Allergy Shots for your Dog – The Pros and Cons

When I first spotted my dog’s rash, I opened my laptop and turned to Google to get a desperately needed answer. While the vet was the next call, a jumping-off point was necessary to know the right questions to ask.

I needed to understand allergy shots dogs’ pros and cons of allergy medication, and I needed to understand them quickly.

Unlike the liver-damaging properties found in steroids that are used in more severe allergy cases, the allergy shot acts as a remedy with few side effects.

With inevitable advantages and drawbacks to the allergy shot, as with any type of medication, it’s important to be informed as you work out a course of action to mend your pup.

Allergy medications are used to improve in-the-moment symptoms of allergies, providing temporary relief while the hyposensitization process takes over.

This type of allergy immunotherapy gets to the heart of the allergy issue and alters the dog’s immune system and response to sensitivities.

After careful consultation with a vet, they identify the particular allergen(s) in question and create what is essentially a bespoke vaccine containing the offending irritant.

The dog’s immune system will take over and build a tolerance to the sensitivity that’s bothering him, meaning prolonged use of medication might not be necessary.

And if an allergy shot becomes a lifelong requirement, I and other dog owners can relax knowing a treatment plan is available that doesn’t involve a long-term, chemical-laden approach.

Further exposure in a controlled manner boosts the dog’s immune system, making him increasingly less sensitive to the allergens.

The issue here is that owners can’t bear to see their beloved pets suffer, and hyposensitization is a process that takes months before results become clear.

While immunotherapy is a solid long-term approach to combatting allergy issues, it’s understandable that steroids, being a tougher and more immediate treatment method, have become more appealing in the short term.

How To Tell If Your Dog Has Allergies

When it comes to the care and comfort of dogs, no owner can ever be too careful.

I keep a particularly close eye on my dogs during allergy season, but it’s best to be vigilant year-round.

If you suspect that your dog is suffering from allergies not related to his diet, watch out for tell-tale signs.

These symptoms range from minor to more worrisome, e.g., sneezing, swelling, excessive licking, hives, rashes, prolonged itching, diarrhoea, vomiting, inflamed skin, etc. 

If you spot any of these symptoms and you can’t reach a vet at that moment, there’s no need to panic.

Choose from a market of at-home allergy test kits to determine if the symptoms are in fact related to a potential allergy.

When it’s time for a visit to your vet, you’ll get a full diagnosis and can begin working on the right treatment plan.

Are Allergy Shots for Dogs Safe?

Allergy shots for your ailing pup are safe and encouraged by skilled veterinarians the world over.

Symptoms of allergies – like excessive scratching and gnawing – can lead to secondary issues such as infections.

Repeated irritation of the skin can also affect a dog’s mental health and wellbeing, leading to obsessive behaviour in which bad habits are formed and difficult to break.

Keep your dog’s long-term health at the forefront of your mind and nip the issue in the bud when it first appears.

Administering the jab itself is deemed so safe that it can be overseen by the owner, after a brief instruction by the vet.

While total safety can’t be guaranteed, a severe reaction to hyposensitization is rare and shouldn’t be used as a reason to avoid this approach to maintaining your pup’s health.

To be there for your dog in the case of an emergency, monitor them after providing the jab, and watch for signs of a negative reaction: difficulty breathing, lethargy, hives, vomiting, pale gums, diarrhoea.

Be ready to immediately contact your vet if you spot any of these signs.

Widely known to be a safer option in comparison to steroid treatment, allergy shots provide a safe way to combat what can sometimes be a lifelong issue for a dog.

While regularly administering an injection to your dog might not initially appeal, it provides the opportunity to treat the allergy whilst protecting them from chemicals that can negatively impact their health.

What Are the Side Effects of Allergy Shots?

Cytopoint shots are the most commonly chosen by dog owners as they carry the fewest risks, with the worst being the swelling of the face often coupled with an itchy rash.

Considerably the safest option of the three primary types of allergy shots, Cytopoint is ideal for treating both atopic and allergic dermatitis.

Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy (ASIT) shots demand a watchful eye over your dog after the injection has been administered. This is particularly important for an hour post-jab, as these shots can sometimes cause allergic anaphylactic reactions.

Aside from that rare risk, ASIT shots are generally a safe course of treatment, with few adverse effects that can put your dog’s health in jeopardy.

In terms of immunotherapy and its side effects, itchiness after the injection is likely. To avoid anaphylaxis post-injection, low doses are provided as the dog’s tolerance grows.

While steroids are effective in treating canine allergies, there are associated risks. With short-term steroid use, you can expect to see stomach issues, excessive thirst and hunger, and lethargy.

Though these hazards lead to discomfort for an already poorly dog, the side effects associated with long-term use are far harsher and include diabetes, skin infections, muscle mass loss, increased body fat, etc.

Because of the potential risks, veterinarians advise temporarily treating a severe rash with steroids, and opting for a different, less aggressive approach for long-term treatment.

After steroid use comes to an end, symptoms can reappear worse than before, so it’s best to speak with a vet to discuss the right plan for your pup to avoid that possibility.

Every dog is different, meaning a different course of action is required for each pup. If you’re worried about a particular reaction you’re seeing in your dog, contact your vet immediately.

What Is the Best Allergy Shot for Dogs?

Cytopoint comes out on top of the list of popular allergy shots among dog owners and veterinarians alike.

Along with studies that demonstrate its overall effectiveness, its fast-working properties mean your dog can begin feeling relief from that irritating itch within just a day.

As an antibody alternative to the steroid approach, Cytopoint isn’t chemical-based, meaning this treatment will go easy on any pooch’s internal system.

Priced at between $65 and $135 per injection, the cost can be steep depending on the number of shots your dog requires.

It’s generally effective for between four and eight weeks, though that timeframe varies for different breeds and sizes.

To alleviate these potentially high costs, veterinarians encourage dog owners be intimately aware of their dogs’ environments and take an allergen avoidance approach at the beginning of the treatment phase.

When avoidance isn’t a possibility, work with your vet to identify a particular allergen and sensitivity that can be treated with immunotherapy.

This plan, coupled with symptom-combatting medication like Cytopoint, can work to provide your dog with both short- and long-term relief.


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