Allergen-specific immunotherapy protocols for dogs with atopic dermatitis vary between providers and require careful selection and monitoring to maximise welfare outcomes.
ASIT represents the only disease-modifying treatment for canine atopic dermatitis, addressing underlying immune dysregulation rather than merely suppressing symptoms. The welfare benefit of successful ASIT is sustained long-term reduction in pruritus and skin inflammation, potentially enabling reduction or elimination of symptomatic medications with their associated side effect risks. Owner commitment is essential: premature discontinuation before benefit has had time to develop is a common cause of perceived treatment failure. Selecting the appropriate allergen panel through good quality testing maximises the probability of treatment response.