​Canine atopy or the red, burning, itchy skin that accompanies pollen, mold, dust mite, or other environmental allergens, is one of the leading reasons pet parents rush their dog to the veterinarian. Most dogs experience worsening symptoms over time, leading to pain and discomfort, skin infections, and diminished quality of life. Allergic dogs don’t sleep well, constantly lick and chew, and lose interest in play and interaction.

In short, dogs suffering from skin allergies are unhappy.  Luckily, there’s an innovative, effective treatment to help!  
 
What is canine atopic dermatitis?
Canine atopic dermatitis is a common allergic skin disease, affecting almost 10% of dogs worldwide. It may be caused by genes that make your dog more likely to have a strong reaction when exposed to allergens.  Like human allergies, it can be triggered by pollens or molds during certain seasons, or by dust mites or other allergens in the environment.

Over time, atopic dermatitis can worsen and become a serious health issue. Your dog’s skin can become extremely itchy, red, scaly and irritated. If your dog is not treated, there is a risk of hair loss, skin infections and ear infections.

Dogs with atopic dermatitis may lose interest in playing or wake their owners in the night with sounds of licking, chewing and scratching. This constant itching and scratching can have a negative effect on the daily life and happiness of your dog—and even on your dog’s relationship with you and your family.
 
How does CYTOPOINT help reduce itch and allow damaged skin to heal?
CYTOPOINT is different from traditional drugs that treat itch. It is a biological therapy—a type of non-pharmaceutical treatment that works like your dog’s immune system. CYTOPOINT contains engineered antibodies very similar to natural dog antibodies. Antibodies are what an animal’s immune system uses to defend the body against infection or disease.

​In this case, the antibodies in CYTOPOINT have been designed to specifically target and neutralize one of the main proteins that sends itch signals to your dog’s brain. This helps reduce scratching so the skin has a chance to heal.  

CYTOPOINT is an injection that your veterinarian gives your dog once every 4 to 8 weeks, as needed. In studies, after one injection, CYTOPOINT started controlling itch within 1 day, and kept itch controlled for a month or longer. CYTOPOINT also helped damaged skin begin to heal within 7 days.

Is CYTOPOINT safe?
In a clinical study, dogs receiving CYTOPOINT injections had no more side effects than dogs who received placebo injections (injections with no treatment at all). CYTOPOINT is safe to use in dogs of any age, and can be used with many other commonly used medications and in dogs with other diseases.
Because CYTOPOINT is a biological therapy and not a drug, it is naturally broken down and recycled by the body. It is not eliminated from the body via the liver or kidneys like most pharmaceutical drug products. This is one of the reasons CYTOPOINT can be a safe choice for your dog.

Think your dog might have atopic dermatitis?  Take this brief questionnaire!

​How long will one injection last?
One CYTOPOINT injection helps control itch for 4 to 8 weeks. That means your dog may be able to go as long as 8 weeks1 between injections. Every dog is different, so your veterinarian, with your help, will monitor your dog during treatment with CYTOPOINT.

How will I know when it is time for my dog to get another CYTOPOINT injection?
Your veterinarian may have already set up a return appointment for about 4 weeks after the initial injection. If you don’t have a return appointment, your veterinarian may ask you to call when you notice your dog scratching again. If this is the case, monitor your dog’s behavior daily and be sure to call for an appointment as soon as you see your dog scratching.

How long will my dog need CYTOPOINT treatment?
Some dogs have year-round disease and may need continuous treatment with CYTOPOINT, whereas other dogs may only need CYTOPOINT when itch flares (for example, during allergy season). You and your veterinarian should decide together what is best for your dog’s specific situation.

CYTOPOINT helps improve the quality of life for dogs and their families.
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Surveys of owners whose dogs have been treated with CYTOPOINT reflect that its effective, convenient, long-term itch relief has a positive effect on quality of life!

Turkey Skin, Ham, and Cooked Bones.
Foods that are high in fat like turkey skin and ham can be very dangerous for your pet to consume. Eating turkey or turkey skin – sometimes even a small amount – can cause a life-threatening condition in pets known as pancreatitis.  In addition, turkey and ham bones are hollow and easily splinter in a dog’s digestive tract.

Grapes and Raisins
Although the ingredient and mechanism is still unknown, consuming grapes or raisins could cause severe kidney damage or failure or even be fatal.

Onions and Garlic
Onions and garlic contain sulfides, which are toxic to dogs. Onions also contain the ingredient called thiosulphate which is toxic to both dogs and cats. Keep in mind that cooking these ingredients does not reduce their toxicity.

Walnuts and Macadamia Nuts
While many nuts can cause gastric intestinal upset or obstruction in a dog, others are potentially more serious. Specifically, walnuts and macadamia nuts are extremely dangerous for dogs and could cause vomiting, fever, and more serious complications. Other nuts that shouldn’t be consumed by dogs are almonds, pecans, pistachios and hickory nuts.

Chocolate and Baked Sweets
We all know that chocolate is a BIG no-no for dogs, but often many of the ingredients in our favorite Thanksgiving baked treats are harmful to our pets too. Nutmeg which is sometimes used to spice sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie is potentially dangerous. Though sweet potatoes and pumpkin itself are not bad, they cannot contain any nutmeg (or other toxic ingredients) if you decide to sneak your dog a Thanksgiving treat. Dough and batter are also potentially troubling, as they contain raw eggs. Other baked sweets likely contain sugar and fat. Though we find these things delicious, we should keep our pets away from them.
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Alcohol
Any and every type of alcohol is toxic for your pet. Though your dog may like the taste of beer, their kidneys were not meant to filter or process the alcohol content of beer, wine or any alcoholic beverage. Even small amounts of liquor can be lethal to a dog or cat.

They are black with white stripes, and bite in the daytime. All three species have transmitted heartworm in other countries, and are capable of spreading it here. 


What is heartworm disease? 
It's caused by worm called Dirofilaria immittis, which is spread through mosquito bites. The adult worms live in the heart and large blood vessels in the chest. Dogs, coyotes, wolves, ferrets, seals, and sea lions can all become infected. Transmission occurs when a mosquito bites an infected animal, and then bites an uninfected animal, passing the disease along. 
What are the symptoms?
Tiredness, problems breathing, coughing, and heart failure can all be signs of Heartworm Disease. Infection can be present without symptoms for quite a while. 
How do you know if your pet is infected?
A heartworm test performed by a veterinarian is the only way to know if your pet is affected. It is a simple blood test. If you're concerned your pet may have heartworm, or hasn't been on a heartworm preventative consistently, please contact our office to discuss heartworm test for your pet. 
What is the treatment for heartworms?
Heartwom disease is treated only under the close supervision of a veterinarian. The pet is given a medication that kills the worms. However, as the worms die, there is a risk of the pet having a bad reaction to the dead worms. Heartworm preventatives and yearly heartworm tests are key to preventing infection in your pets. 
How can I prevent Heartworm in my pet?
1. Mosquito control-Ensuring there is no stagnant water on  your property is very important. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Dumping standing water every 2 days will help break up the breeding cycle.
2. Heartworm preventative medication-This is a prescription provided by your veterinarian. Here at Yosemite, we recommend and carry Heartgard and Trifexis, two oral medications that provide protection against heartworm through an easy 1 dose a month. Please feel free to contact us if you're interested in starting your pet on a heartworm preventative.