| When is the best time to give the Injection
? |
| The best time to administer the immunotherapy injection is
when you will be home for at least one hour after giving the injection.
Also, it is best that your dog or cat is not heavily exercised or
fed for one hour before or after the injection. If possible, give the injection
when your local Veterinary Surgery is open (for the rare instance of
an adverse reaction) or be aware of the location of the nearest
emergency clinic. |
| Is Immunotherapy safe for my pet ? |
| Yes, immunotherapy is the safest way to control allergic signs
in your pet. As with any injection there is a very slight chance of
a reaction to the injection. If you notice any unusual signs following
an immunotherapy injection, such as heavy breathing, vomiting, diarrhoea,
collapse or sudden lumps over the body, contact your veterinary surgeon
immediately who will advise you on any necessary action. |
| Are there other reactions to watch for
in my pet ? |
| Some increase in itchiness is normal during the initial phase
of immunotherapy. Some pets will also show increased itchiness immediately
after starting injections from a new treatment vial. Contact your
veterinary surgeon to discuss any reaction(s) that you notice
while your pet is on immunotherapy. |
| How soon can I expect to see some improvement
from my pet's Immunotherapy ? |
Every animal is an individual and, just like people, will
respond differently to a given medication. On average it takes three
to four months of therapy before improvement is seen, although some
owners feel they see improvement following the initial injection! It takes
time, however, for your pet's immune system to change and become tolerant.
In most cases, the allergy has been present for months or even years
prior to starting immunotherapy.
Be patient! Continue with immunotherapy until the initial vial is completed
(approximately 6 months) to give your pet time to improve. |
| Can my pet receive other medications while
on Immunotherapy ? |
| Your Veterinary Surgeon may elect to use medications such
as antihistamines, steroids and shampoos to help keep your pet comfortable
during the early stages (first 3-4 months) of immunotherapy,
when there are concurrent skin problems or at times of high exposure
to allergens. Do not consider immunotherapy failure because of the need
to use occasional medications. One of the effects of immunotherapy
is to reduce the dependency on, not necessarily eliminate, the need for
other drugs. Like many chronic diseases, allergies can be controlled
but not cured. |
| How often will my pet require Immunotherapy
injections ? |
Generally, allergies are a lifelong problem that can be controlled
but not cured. Once your pet's skin disease is controlled, or during
the colder months of the year, you may find that you can increase
the time period between maintenance injections. In general, pets that
do well on immunotherapy will slowly relapse if the injections are stopped.
Immunotherapy injections may be required for the life of the pet.
When the initial treatment is completed you should discuss the case
with your Veterinary Surgeon who will order a further vial if there
has been a satisfactory response. Your pets immunotherapy is individualised,
so please 'phone your Veterinary Surgeon one month before you need
a new vial. |
| What if my dog is not doing well on
Immunotherapy ? |
| A small percentage of dogs and cats do not respond to immunotherapy
even though they are genuinely allergic, your Veterinary Surgeon will
advise on alternative methods of control. In other cases poor response
may be due to concurrent or complicating skin disease. It is important
that you work closely with your Veterinary Surgeon. The problem may
be as simple as flea infestation (there is currently no effective flea
immunotherapy), bacterial infection, seborrhoea or other treatable
condition. In other cases, it may be necessary to change the contents,
dosage or concentration of the immunotherapy. |
| Are there
other measures that may help my Allergic pet ? |
| At the time your pet begins immunotherapy, you will receive
a list of the allergens to which your pet reacted. The following table
outlines environmental measures that you may take to help minimise
your pet's exposure to certain allergens. Remember, most allergens
are airborne so placing your pet in a glass bubble is the only way to eliminate
them completely. In spite of this, you can significantly help your
allergic pet by making some simple lifestyle changes. |
Allergen:
House
Dust Mites |
Put a plastic zippered cover over the pet's bed;
Wash bedding in hot water (>70c) or place bean bags in
the deep freeze to kill and denature mites;
Allow bedding to thoroughly dry; Aeration and drying in sunlight will kill
house dust mites;
Do not allow your pet to sleep on furniture or your bed;
Avoid stuffed toys;
Bed on cotton in uncarpeted rooms. |
Allergen:
Moulds |
Keep out of damp basements;
Keep away from barns;
Avoid dusty foods;
Keep out of conservatories and greenhouses, bathrooms and other
rooms with high humidity. |
Allergen:
Pollens |
Avoid fields with long grass;
Keep the animal inside whilst mowing the lawn;
Keep away from grass clippings;
Keep the animal inside at dawn and dusk and when heavy pollen loads
are forecasted. |
Allergen:
Storage
Mites |
Store complete diets and dry foods in plastic containers with a
lid.
Do not store in open bags or boxes;
Wash the container between batches;
Do not feed the "crumbs" that accumulate at the
bottom of these containers;
Wipe your pet's mouth and lips with a damp sponge or cloth after
feeding to remove and food particles
remaining on the skin. |