WHAT ARE STEROIDS AND ANTIHISTAMINES COSTING YOUR CLIENTS AND PRACTICE? 

INCREASED THIRST

Clients notice troubling side effects related to thirst in their dogs during treatment with steroids¹:

• 45% drink more water
• 33% urinate more frequently
• Frustration when dog's thirst seems insatiable and owners must constantly refill water bowls

Dog owners have mixed feelings about starting steroid treatment due to side effects,¹ and the side effects may add to owners’ disappointment with their treatment plan.

See the short- and long-term side effects of steroids

INCREASED HUNGER

In addition to thirst, increased hunger in dogs may cause disruption in the home¹:

• 24% show the desire to eat more food¹
• Increased chance of weight gain²
• More aggressive behavior in the presence of food³

Side effects related to hunger may further exasperate clients, resulting in potential damage to the bond between pets and owners, and dissatisfaction with veterinarians.

See the short- and long-term side effects of steroids

HEIGHTENED STRESS & ANXIETY

Steroids have the potential to increase anxiety-related behavior in dogs, leading to problems like³:

• Lack of obedience
• Nervousness, restlessness, fearfulness
• Barking more, startling easily, reacting aggressively when disturbed, and avoiding people or unfamiliar situations

Coping with these issues puts stress on the pet-owner bond and can cause distrust in a veterinarian's steroid recommendation.

See the short- and long-term side effects of steroids

INEFFECTIVENESS

When providing a “phone fix,” 81% of clinic teams recommend antihistamines for clients’ itchy dogs⁴ despite the following drawbacks:

• Antihistamines offer little or no benefit to treating flares of canine atopic dermatitis^5*
• Antihistamines cannot regulate the proinflammatory and pruritogenic cytokines that drive atopic dermatitis⁶
• Management of allergies, such as hay fever, in humans does not correlate with successful treatment of atopic dermatitis in dogs

7 out of 10 clients calling for an appointment are given a “phone fix”⁴ that prevents proper diagnosis and treatment and is unlikely to benefit the dog.

According to the International Committee on Allergic Diseases of Animals (ICADA).

SIDE EFFECTS

Antihistamines can cause adverse reactions, such as⁷:

The use of antihistamines can have worrisome repercussions despite a widespread belief that they are harmless:

• 49% of veterinarians prescribe antihistamines for pruritus despite their shortcomings⁸
• Ineffective treatment with antihistamines may ultimately be more expensive and damaging to dogs’ skin than using effective treatment from the start
  • Failed treatment can be costly for the pet owner due to more practice visits and attempted treatments with different types of antihistamines

Addressing itch with antihistamines can be expensive for clients and for veterinarians who lose the business opportunity to effectively treat itchy dogs in person.

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF STEROIDS AND ANTIHISTAMINES

Prescribing steroids and antihistamines first line for allergic itch can have unintended consequences for your practice, such as⁹:

Prolonging pet and client suffering due to ongoing itch and treatment side effects

Lowering the perception of veterinary medicine as a result of treatment failure

Losing in-clinic pharmacy revenue by recommending antihistamines sold by OTC retailers

Losing patients and revenue due to client loss of faith

Providing effective itch relief presents a greater business opportunity for your practice

• 

  Itch is the #1 reason that clients bring their dogs IN for veterinary visits¹⁰

• 

  of clients who stop Patronizing a veterinary clinic leave the practice due to Perceived poor care¹¹

• 

  Acquiring a new client is estimated to be between 5 and 25 times more expensive than retaining an existing one¹¹

Prescribing steroids and antihistamines for allergic itch can increase the likelihood that clients leave the practice, resulting in lost revenue.