Allergy shots?
 

Callie has seasonal allergies and takes Hydroxyzine and it helps but I feel so bad making her take a pill every day let alone every 12 hours when its bad. Well Callie gets very itchy and her skin breaks out, ears itch, eyes water and nose runs. I know humans get allergy shots do they have them for dogs? What are safe and good ones? Can a regular vet give these or do you have to go to a specialty vet? How often do you have to get them? Are they very expensive? I am asking all this because it looks like its gonna be a bad year for allergies we have had a warm winter mostly and when we have a few really nice days in a row the symptoms are definitely there.

Testing is done before the injections. Not a bad idea to see a derm. Long-term, this is probably the best way to go.

If you aren't ready to do that and there is a lot of breakthrough itching with the antihistamine, Atopica is an option (although there can be some serious side effects long-term bc it's an immunosuppressant - it is a good drug though).

Do you know the best way to find a derm.? Would shots be daily or like monthly? I know shots are never fun but I feel it might help her better.

The American College of Veterinary Dermatology should have a listing on thier website.

I think they are usually given weekly, but not sure. It might vary depending on how far along in the treatment you are.

Yes, for long-term management, do allergy testing to figure out what the problem is and then treating it with injections is a good way to go. They can occasionally make the problem worse though. Best to talk to a derm about your options.

Thank you

Bentley developed environmental and food allergies last year. I found out what he was allergic to through a blood test. My vet sent it out and the lab tests listed all of the things he is allergic to and made up the serum.

The food is controlled by me and the shot I give him is for the environmental things such as oak, grass, fungus, mold, fleas and a lot more. I started giving the injections last September.

I would discuss with your vet what would be helpful for Callie. I hope you can get relief for her. Dyan

My husband administers an allergy shot to my 6.8 yr. old Miss Mini every two weeks.

You don't necessarily need a Dermatologist. Call your vet and see what/if they use, most VETS and (DERMS included) simply draw blood and send it to a specialized laboratory for testing. Once the results of the testing come back it will reveal most, if not all of the allergens. Based on the results, your vet and you will discuss which allergens are most bothersome for your baby and select a number of them to be included in the serum.

When the vet receives the serum back you come in and teach you how to administer the serum which comes with a set schedule to follow.

After the first couple months its a breeze and most only have to have the shots every 3-4 wks. for maintenance. It really is very simple, and a godsend for us.

Now with all that said if you reallllyyyy don't want to administer the shot yourself (really is very easy) you can have your vets office, usually the vet tech will do it in a pinch, for little cost!

The name of the company we get our serum from is VARL - they do have a website.

If you want or need anymore info, please let me know.

ALSO: IT IS REALLY NOT THAT EXPENSIVE FOR A LITTLE DOG, THE INITIAL TESTING IS 3-400.00 AND THE SERUM COMES EVERY 6 MONTHS AND COSTS 185.00

Oh and yes, I DID GO TO A topnotch Derm for a 2nd opinion and she told me that my vet was right on target...

Good luck

Home Heres the link if you want to check it out.

One of my Yorkies was highly allergic. We did testing for environmental allergies and I gave her allergy shots with the serum. It wasn't difficult to do, but unfortunately it didn't help her allergies enough, and she had to take additional medication. I hope you can find the answers to help Callie more. You are such a wonderful mom!

I'm so sorry you had a bad experience. Did you work with your vet on the problem? Miss Mini has allergies so extreme she is allergic to humans! I always find that funny, considering shes a licky lapdog! lol anyways, Mini has severe allergies and remember the serum is a desensitizing method, so like everything it takes time.

Administering the shots are super easy and our vet spent 2 hours making sure we knew exactly how to do it. We have had to adjust the serum etc., and the schedule calls for maintenance shots at 3 to 4 weeks. Didn't work with Miss Mini so we went with two weeks.

It is so worth it to us, this poor baby really suffers with allergies. It is worth every penney now and her allergies are all but a memory.

If you didn't have good luck with your vet perhaps you should see an Allergist? Maybe they could help you more? I know how difficult it is when they have allergies.