TL;DR
- • Lifelong skin-allergy management commonly costs £500–£2,000+ per year.
- • Apoquel bought online with a written prescription is typically 35–55% cheaper than at the practice.
- • The new £21 prescription fee cap (CMA 2026 remedies) makes shopping online worthwhile from the first month.
- • Immunotherapy is the only treatment that addresses the underlying cause — and often cheapest over 5+ years.
The three main types of dog allergy
- Atopic dermatitis (environmental): pollens, house-dust mite, mould. Often seasonal early, year-round later.
- Cutaneous adverse food reaction: usually proteins (beef, chicken, dairy, lamb).
- Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD): a single bite triggers weeks of itching.
What diagnosis costs in 2026
| Step | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| First-opinion consultation | £45–£75 |
| Skin scrapes, cytology, fungal culture | £60–£180 |
| 8–12 week prescription elimination diet | £80–£180 |
| Serology (blood) allergy panel | £200–£320 |
| Intradermal skin testing (referral) | £350–£600 |
| Dermatology referral consultation | £250–£400 |
Treatment options compared
| Treatment | Practice price | Online + Rx | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apoquel (10mg, 20kg dog, daily) | £70–£95/mo | £35–£55/mo | £420–£660 |
| Cytopoint injection (4–8 weekly) | £80–£150/dose | n/a (vet-administered) | £480–£1,300 |
| Atopica (cyclosporin) | £90–£130/mo | £55–£80/mo | £660–£960 |
| Prednisolone (steroid) | £10–£25/mo | £6–£15/mo | £72–£180 |
| Allergen-specific immunotherapy | £350–£600 setup + £20–£40/mo | — | £600–£900 yr 1, £240–£480 yr 2+ |
Steroids are cheap but have well-documented long-term side effects — most vets use them as a short-term bridge only. Immunotherapy has the highest setup cost but, when it works, can replace most other lifelong medications.
How the £21 prescription fee cap changes the maths
Before 2026, prescription fees of £25–£40 made shopping around uneconomic for owners on monthly meds. The CMA-mandated £21 cap means a 12-month Apoquel script costs £21 in fees but typically saves £300–£500 versus buying it at the practice — read more in our prescription fee cap explainer.
FAQs
Can I just buy Apoquel online without a vet?
No — it's a POM-V drug and requires a written prescription from an attending vet who has recently examined your dog.
Is Cytopoint worth the price?
For owners struggling to pill their dog daily, the per-month cost of Cytopoint is competitive with the practice price of Apoquel, and uptake is excellent.
Does pet insurance cover allergies?
Only lifetime policies reliably cover chronic conditions. Time-limited and max-benefit policies often run out within 12 months — see our insurance breakdown.
About the data: Treatment cost ranges reflect published UK pricing and online pharmacy quotes (June 2026). This article is for general guidance and not a substitute for individual veterinary advice.