Conventional and rush immunotherapy in canine atopic dermatitis:

Rush Immunotherapy Study is a Success!

Bob McCaskill, DVM, MPH, DACVPM
Health Committee

Summer, 2005

Dr. Ralf S. Mueller and his researchers at Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine report that their research into determining the success rate of rush immunotherapy in canine atopic dermatitis (skin allergy) was successful.

The study attempted to determine the success rate of rush immunotherapy (allergy shots given over an extremely short induction period of one to three days) in dogs with atopic dermatitis, compared with conventional immunotherapy (allergy shots with an induction period of several months). The goals were to determine if rush immunotherapy leads to a quicker reduction in allergic symptoms than conventional immunotherapy and to determine specific cellular immunology of T helper cells.

Dr. Mueller’s final report indicated that rush immunotherapy not only had a higher success rate than conventional immunotherapy but it also had a more rapid response, thereby bringing much quicker relief to atopic dogs that respond to immunotherapy. They also evaluated changes in blood cells and cytokine production that will help us understand the disease better.

Dr. Mueller and his team recommends that owners and veterinarians consider rush immunotherapy as a replacement for conventional immunotherapy in all dogs undergoing treatment due to the higher success rate and faster response.

Publications: The clinical part of their study (“Rush and conventional allergen-specific therapy in canine atopic dermatitis”) was submitted for publication in Advances in Veterinary Dermatology V. The Westie Foundation of America and the Morris Animal Health Foundation were cosponsors of this study.