How Can We Treat Atopy in Dogs? There are three main approaches to treating atopy:

1. Avoiding Allergens: While it’s nearly impossible to completely remove all allergens from a dog’s environment, regular bathing with special shampoos can help wash away allergens from the skin and reduce the severity of the allergic reaction.

2. Medications: Various medications can be used to control the symptoms of atopy. These include antihistamines, steroids, and newer drugs like oclacitinib (Apoquel) or lokivetmab (Cytopoint). Each dog might respond differently to these treatments, so vets may try different medications to find the most effective one.

3. Immunotherapy: This treatment, also known as allergy shots, involves giving the dog small, gradually increasing doses of the allergens they’re allergic to. Over time, this helps the dog’s immune system become less reactive to those allergens. While it can take several months to see the effects, immunotherapy can be very effective in reducing the severity of the allergic reactions.