Cytopoint Injection Cost
Last Updated on November 27, 2022 | Written by CPA Alec Pow
First Published on February 9, 2021 | Content Reviewed by 
CFA Alexander Popivker
The Cytopoint injection (Zoetis) is a medication that was made with the purpose of helping dogs that have skin allergies. These allergies are usually referred to as atopic dermatitis in the veterinarian world.
You will basically use an injection of Cytopoint to help keep the itch from these allergic reactions under control. This, in turn, will help the skin of the pet recover faster while also enabling it to live a normal life.
Keep in mind that Cytopoint is a medication that has to be refrigerated properly and you will need to get a prescription from your vet before buying it. So make sure you talk to your vet before actually considering the price of the Cytopoint injection.
Just how much does Cytopoint cost?
The price of Cytopoint injections will depend on the veterinarian you work with, your geographical place, and the dose needed (based upon your pet dog’s weight), depending on your pet’s specific circumstances.
You might also like our articles about the cost of dog vaccination, dog deworming, or DHLPP vaccination.
Based on our research, The injections alone will have a price that can vary between $55 for the 10-milligram vial to $120 or even more for the bigger 40-milligram vial. Keep in mind that this is the price of the vial itself and won’t include any consultation fees at the veterinarian’s office or other expenses related to the diagnosis or treatment of the illness. Adding all of these costs up will give you the actual cost of Cytopoint injections for treating your dog for atopic dermatitis.
Keep in mind that the treatment will depend on the actual size of your dog, so if the pet is 85 pounds or more in weight, a single vial will surely not be enough. This means that you will have to spend more on medication, to make sure you give your pet the best possible treatment.
Check out the table below for a list of prices based on the amount of medication you need:
| Dosage | Average Cost of the Cytopoint Injection (JUST for vial) |
|---|---|
| 10mg | $55 |
| 20mg | $75 |
| 30mg | $90 |
| 40mg | $120 |
Check out the chart below to see the number of vials your pet would require and take the cost averages from above. From there, add your veterinarian office quote, usually somewhere around $55 to $120, to get a better idea of just how much you might need to pay:
As the injections only provide relief for as many as 8 weeks, you will need to continue these injections to prevent itching.
At 1800PetMeds, for example, the business offers a 10, 20, 30, and 40-milligram vial, with rates varying from as low as $55 for the 10-milligram vial to as much as $120 for the 40-milligram vial. Due to the refrigeration needed for the vials, overnight shipping will be an extra expense and syringes will be another separate purchase if you were to need them. While you can buy the vial from an online drug store, you will need a prescription from your local veterinarian in order to acquire it lawfully.
How does Cytopoint work?
The Cytopoint injection for dogs is created to target and reduce the effects of interleukin (IL) -31, which is the cytokine that causes your pet’s skin to itch due to allergic reactions. As soon as Cytopoint is injected underneath your pet dog’s skin, it will begin to work within the first 24 hr and can offer approximately 6 to 8 weeks of relief of itching. In contrast to other injections and drugs, Cytopoint is considered a biological therapy, which means that it’s a non-pharmaceutical treatment that works in a way comparable to that of your dog’s body immune system, adding engineered antibodies that are really similar to your dog’s natural antibodies. In this way, the injections were created to target and reduce the effects of the main proteins responsible for sending out those itch signals to the pet dog’s brain.
Some common side effects of Cytopoint in dogs
There is a small chance that your dog will go through some lite side effects, just like in the case of other medications. When it comes to Cytopoint, the most common side effect will be lethargy, but this shouldn’t last more than 2 days after the injection.
There is also reduced appetite in some dogs, but this is also something that shouldn’t last more than the first two days after the injection, while the medication is metabolized by the body of the pet.
Vomiting and diarrhea are also not uncommon when it comes to the side effects of the injection doing its job inside the body. Depending on the dog’s immune system, he might also develop an allergy that can have adverse side effects like itchy skin.
Depending on your particular instance, your dog might also experience some rarer symptoms like:
- Difficulty settling
- Pacing
- Reluctance to toilet
- Aches or pain
- Shivers
The immune response of your dog is what dictates the overall severity of the side effects it experiences as well as whether any secondary infections will occur or not. In most cases, though, these side effects will either be short-lived and mild or will not be present at all.
Keep in mind that these side effects shouldn’t last more than two days after the treatment with Cytopoint injections. If any of the side effects last longer than this, then you should take into account setting up an appointment with a vet.
Tips to keep in mind
The vial, if you were to inject your pet at home, will need refrigeration, meaning that if you were to buy it online, it would have to reach your doorstep in as little time as possible. This, depending on who you buy from, can result in extra shipping expenditures.
All vials are for single use only as they have no preservatives. After piercing the vial and utilizing it, it must be disposed of.
Cytopoint for dogs is best utilized by a vet or under the instructions of one.
As the injections are known to be biological therapy and not seen as a drug, they will be naturally broken down by the body and will not be removed with the help of the liver or kidneys like other drugs.
As already noted, injections are safe and effective and can give some relief for as much as 4 to 8 weeks, however, the maker of the drug, via their main site, wants you to track your pet’s history with its Itch Tracker. This information, based upon a 1 to 100 scale, will aid your veterinarian figure out how the itch has actually decreased in time and how reliable the injections are for your pet dog as every pet will have different results.
There is also another medication that can be used instead of Cytopoint and it is called Apoquel. To understand the differences between Apoquel and Cytopoint, talk with your vet because they will be able to tell you which one is better and what is the best course of treatment.
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