How to Give Your Pet an Allergy Shot

Veterinarians typically recommend allergy testing and immunotherapy -- or desensitization -- for allergic pets that are symptomatic four to six months a year and when common medications don't provide relief. After the animal undergoes skin testing to determine which antigens cause a reaction, the vet or pet owner injects a commercially prepared version of the antigen into the animal in a series of shots to desensitize it over time. The veterinarians at PetEducation.com advise that this particular treatment is effective in 80 percent of affected animals. To save time and money on clinic visits, pet owners need to learn how to give allergy shots to their pets at home.

Things You'll Need

  • Prescribed antigen
  • Needle and syringe
  • Human helper
  • Coffee can or "sharps" box
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Instructions

    • 1

      Shake the bottle of antigen so that the powder and liquid are thoroughly mixed.

    • 2

      Remove the cap from your needle, plunge the needle into the rubber stopper of the antigen and draw up the prescribed dose of medication into your syringe. Tap on the syringe with your fingernail to remove any air bubbles and replace the cap on the needle.

    • 3

      Allow your helper to hold your small dog or cat in her lap to restrain the pet. To hold a larger dog, the helper may need to kneel by the animal, place one arm gently but firmly around its neck, and the other arm under its hips to keep your pet still.

    • 4

      Remove the cap from your needle and hold the syringe in one hand.

    • 5

      Grasp the loose skin between your pet's shoulder blades with the other hand and gently, but firmly, pull up. You should see a tent-shaped fold with a triangle of skin in the middle.

    • 6

      Hold the needle parallel to your pet's body and push your needle into the middle of the triangle. Draw slightly back on the plunger to check for blood and inject the antigen into your pet. If you notice blood in the syringe, reposition the needle by pulling back on the syringe and changing the needle's direction slightly to the left or right.

    • 7

      Remove the needle from your pet, replace the cap, and dispose of the needle and syringe in an empty coffee can or "sharps" box.