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If you’re looking to relieve your dog’s discomfort when their allergies flare up, your veterinarian might suggest trying Cytopoint®. While it won’t cure allergies in dogs, this minimal side effect anti-itch injection may reduce your pet’s discomfort and constant scratching, chewing, and licking.
Read on to learn more about how Cytopoint for dogs works and its benefits and limitations.
In This Article
What Is Cytopoint, and How Does it Work?
Cytopoint is a prescription injection designed to treat dogs with atopic dermatitis caused by environmental allergies. The active ingredient in Cytopoint is a monoclonal antibody (mAb) called lokivetmab. Board-certified veterinary dermatologist Dr. Britt Levy explains that this protein is designed to bind to and neutralize a specific molecule called canine interleukin-31 (IL-31). “This is a molecule that makes your dog itchy,” she adds.
In some cases, the injection can provide long-lasting relief from pruritus (itching), minimizing your dog’s discomfort during an allergic flare-up.
When Do Vets Prescribe Cytopoint?
Cytopoint is a well-tolerated treatment with minimal side effects. As a result, it’s an appealing alternative to the traditional options for allergy itch relief.
Veterinarians often suggest Cytopoint for dogs with allergies that experience itchiness but don’t have extreme symptoms. “The dogs that, in my opinion, are not great candidates for Cytopoint are the ones that have thick elephant skin, crusts all over, smell terrible, and are covered in infection,” Levy says.
Cytopoint is primarily designed to provide relief from allergic itching. However, Levy says that your veterinarian may also use it off-label to treat itching caused by other illnesses. “It’s been shown to be effective for itching due to scabies and in some forms of cancer,” she says. “If your dog is really itchy from cutaneous lymphoma, and they can’t be on Apoquel because it is contraindicated in cancer, you could try a Cytopoint injection,” she says.
Effectiveness and Limitations of Cytopoint
Numerous studies suggest Cytopoint is an incredibly safe option for managing environmental allergic itchiness. It has minimal side effects and can be used in conjunction with most other medications. However, it doesn’t work for all patients and won’t treat the underlying cause of the allergies.
Levy describes Cytopoint as one of the weaker treatments from an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory standpoint. “It has an amazing safety profile, so it can be used on puppies, senior dogs, and those that have cancer or chronic illness and are on a million other drugs,” she says. “But if your dog is puffy, bright red, and covered in infection, you may need a stronger drug with a greater anti-inflammatory effect.”
Levy explains that Cytopoint works for about 60% to 65% of itchy dogs. “I tell people, ‘If we try, and it doesn’t last for at least three weeks, it’s likely not the best option for their dog,'” she says.
Plus, for Cytopoint to be effective, it’s best to inject it at the very beginning of an allergic response. “Studies found that IL-31 is active pretty early on in the allergic response, so you don’t have a very long window to catch it,” Levy says. If a dog arrives at her dermatology practice already looking red and inflamed, she might try administering a Cytopoint injection. However, she’ll also give them 3 days of steroids to reduce the inflammation.
How to Administer Cytopoint
Only a veterinary professional should administer Cytopoint. Your dog will receive a measured dose of this prescription allergy treatment via an under-the-skin injection. If effective, your dog’s itchiness should subside within one to two days.
Your veterinarian will help you determine how frequently your dog should receive a repeat dose of Cytopoint. However, this is typically every four weeks to keep chronic itching under control or immediately when you notice your dog starts itching again due to an allergic flare-up. In some cases of seasonal allergies, this may be as infrequently as a couple of times a year.
Levy points out that Cytopoint might not be the best option if you have an anxious dog that is fearful of the injections or going to the vet. Plus, visiting the vet every month isn’t always the most practical option if you have a hectic schedule or live in a rural area.
Side Effects of Cytopoint
One of the main benefits of Cytopoint is its safety. Levy explains that because this antibody therapy targets a specific molecule, it doesn’t affect white blood cells or inflammation. You won’t have to worry about long-term side effects like increasing the risk for diabetes or infection, the way you do with some immunosuppressant drugs, like steroids. Plus, to date, there have been no reported interactions when using Cytopoint alongside other medications.
While rare, some dogs can experience an allergic reaction to Cytopoint. Others may experience mild gastrointestinal symptoms or pain at the injection site immediately after treatment. Also, Cytopoint isn’t recommended for use in pregnant and nursing bitches as safety in this group hasn’t yet been established.
Other Allergy Treatment Options
Don’t feel defeated if your dog doesn’t respond to a Cytopoint injection. There is a wide range of allergy treatment and supportive care options. Levy ranks allergy medications in order of strength, with Cytopoint being the lowest, followed by Apoquel, Cyclosporine, and Zenrelia — a new drug in the same class — then steroids, like prednisone. Topical creams and shampoos can also help protect and improve your dog’s skin.
However, Levy explains that these treatments don’t slow the inevitable progression of your dog’s allergies. Plus, the stronger the medications are, the more side effects they can have. “A lot of times, pet owners come to me saying that they feel like they’re just putting a Band-Aid on the problem, rather than treating the underlying condition,” she says.
Working with your veterinarian or a dermatology specialist to establish and address the cause of your dog’s allergies can be a more effective long-term strategy. However, it does require an element of patience and trial and error. For dogs with food allergies, a strict elimination diet may be necessary to identify safe ingredients.
Levy explains that immunotherapy — specifically, allergy shots — is the gold standard treatment option for environmental allergies. Your veterinarian will first conduct blood or skin prick testing to establish your dog’s allergens. Next, they’ll regularly administer a bespoke immunotherapy treatment via drops or injection, gradually increasing the amount to train your dog’s immune system. Over time, your dog’s reaction to the allergens should lessen or stop altogether.
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.