Tell Us What You Think

If your dog or cat has ever scratched incessantly and you're left feeling helpless, this one is for you. This week Dr. Angie and JoJo sat down with veterinary dermatologist Dr. Darin Dell of Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital, the specialist Dr. Angie emails almost every week with her toughest itchy cases. Dr. Dell has a gift for taking a frustrating, confusing topic and making it genuinely enjoyable, and he answers the questions pet parents often ask. Is Cytopoint safe? Does Cytopoint cause cancer? Are Apoquel and the newer drugs like Zenrelia and Numelvi something to fear? Do those at-home allergy tests for pets work? And what finally gets to the root of allergies instead of just covering them up? Whether you have an itchy dog, a cat that's itchy, or you are a vet professional filling in the dermatology gaps vet school skipped, you will leave with real hope and a clear path forward.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Allergy is inflammation in the skin at its root. Itch is only one sign. It can also show up as hair loss, odor, a swollen foot, a**l gland issues, or ear problems.Cytopoint is a monoclonal antibody, not a drug metabolized by the liver or kidneys, and Dr. Dell does not worry about it causing cancer. The real risk is that it can mask a symptom while the underlying allergy keeps going.Apoquel side effects are uncommon. Zenrelia is a strong option for dogs that have stopped responding to Apoquel, and the newer Numelvi is a more selective JAK inhibitor.The FDA removed the Zenrelia vaccine warning after follow-up studies showed dogs reached adequate vaccine titers, and Dr. Dell does not change vaccine or dosing protocols because of it.At-home hair and saliva allergy tests are not rooted in science. A dermatologist once submitted samples from stuffed animals and sterile saline and got positive allergy results.Skin testing is the gold standard in allergy testing. Blood testing is useful in specific cases and the lab you use matters.Immunotherapy treatment addresses the root cause and can slow the atopic march. It works best when started young. A year of testing and immunotherapy runs around two thousand dollars and is often covered if insurance was in place before symptoms began.The most allergic dog breeds Dr. Dell sees are English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, and Bull Terriers. Breeds he rarely sees include English Springers, smooth Collies, and Border Collies.Cats are harder to treat because there are fewer options. Atopica is the only label-approved allergy drug for cats, Apoquel is used off label, and immunotherapy works very well, in Dr. Dell's experience even better than in dogs.A part two is coming, covering diet, supplementation, and Dr. Dell's approach to cats.SOUNDBITES

"Allergy at its root is inflammation in the skin." ~Dr. Dell

"I see itchy dogs every day. All year round, I have itchy patients." ~ Dr. Angie 

"The test itself is really just to get us to immunotherapy, which is where the magic happens." ~ Dr. Dell

"My dog's no longer itching, therefore problem solved." ~ JoJo

"No matter what we need to rescue your dog from their itchy states." ~ Dr. Angie 

"If you want a constant infant, bulldog is your thing." ~ Dr. Dell 

"I see those test results every day and I have to just say, I'm so sorry that this isn't helpful."   ~ Dr. Angie 

"If you think about the return on investment over a lifetime, if you broke that down over the next 10 years, that's actually not that much money." ~ JoJo

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Episode ID: 1000772322407

GUID: Buzzsprout-19289901

Release Date: 12/06/2026, 11:30:00