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After a
year of itchiness that was only resolved by prednisone, my vet and I
decided to give allergy shots a try for my young dog. Steroids aren't a great long-term solution
and diet management can only go so far.
Shots seem to be the best way to deal with my dog's numerous environmental
allergies.
Allergy shots for dogs are not unlike allergy shots for
people. Allergen immunotherapy is used
to reduce symptoms of allergic reactions and hopefully produce long-term
remission. First up is a low dose of a
small concentration. It is gradually
increased and later switched to a low dose of a higher concentration. It can take several months of shots before an
individual begins to show immunologic tolerance.
Details about Dosing
VARL looked at Freckles' allergy test results and decided on
the allergens that were the most important.
You can view them and the concentration on the image to the right.
The allergenic compounds are measured in protein nitrogen
units (PNU). This is the measurement of
nitrogen incorporated in the protein molecules and is not comparable between
manufacturers. Freckles started off at a
concentration of 2,000 PNU/ml and is now on 20,000 PNU/ml.
The injection schedule is tough at first but is less
frequent over time:
- Every other day for the first month
- Every 10 days for the second month
- Every 14 days for the third and fourth months
- Every 21 days after that
Supplies and
Procedure
Freckles' vials of allergen immunotherapy vaccine come
straight from VARL. The vet gave me a
prescription to purchase needles and syringes at a pharmacy. I compared prices and it's actually cheaper
to buy them at a pharmacy than at a place like Tractor Supply. The pharmacy gave me needles similar to those
used by diabetics.
A dog's injections are given subcutaneously (under the skin)
at the back of the neck. It's important
to vary the location of the needle each day to avoid soreness. Freckles is very well-behaved and usually doesn't
notice the injections.
Check back for another blog entry in four to six months. At that time I'll post an update to let you know if the shots are helping.
Resources: VARL; Wikipedia - Allergen
immunotherapy
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