Cyclosporine For Dogs

Caged dog may suffer immune system problems

Dear Dr. Fox • We have a female German shepherd that we rescued four years ago. She was kept in a cage in a garage almost 24 hours a day.

She has many problems; the main one being that she licks her private parts all of the time. She also gnaws and scratches herself. We have had her to three vets that want her on Prednisone and/or Cyclosporine, but we refuse to keep her on these. One vet did a blood test that they said shows she is allergic to Brewer's yeast, corn, kelp, milk, poultry and flax. I was cooking her food with one of your recipes for chicken. Even switching to beef, I am unable to cook her food as part of the ingredients she is allergic to.

She is now on Eukanuba Wild, either salmon & potato or duck & potato. We also give her 1/2 can of New Balance venison and sweet potato or duck. Her treats are California Natural salmon meal formula. Is there any advice you can give us? — N.K.

Dear N.K. • Good for you for providing a loving home for this abused and neglected dog. Such stress could well have impaired her immune system. Along with her genetic background (German shepherds top the list for breed-linked health problems) the compulsive licking and chewing could also have developed in part because of boredom and confinement in a cage.

A holistic approach integrating various treatments on a trial/short-term basis is called for. Discuss these options with your vet. Avoid all vaccinations and steroids until your dog is well.

Begin with an elimination diet (which your vet can advise), followed by a rotation diet giving a different single protein (that the elimination diet indicates is OK) such as salmon, duck, rabbit, lamb or venison. Give probiotics and a prebiotic such as aloe vera juice. A soothing oatmeal, calendula or other herbal shampoo every 10 to 14 days may also help. You can also try an oral antihistamine, with our without a low dose of Valium or valerian when she gets itchy.

Dear Dr. Fox • Our bull terrier mix Sam has spells of chasing his tail. He acts like he's crazy, and it scares us. He usually snaps out of it when we yell and clap our hands, but that now seems to make it worse. - K.McD.

Dear K.McD. • This is one form of obsessive/compulsive behavior (OCD), more common in some breeds than others, which can lead to tail-biting and self-mutilation.

Some dogs may become more aggressive when one tries to stop them from chasing their own tails. There may be an underlying anxiety disorder, and many dogs seem to go into a trance-like state while they chase their tails. Some veterinary behaviorists have likened this OCD and associated other symptoms with infantile autism. Distraction and re-motivation/reward therapy rarely work; but some success has been reported with clomipramine. Consult with your veterinarian who can prescribe this psychotropic medication under the brand name Clomicalm.

Cyclosporine for Dogs: Uses, Precautions and Side Effects ...

Cyclosporine is an immunodepressant drug that is used for both humans and animals. In dogs, Cyclosporine is used mostly to treat atopic dermatitis or atopy, which is a type of eczema or a skin condition caused by your dog reacting to allergens. Humans usually react to allergens with sneezing, coughing and watery eyes. Dogs, on the other hand, react to allergens with itching and swollen skin, rashes, constant licking of snout or paws and, of course, scratching. The danger is that allergies in dogs can rapidly lead to worse conditions. Cyclosporine, most recently released under the brand name “Atopica” by Novartis, is the latest drug recommended for canine atopy.

Uses of Cyclosporine

The most common indication for Cyclosporine is atopic dermatitis. However, it is also used to treat perineal fistulas, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, Keratoconjuctivitis sicca, more commonly known as “dry eye”, and Discoid lupus erythemathosus , which is also a skin condition in dogs. It is also used to treat asthma in cats.

How does Cyclosporine work?

It targets specific immune cells that react to allergens, thereby causing the allergic reaction. Cyclosporine restrains these cells thereby reducing the response to the allergens.

How is Cyclosporine administered and what is the dose?

Cyclosporine is available in 10, 25, 50 and 100 mg soft gelatin capsules. The therapeutic dose is 5 mg/kg once daily for a month. Vets recommend building up to the therapeutic dose. Cyclosporine is most effective when taken on an empty stomach, either 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. In the event a dose is missed, continue the next day; you must never give Cyclosporine for dogs more than once a day.

Precautions to consider when your dog is taking Cyclosporine

Cyclosporine should only be given to dogs that weigh at least 4 lbs, and are over 6 months old. It should not be given to breeding dogs, pregnant or lactating dogs or dogs that have been diagnosed with malignant neoplasia, which is another way of saying cancer. If your dog is taking Cyclosporine he cannot be vaccinated using a live vaccine as there is a high risk of him developing an infection caused by the active microorganism in the vaccine. If he absolutely has to be vaccinated, ask your vet about the suitability of a killed vaccine.

Common Side effects

The most common side effects associated with the use of Cyclosporine for dogs are gastrointestinal in nature. They include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, anorexia, and the like, especially within the first few weeks of drug use. These side effects are usually transient and your dog will adjust after a while, but there are drugs like Metoclopramide that minimize some of the effects, like nausea and vomiting. You must be sure to keep your dog well hydrated if he is experiencing diarrhea and vomiting, as he will be losing a lot of fluids.

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