How Effective Are Allergy Shots For Dogs?
Results will vary for each dog, but allergy shots can be very effective.
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.”1
UW Veterinary Care at the University of Wisconsin-Madison weighs in on Cytopoint’s 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.”2
Immunotherapy may be an effective treatment option
Is something itching at your dog?
If an allergy is to blame, it probably falls into one of three categories, according to Dr. Scott Miller, who recently completed an internship in small animal dermatology at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. The options are flea allergic dermatitis, food allergies, and environmental allergies, also called “atopy” and “atopic dermatitis.”
“Flea allergy is considered the most common allergy affecting dogs, though that varies based on geography,” says Dr. Miller. “For example, fleas do not survive well in the Southwest. Environmental allergies are more common there.”
Food allergies are less common. When they do occur, these allergies are most often tied to a specific protein source, such as chicken or beef, rather than to a grain, like corn or rice.
Flea and food allergies are both fairly straightforward to treat. Got fleas? Control the fleas. Food allergy? Attempt to avoid that food.
Con: They can be expensive
Immunotherapy for dogs isn’t 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 she’ll have to deal with constantly having annoying allergy symptoms, it may be worth it in the long run.