If prescribed by a veterinarian, allergy injections and medicines may be covered by pet insurance. However, if your dog has allergies that are deemed pre-existing, allergy treatments are likely to be classified pre-existing and excluded by pet insurance.
Does my pet insurance cover allergies?
Nobody wants to see their pet suffer, but with the right pet insurance, you can get coverage for allergy testing and other therapies that may be needed to ease or prevent allergy symptoms.
RAST (Blood) Testing
If your veterinarian suspects your dog has atopic dermatitis, he or she can do RAST (radioallergosorbent) blood testing. There is no need for anesthetic or shaving of the injection site. A RAST blood test searches for antibodies produced by the body in reaction to allergens such as pollen or mold in the environment. The higher the number of antibodies, the more likely it is that your dog is allergic to that allergen. Blood tests for dog allergies are less accurate than skin testing, but they are regarded safer because there is less danger of a severe allergic reaction at the injection site. 1
Intradermal (Skin) Testing
This technique, which includes injecting a little quantity of a suspected allergen beneath the skin’s surface, is considered the “gold standard” in establishing the source of atopic dermatitis. The area is inspected for a reaction at the spot after about 20 minutes. To monitor the injection sites for a reaction, large sections of your dog’s coat must be shaved. There are three factors to keep in mind when it comes to intradermal testing: (1) your dog will need to be anesthetized; (2) only veterinary dermatologists can perform the procedure, which may not be available in your area; and (3) the test may be costly. 2, 3, and 4
How Much Is A Dog Allergy Test At A Vet’s Office?
The cost of a skin test varies depending on your veterinarian and area, but you should anticipate to pay $200 on average for a skin test and $200-$300 for a blood test.
Is dog allergy medicine covered by insurance?
Yup. Your pet’s allergy medications, such as Apoquel and Cytopoint injections, are covered as long as the allergy isn’t deemed a pre-existing disease.
Is allergy testing worth it for dogs?
RAST testing, on the other hand, just requires a single blood sample. During a typical wellness appointment, your usual veterinarian can obtain this blood sample. For analysis, the blood sample is sent to a reference laboratory. There is no need for sedation or anesthesia, and your dog’s hair does not need to be shaved for this test.
Will my dog have to go off his allergy medications prior to RAST testing?
RAST testing can be done while dogs are on their usual allergy medicines in many circumstances. In contrast to intradermal testing, which often requires dogs to be off medicine for a long period of time before being tested, this method does not require dogs to be off medication for a long amount of time.
Are there drawbacks to RAST testing, compared to intradermal testing?
Yes, in theory. RAST testing has been linked to a higher proportion of false positive test findings, or positive results that can’t be validated using intradermal skin testing in the past.
In practice, however, most dogs treated with hyposensitization based on RAST results show significant improvement in their skin illness.
Is there anything else that I should know about RAST testing?
It’s crucial to remember that RAST testing is usually only beneficial if you intend to hyposensitize your dog. It cannot be used to diagnose atopic dermatitis; rather, it can be used to determine the underlying etiology of atopic dermatitis that has already been diagnosed.
Are allergies considered a pre-existing condition for pet insurance?
Please keep in mind that the examples below are not applicable to all policies. It’s critical to understand how pre-existing conditions are defined by any insurance company you’re considering.
- Prior to the policy, your dog was continually licking her paws and was later diagnosed with allergies. Because the allergies are pre-existing, they are not covered.
- Chronic diseases, such as arthritis, diabetes, epilepsy, thyroid difficulties, heart conditions, gastrointestinal conditions, skin and ear conditions, may not be covered if they have been previously diagnosed.
- Degenerative disorders, such as joint or ligament degradation, may be excluded from coverage if they have been previously diagnosed.
- Any related recurrence may be excluded for 12 months from the date of the last episode if your dog has been diagnosed with or has shown symptoms of the following conditions prior to enrolling: respiratory infections, urinary tract/bladder infections, vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal disorders, or cancer.
- Any diagnostic of the same area of the body within 12 months may not be covered if your dog has been diagnosed with an illness of that area of the body if the underlying cause was unknown.
Does insurance cover allergy shots?
Allergy shots are a sort of immunotherapy used to help people with allergies reduce or eliminate their symptoms.
Allergy shots employ very small amounts of an allergen to desensitize your immune system’s response to that allergen. You can build up immunity to an allergen by exposing your body to little amounts of it on a frequent basis. This can help you get rid of your symptoms (and cut down on your need to keep resupplying your stock of eye drops and tissues).
If you’re debating whether or not to get allergy shots, there are a few things to think about.
Allergy shots treat many kinds of allergies.
Allergy shots are effective for treating allergies produced by environmental irritants such as pollen and dust, both indoors and outdoors.
Shots may provide long-term relief if you feel like you can’t get rid of allergens no matter how often you clean or how many decongestants you use.
Food allergies are not treatable with injections. Other treatment options for food allergies should be discussed with your healthcare professional.
You’ll have to stick to a schedule.
You’ll need to construct an allergy shot plan that includes many doses over a period of time in order for treatment to be most successful.
The build-up phase and the maintenance phase are the two phases of a schedule.
Allergy injections are administered more frequently during the accumulation period, typically 1-2 times per week for 4-8 months. The injections become less frequent (typically every 2 to 4 weeks) during the maintenance phase, according to the strategy you set with your immunologist.
Most insurances have you covered.
Most health insurance plans cover allergy injections, though this may vary based on your specific plan. Even if your vaccinations are covered by insurance, you may be required to pay a copay at each appointment. This cost may be less expensive than the overall cost of over-the-counter drugs and other medical visits related to hay fever symptoms for some people.
If you have any questions regarding your insurance coverage, we recommend contacting your provider. Otherwise, you can speak directly with your healthcare practitioner about prices.
Allergy shots are usually very safe.
Most people tolerate allergy injections well, and any adverse effects are usually small. During your visit, your doctor will outline any side effects to be aware of. Most patients over the age of five can receive shots.
The most common side effects include redness, swelling, or itching at the injection site, which are usual with any injection.
It’s critical to notify your allergy physician right away if you have problems breathing, dizziness, or throat swelling following an injection. These symptoms could indicate anaphylaxis, a rare but deadly adverse event. After receiving an injection, your doctor will ask you to wait in the clinic for half an hour so that you can be monitored for signs of anaphylaxis.
Allergy shots are effective.
Allergy shots are a common and successful treatment for chronic allergies. Although it may take some time, the majority of people find that frequent doses can benefit them when other therapies have failed. According to studies, 85 percent of persons with hay fever experience a reduction in symptoms after receiving shots.
Many people are terrified of injections, therefore they avoid allergy shots. However, the advantage is that the agony of an injection lasts only a few seconds, whereas the relief of no longer having to deal with symptoms might last a lifetime.
Does Petsmart do allergy testing?
Test for Allergies My Pet can provide the most comprehensive sensitivity and intolerance test at the most affordable price. It takes about 2 minutes to complete the exam, which is simple and painless. After receiving the sample, the results will take 1-3 weeks.
How do I find out what my dog is allergic to?
If you have dog allergies, your doctor can do a skin test or a blood test to detect allergen-specific IgE (Immunoglobulin E). Even if you’re very convinced you’re allergic, it’s always a good idea to test. Some people who believe they are allergic to dogs find out not to be. Instead, they’re sensitive to pollen or mold brought in on the dog’s coat from outdoors.
Allergy tests can be helpful, but they aren’t always accurate. If you have a dog, your doctor may advise you to go without it for a bit to observe how you react. It could take some time apart to obtain a solid idea of your symptoms. It can take months for the amount of dander in the house to diminish to a level that is comparable to a house without a dog.
Can you claim for medication on pet insurance?
Drugs prescribed to treat an injury or disease that a pet suffers while insured should be covered by pet insurance. Drugs to treat an ailment that occurred before you took out a policy may not be covered by insurance. Also, medications used as part of a routine therapy, such as worming, are unlikely to be covered by pet insurance.
If the cost of the drugs exceeds your policy limits, you may lose coverage.