We’re really excited to tell our clients about Cytopoint, a fast-acting, single-dose injection for dogs with allergic or atopic dermatitis. The response we’ve heard from our clients and the results we’ve seen in our patients have both been overwhelmingly positive and as we head into spring, where seasonal allergies are at their peak, we want our clients to know there are options for managing their dog’s itch.
Atopic dermatitis is a common allergic skin condition in dogs that causes chronic itching. Dogs with atopic dermatitis overall have a reduced quality of life. While dogs can’t tell us how they’re feeling, people with the same condition have reported significant psychological burdens from itching that greatly increases stress levels. We can only imagine that dogs experience similar effects from chronic itching. And it’s not just the dogs who suffer – their owners do too. Pet owner quality of life was directly correlated with a reduction in a dog’s atpoic itch and one study found that pet owner quality of life more than doubled after one week with Cytopoint.
How Cytopoint Works:
-Blocks signals that trigger allergic itch
-Relieves signs of itch such as scratching and licking
-Allows red, irritated skin to heal
Cytopoint is not like traditional pharmaceutical treatments for allergic dog itch. It is a biological medication (a protein, not a chemical) that works like your dog’s own immune system. It is specifically designed to target and neutralize one of the main proteins that send itch signals to your dog’s brain that trigger scratching, licking, and chewing. It has minimal impact on a dog’s normal immune function. Dogs with severe dermatitis may require multiple injections to achieve maximum relief. A 2019 study found that subsequent injections of Cytopoint were shown to help dogs who did not achieve treatment success with their first injection. By their third injection, 93% of all dogs in the study experienced significant relief.
Traditionally, many of the medications veterinarians have used in the past to treat skin issues come with a host of unpleasant side effects and may require daily medication or frequent bathing. With Cytopoint, most dogs needed fewer accompanying medications such as steroids, antibiotics, topical ointments, shampoos, hypoallergenic diets, etc. The safety of Cytopoint has been one of the main draws for us and for our clients. Cytopoint is safe to use in dogs of any age and can be used in dogs taking many other commonly used medications, or dogs with other diseases. In fact, a clinical study showed dogs receiving Cytopoint had no more side effects than dogs receiving placebo. It is not a chemical-based treatment and it does not put pressure on the liver and kidneys.
With Cytopoint, you gain the comfort of knowing every injection is delivered effectively and safely during an office visit. We administer a complete dose that helps relieve allergic dog itch for up to 8 weeks, making the treatment of this allergic skin condition easier for you to manage. The great news is that just one Cytopoint injection can control your dog’s itch for 4 to 8 weeks and it typically starts working fast! Within 24-48 hours after their dog received a Cytopoint injection, most pet parents start to see a significant decrease in symptoms. Because some allergies are seasonal, some of our patients only need one to two injections per year. The length of time the injection will last for each patient varies.
Cytopoint injections improve the quality of life of both the dog and the owner. They not only provide effective and long-lasting control of chronic conditions, but they also lessen pet owner anxiety by restoring a household’s normal routine. If you or your pet are suffering because of allergic or atopic dermatitis and chronic itching, we’d love to talk to you more about Cytopoint for your dog. Call us at 540-776-0700 or request an appointment online.