Allergies

Hello vets. My vet isn’t really accepting “non sick” pets right now. I have a lot of concerns 1. My golden Max is 2 years and 5 months old. He was on apoquel for over a year. We recently took him off and he’s having allergies of course. I’ve recently heard people’s dogs getting cancer and dying after being on it. There’s a whole Facebook page about it, as well as some allergy injection, and of course I’m terrified he’s got some cancer forming. I am wondering if I can convince them to draw labs. And also wondering about the natural ways to control the allergies. He’s on Benadryl occasionally, cosequin, and put him back on probiotics after reading they help with allergies. Are these ingredients safe and is it worth trying? It’s called “The One” 2. He’s so scared of so many things, how can I help control his anxiety as well? He’s scared of fireworks, loud pops or bangs outside. He will randomly pull back toward the house or try to stop walking when hearing certain sounds. I just want him to be normal 🥺  The green picture is a screen shot of the ingredients in this product that claims to help anxiety, joints, and allergies.

Hello!  I'm sorry to hear that your vet isn't accepting non sick patients.  What country are you in?  We are UK -based and vets here are operational both in the flesh and using video consulting.  It is the law that pets are seen periodically for repeat meds, so by now I would expect non urgent consulting to be available in most places.  Perhaps it's worth a call and check again. What seems to have happened is that you have stopped the anti-itch medication and are considering bringing in a second supplement.  You were probably expecting the allergy signs to restart.  At best, you are potentially repeating or double-dosing supplement ingredients (there is not additional benefit to supplements after a particular dose) and there is a risk that one may prevent the other from working.   I haven't checked the supplements concerned - that would be your vets' job - but you really do need to make them to check. In my experience, vets want the best outcome for the patients possible.  Where drugs have side effects, they are reported to us and we pool this information, so can look them up and understand them.  No drug is completely risk free but it is important to perform a risk : benefit analysis- ie does the risk of adverse effects outweigh the benefit of the extra comfort provided?  In the past, very 'strong' steroids were given to itchy dogs to keep them comfortable, which was very effective and many owners used to tell me were worth the side effects for the relief they gave to the dog, but those side effects were serious and such dogs often died younger.  The side effect profiles for the newer allergy drugs are much safer and where problems have been reported, they are well logged.  There is also more than one anti-itching drug available that you might try, if you do not get on with one of them in particular. It seems to be a good idea to go back to your vet - or, if you don't get on with that vet, to another  - to discuss your concerns in detail. The most important thing is that your dog has a good quality of life and for that, you need to be comfortable with the safety of any medication you are being asked to give.  Good drugs companies can provide data and science to support their claims and vets can explain their decisions. Some owners do decide that the risk posed by a particular drug is not worth the releif afforded and that is of course your decision, but it makes sense to speak to your vet about real alternatives rather than doubling up on supplements.