Cytopoint is a medicine we can inject to dogs manifesting serious allergies in their skins. Cytopoint does not suppress the immune system like Apoquel does. In fact, Cytopoint depends on a fully functional immune system which is why it’s nuts to use Apoquel and cytopoint together: Cytopoint is trying to create an immune-response to an inflammatory enzyme, while Apoquel is crushing that enzyme, and the whole immune system that would otherwise be needed for Cytopoint to work. But some vets never read the fine print and use them together.
So Cytopoint is a form of “allergy shot” which calls up an immune response to an enzyme that cascades into inflammation and itching.
Here are some case studies about Cytopoint here at the clinic.
Case #1 – (Typical of many cases) Good result. Gets the shot about every 4 to 6 weeks and is comfortable with minimal if any skin lesions.
Case #2 – Absolutely no results. Like we gave a water-shot. Repeated – still no results. We gave up on Cytopoint in that case.
Case #3 – “Ollie” We gave Cytopoint and the dog responded impressively, for 2 weeks then began itching again. At that rate it wasn’t going to be cost effective. But we gave a second shot anyway and THAT second shot lasted 6+ weeks. Now he’s getting the shot every 4-6 weeks like the average case.
Case #4 – Parker – Got a Cytopoint shot and responded astonishingly well, and completely! Itching wasn’t really the “thing” with the case; but featured a broken skin that looked like it SHOULD have been itching. Images follow:
