effects such as:

  • Vomiting
  • Hyper-excitability
  • Painful reaction at the injection site
  • Urine incontinence

Although these are unusual side effects, as a dog owner, you should be informed in case your dog exhibits any of these symptoms after having the Cytopoint injection.

Is Cytopoint A Steroid?

No! Cytopoint is not a steroid, and neither is it an immunosuppressive drug. Cytopoint is a sterile canonized anti-IL-31 monoclonal antibody injection that targets the IL-31 pathway to break the cycle of itch and inflammation in dogs with atopic dermatitis.

The injection begins to reduce itchiness within a day, and by day three, the itch is successfully alleviated. However, the shot remains in the dog’s blood circulation for several weeks. Since it is not a drug, the dog’s body naturally breaks it down and recycles it.

What Are The Side Effects of Steroid Injections?

Steroids can have both short- and long-term side effects on your dog.

Short-Term Side Effects of Steroids in Dogs

Short-term side effects are those that a dog may experience after receiving steroids for the first time. These side effects vary depending on the type of steroid used and the dosage given and they include:

  • General loss of energy
  • Panting
  • Increased thirst and urination
  • Nausea or vomiting (less common)
  • Increased hunger
  • Development or worsening of infections (especially bacterial skin infections)

With the use of steroids, certain pre-diabetic dogs may develop diabetes. Diabetes in many of these cases goes away once the steroid is discontinued.

If any of these side effects develop, they may usually be avoided by reducing the dosage or frequency of administration. In rare circumstances, your veterinarian should prescribe a different steroid to try to alleviate the side effects. The goal is to find the smallest amount of steroids that will control the condition with the fewest side effects.

Long-Term Side Effects of Steroids In Dogs

Some dog diseases and medical conditions necessitate long-term steroid prescriptions, either anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive. However, additional side effects become a worry when steroids are administered for more than three to four months, especially at an immunosuppressive dosage.

The following are the most common long-term side effects of steroids in dogs:

  • Muscle weakness due to protein catabolism
  • Development of thin skin and weak or thin fur
  • Development of urinary tract infections (UTIs)
  • Development of calcinosis cutis (hard plaques or spots on the skin)
  • Inability to heal wounds
  • Obesity
  • A predisposition of diabetes mellitus
  • Increased susceptibility to fungal infections (especially of the nasal cavity)
  • Increased susceptibility to opportunistic or secondary bacterial infections
  • Development of demodectic mange (skin mites)

How Effective Are Allergy Shots for Dogs?

Each dog’s results will vary, but allergy injections can be very successful.

Overall, 60 to 80 per cent of dogs with environmental allergies will respond very well to allergy shots, often eradicating the need for other medications the pet may have been given to control signs,” says Dr Scott Miller, an intern in small animal dermatology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “Young dogs may respond better to immunotherapy than older canines,” he added.

“Cytopoint does not work for every dog,” says UW Veterinary Care at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, “but we believe it helps in roughly 75 per cent of cases.” The itch relief can be substantial and long-lasting in some circumstances, but it can also be modest and/or short-lived in others.”

Overall, 60 to 80 per cent of dogs with environmental allergies will respond very well to allergy shots, often eradicating the need for other medications the pet may have been given to control signs

Dr Scott Miller

Bottom Line

The earlier your dog begins allergy shots, the more effective the treatment will be. Most environmental allergies in dogs appear between the ages of six months and three years. Allergies in dogs might worsen as they age, or new allergies can emerge.

You and your veterinarian must both be committed to the treatment plan when it comes to allergy shots. It can take up to a year to determine whether or not allergy vaccinations are effective for your dog.

To decide whether you should pursue this option, think about your dog’s health and comfort, as well as your resources and schedule!


Admin Team
Admin Team
Articles: 73