Dutch

Cytopoint vs. Apoquel: best allergy medicine for dogs

Your dog is scratching constantly, your vet mentioned Cytopoint or Apoquel, and now you're trying to figure out what the difference actually is before your next appointment.

Here's the short version. Both treat atopic dermatitis, the chronic itching and skin inflammation caused by environmental allergies. But they work completely differently.

Cytopoint is an injection your vet administers every four to eight weeks. It uses engineered antibodies to neutralize the proteins in your dog's body that trigger itching. No daily pills, no owner compliance issues. Studies estimate it helps in about 75% of atopic dermatitis cases.

Apoquel is a daily oral tablet that starts working within four hours. It inhibits the Janus kinase signaling pathway, which is the cellular signal that drives both itching and inflammation. It has broader anti-inflammatory effects and can be started and stopped quickly, which makes it easier to assess whether it's working. The tradeoff is it cannot be used in dogs under one year old.

Neither is universally better. The right choice depends on your dog's age, symptoms, health history, and whether they need short-term relief or long-term management. Some dogs do best on both at once.

Full breakdown at the link, including side effects for each, how they work at a cellular level, and the cases where vets reach for one over the other.

A licensed Dutch vet can evaluate your dog's allergy symptoms and prescribe via same-day video visit in most states.

Cytopoint vs apoquel: best allergy medicine for dogs | Dutch Learn about the differences between cytopoint and apoquel.

New World screwworm in dogs and cats: what pet parents need to know

You may have seen the headlines. New World screwworm is back in the U.S., and as of June 16, 2026, 12 animal cases have been confirmed, including a dog in New Mexico.

This is not a reason to panic. It is a reason to check whether your pet is covered.

New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living tissue. It cannot infest a healthy, intact pet out of nowhere. It needs a wound, a scratch, a tick bite, a hot spot, a healing incision. The fly lays its eggs in or near that opening, and the larvae do the rest. Fast.

The most important thing you can do right now is make sure your pet is on year-round prescription flea and tick prevention. Isoxazoline-class medications, including Credelio Quattro, Simparica Trio, and NexGard Plus, cleared screwworm infestations in naturally affected dogs with 100% effectiveness in studies, some within 24 hours. The FDA has issued Emergency Use Authorizations for several of these products specifically for screwworm treatment.

Pets in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Southern California near the border face the highest current risk. If your pet has lapsed on prevention, restart now.

If you see a wound that is growing, foul-smelling, or has visible larvae, that is a same-day in-person emergency. Do not wait.

Full guide below, including warning signs, recommended products for dogs and cats, and what to do if you suspect a case.
Not sure if your pet's current prevention covers screwworm? A Dutch vet can review their history and prescribe the right isoxazoline-based medication via same-day video visit in most states.

New World Screwworm in Dogs & Cats: Signs and Prevention | Dutch New World screwworm is confirmed in the U.S., including a dog in New Mexico. Learn the warning signs, who's at risk, and how to protect your pet now.

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Flea products for cats: a complete guide

You spotted something moving in your cat's fur and now you're spiraling at the pet store, staring at a wall of products with no idea which one is actually going to work.

Here's the thing: most OTC flea products aren't as effective as they look on the packaging. Prescription flea treatments are generally safer and longer-lasting because they're formulated for your cat's specific age, weight, and health needs, not just whatever's on the shelf.

Flea prevention matters more than most people realize. A single flea can lay 40 to 50 eggs per day, which means a small problem becomes a full household infestation fast. Beyond the itching, fleas can cause allergic dermatitis, skin infections, hot spots, and tapeworms.

The right product depends on what your cat needs. Some options cover fleas only. Others cover fleas, ticks, heartworm, and intestinal worms in a single monthly treatment. Topical, oral, and collar formats all work differently, and what's safe for one cat may not be appropriate for another.

Full breakdown at the link, including a side-by-side comparison of the most effective prescription options and how to choose based on your cat's lifestyle.

A licensed Dutch vet can evaluate your cat and prescribe the right flea treatment via same-day video visit in most states.

Flea products for cats: a complete guide | Dutch Discover the best flea products for cats at Dutch, including topical treatments, oral tablets, and collars from trusted brands.

Simparica vs. Simparica Trio: what's the difference?

You're staring at two options that sound almost identical and trying to figure out if you're about to pay more for basically the same thing.

You're not. The difference is real and it matters.
Simparica covers fleas and ticks. Simparica Trio covers fleas, ticks, heartworm disease, roundworms, and hookworms. Same monthly chewable, but Trio does significantly more. Vets typically prescribe Trio for dogs that need heartworm prevention and don't already have a separate medication for it.

If your dog is already on a heartworm preventive, Simparica alone is probably fine. If they're not, Trio bundles it all into one chewable so you're not managing multiple medications.
Both require a prescription, and both are fast-acting. The right call depends on what your dog is already taking and where they spend their time.

Full breakdown at the link, including a side-by-side on active ingredients and how to figure out which one your dog actually needs.

A licensed Dutch vet can review your dog's history and prescribe the right option via same-day video visit in most states.

Simparica vs. Simparica Trio: what's the difference? | Dutch Simparica protects against fleas and ticks. Simparica Trio adds heartworm, roundworm, and hookworm coverage. Learn which is right for your dog.

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Dog ear infections: symptoms, causes, and treatment

If your dog won’t stop shaking their head, scratching at their ears, or you’ve noticed a smell coming from that area, that’s probably not nothing. Ear infections are one of the many conditions we treat at Dutch, and the signs are easy to miss until they’re hard to ignore.

A dog ear infection is inflammation of the ear, most often the external canal, that causes pain, head shaking, odor, and discharge. There are three types: otitis externa (outer), otitis media (middle), and otitis interna (inner), and inner ear infections carry the most serious risks, including hearing loss, coordination problems, and neurological damage. The earlier you catch it, the better the outcome.

A vet at Dutch can examine the canal, sort through your dog’s symptoms, and figure out the right next steps.

Full guide at the link covers symptoms by type, what causes recurring infections, and how vets approach treatment.

Dog ear infection: symptoms, causes, and treatment | Dutch Learn the signs of a dog ear infection, what causes the three types, and how vets diagnose and treat them so your dog feels better sooner.

Dog allergies: causes, symptoms, and what helps

Your dog won't stop scratching. You've tried medicated shampoo, a food switch, every OTC remedy on the shelf. And they're still chewing their paws raw at 2 a.m.

That's probably not dry skin. That's allergies, and it's one of the most common chronic conditions vets treat in dogs.

Dog allergies happen when the immune system overreacts to something normally harmless, like pollen, a food protein, or flea saliva. The most common form is atopic dermatitis, which causes chronic itching, recurring skin and ear infections, and persistent paw licking. It tends to be repetitive, progressive, and resistant to whatever you've already tried.

Here's what most pet parents don't realize: antihistamines barely move the needle for true atopic dermatitis. Prescription options like Apoquel and Cytopoint are significantly more effective, and a licensed vet can evaluate and prescribe via video visit in most states.

Full guide at the link, including a breakdown of all three allergy types, the symptoms to watch for by type, and why food allergy blood tests aren't as reliable as most people think.

A licensed Dutch vet can evaluate your dog's symptoms and prescribe treatment via same-day video visit.

Dog Allergies: Causes, Symptoms, and What Helps | Dutch Is your dog constantly scratching? Learn what causes dog allergies, how to recognize the symptoms, and how to get effective treatment fast, with same-day Rx available in most states.

"Oral vs. topical, which is actually better?" comes up constantly. The real answer isn't oral vs. topical. It's prescription vs. OTC, and within prescription, picking the right product for the pet, the household, and the parasite risk.

Prescription orals like Credelio Quattro, Simparica Trio, and NexGard Plus work systemically, unaffected by bathing or swimming. Prescription topicals like Revolution Plus and Bravecto Topical do too. Permethrin-based topicals like Vectra 3D go a step further and actually repel ticks before they bite.

The choice between oral and topical comes down to your situation. Cat in the house? Avoid permethrin, it's toxic to cats. Dog on a hypoallergenic food trial? Topical avoids the flavored chew issue. Swimmer or high-tick area? Your vet may recommend two products.

OTC products from the pet store just aren't in the same category as any of these.

Full breakdown of 11 products here, including what each covers, how fast it works, and what requires an Rx.

Best flea and tick prevention for dogs [2026] | Dutch Not all flea and tick prevention products work the same way. This guide covers the 11 best options for dogs in 2026, including prescription and OTC treatments.