Treatment And Medication For Dog Food Allergies
Vets treat dog food allergies with several methods. Since some dog food allergies have the symptoms that are similar to inhalant allergies in dogs and can even co-exist, vets will recommend a change in diet before further testing. Apart from sensitivity testing, allergens are injected under the skin to see whether there is a reaction to the potential allergen. Once diagnosed, there are several dog allergy treatment options available, including Atopica.
Oral Medication In Dog Food Allergy Treatment
One dog skin allergy treatment option is oral medications, although some dog owners will find administering the oral medication somewhat challenging. In the past, cortosteroids such as prednisone and dexamethasone have been used to treat atopic dermatitis, however, Corticosteroids are usually given on a short term or limited basis as steroids often have long term side effects and can interfere with the dog's immune system and ability to fight infection.
Recently, an oral form of cyclosporine known as atopica, from Novartis, has been released in hopes of treating dog skin allergy issues without long term side effects of previously used meds.
Atopica is usually given once a day in the beginning and eventually tapered off to a schedule of every other day or less. The most common side effect seen with cyclosporine is an upset stomach that may manifest itself through a loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea. In this case the dosage is usually reduced, however, the upset stomach issues usually resolve themselves after a week or two and the dog can then proceed with the recommended dose.
Possible Side Effects In Dog Skin Allergy Medication
As with any drugs, Atopica can have side effects and/or interactions with other pet medications, and should therefore be administered carefully. Consequently, atopica and other cyclosporine products are not a good solution for every dog, including pregnant or lactating females. Another treatment option sometimes recommended by veterinarians is a hyposensitising vaccine, what we might call "allergy shots" formulated to your pet's specific needs. A vaccine is created focused on your dog's specific dog skin allergy.
The vaccine is injected into the dog beginning with a very small dose and then gradually increasing the dose. The goal is for the dog's body to slowly get used to these allergens to where it will stop reacting adversely to them. The down side to allergy shots is that they can be very expensive and pet owners generally do not feel comfortable administering the shots.
Knowing how to spot dander allergies symptoms early saves your dog great discomfort and in certain cases, even save its life by taking it to the vet for dog skin allergy treatment and medication.
