What is the Cytopoint Injection for Dogs Used for?
We’ve already talked about how cytopoint injections for dogs work to alleviate itching. However, it’s not for all and any type of itching. Cytopoint is a targeted treatment of itching associated with atopic dermatitis.
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition that occurs in relation to environmental allergies. Just like us, humans or dogs can be allergic to small particles found in the environment. For example, dogs can be allergic to grass or pollen, molds or dust mites, and many other things. Some dogs may even be allergic to perfume!
If your dog is “only” allergic to grass pollen, it may only suffer from seasonal allergies. However, if they’re allergic to dust, they may experience varying degrees of discomfort and itching all year round.
When dogs experience an itch, they scratch, which leads to skin conditions like atopic dermatitis, often resembling what humans call a rash or eczema. Over time the condition can worsen if your dog isn’t treated and become a severe health and welfare concern for your dog.
Luckily, veterinarians have cytopoint – as well as other options – up their sleeves. Cytopoint is a small painless injection placed just under the skin of your dog by a veterinarian, or if you are further along in a treatment plan, by a veterinary nurse.
When does Cytopoint begin to work?
Most dogs experience itch relief less than one day after the injection is given. Remember, though, that even though cytopoint is generally very effective, flare-ups can happen, so keep an eye on your dog!
What is the Cytopoint Injection for Dogs?
Have you ever seen a dog with allergies? They can seem like they’re itching all over and like nothing can make it stop. In these cases, a cytopoint injection for dogs may be precisely what is needed!
A cytopoint injection is a reasonably new treatment for dogs with skin allergies that occurs due to allergies towards environmental allergens. Still, despite being the new kid on the block, it is showing promising results! But, how does the cytopoint work, and is it useful for you?
Cytopoint injections aren’t like the anti-itching medication, drugs, and injections you already know. Instead, they work in a completely new, different, and perhaps better way! Put in as few words as possible; the cytopoint injection works like your dog’s own immune system to combat the itching.
“Regular” pharmaceutical drugs (often glucocorticoids) are made to alleviate itching and other allergy symptoms by inhibiting the inflammatory response that occurs when a dog is allergic to something – thereby removing the itching. These drugs can be exceptionally effective, but they unfortunately also, in most cases, come with a host of unwanted side effects.
To explain cytopoint, it is worth discussing why a dog itches at all. First, allergens (tiny particles of anything a dog may be allergic towards) penetrate the skin barrier. These allergens are what then cause an allergic reaction. The body and immune system think the allergen is “dangerous.” As a defense mechanism, the body releases proteins.
These proteins attach to nerves located within the skin. These nerves then signal to the brain that something is itching – triggering the urge to scratch. It is in part of this chain of events that cytopoint injections come into play. Cytopoint injections are a protein and a biological therapy – not a drug, in the true sense of the word.
Cytopoint contains the active product, an engineered antibody, called lokivetmab. Simply put, the antibody attaches itself to the nerves instead of the protein released by the body. This inhibits the “itching signal” otherwise sent to the brain.
This inhibition means that the dog will no longer feel the itch, and by extension, won’t want to scratch itself further – often a huge relief for both dog and owner. The lack of itching and scratching also means that the skin will finally have time to heal, further helping by removing some of the causes of the itching to begin with.
Cytopoint for dogs! How Cytopoint works with Dr. Dan
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