Saving Money On Atopica and Cyclosporine - Buy Online At Discount
Save around 50% on your Atopica when you buy online, we've included two low price sources for you to compare.
* Prices as posted on 2/10/08 are subject to change, number estimates based on comparisons with other stores.
Canine Dog Skin Allergy Issues & Treatment Options such as Atopica
Atopic dermatitis, Atopy and Canine Dermatitis are names for
skin conditions in dogs, often those allergic to airborne allergens.
Potential allergens can include pollen, dust mites, trees, weeds,
mould spores, even people dander!
Tiny allergen creating creatures live in all of our houses,
in carpets, beds and other soft furnishings.
They feed on skin scales that are constantly falling from people and animals then
litter our environments with hard to see fecal pellets of half-digested food and
enzymes. It is these minute particles that contain the troublesome allergens.
Dogs often respond differently to area allergens than people do.
For instance, people react to troublesome allergens with sneezing and congestion, whereas,
a dog's allergies usually result in itchy skin, ears and paws instead.
Our
pet allergy relief section has products to reduce or
help destroy area allergen causing particles
including laundry detergents, sprays and solutions.
Atopic dermatitis often shows itself in the first two years. Dog skin allergy
symptoms include rashes, very itchy skin, scratching constantly,
rubbing the face often and/or frequently chewing on their paws
Others will have red hot to the touch ears,
and/or frequent ear, bacterial and yeast infections may occur.
Atopy is diagnosed using different methods, including ruling out other issues with
similar signs such as lice, flea infestation or sarcoptic mange. Food allergies can also
cause similar skin problems and can exist concurrently or separate from allergies to
airborne particles. Veterinarians often try food allergy tests first and
a change in diet before proceeding further.
We personally had success with merely changing foods based on food allergy testing.
Sensitivity testing can also be done, 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.
One canine skin allergy in dog treatment option is oral medications. 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 which 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.
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.
Please visit closely with your veterinarian regarding the pros and
cons of this and any pet med treatment before you decide which
treatment to use for your specific pet's needs.
 |
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 allergen sensitivities.
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 that they
have to be given somewhat often in the beginning, sometimes every day. Many pet owners do not
like the idea of having to give their dog a shot themselves and/or it can be difficult to
take their buddy into the vet every day. In addition, they can take up to 9 months to start to
show any real benefits and only about 60% of dogs treated will show results.
In certain cases, your dog's veterinarian may recommend shampoos like
Relief
and badly infected skin problems may need antibiotics
and washing
as often as twice a week until conditions improve.
Other oral med treatments such as
antihistamines, antibiotics and/or cortisone tablets may also be recommended as treatment options.
In general, treatment of canine dog skin allergy issues is more a matter of controlling the symptoms
than actually curing the cause.
There can be set backs along the way and it will probably take some trial
and error on different treatment methods to determine what pet medications and treatment plans
will work best for your specific dog.
Other Dog Skin Allergy Medications Sometimes Prescribed:
Prednisone 
Dexamethasone
Chlorpheniramine
Clemastine
Temaril P
Triamcinolone
Genesis Spray
Compare Pet Meds Prices
