Recently, veterinarians and the California Veterinary Medical Association have raised concerns about WagLabs, an online seller reportedly marketing cyclosporine for dogs without the normal veterinary prescription process. That is deeply concerning because cyclosporine is not a casual over-the-counter supplement. It is a prescription immune-modulating drug that should only be used under veterinary guidance, with appropriate diagnosis, dosing, and monitoring.
It is also important to clarify a common misunderstanding: cyclosporine, including Atopica, is not a steroid. It works very differently from corticosteroids. Cyclosporine changes immune signaling involved in allergic disease, while steroids broadly suppress inflammation and immune activity.
At The Animal Doctors of Orange County, we do not recommend trying to manage a dog’s chronic allergies with unethically-resourced online products or unsupervised medications. Allergy therapy should be based on a real medical workup, because itching is only the visible symptom. The underlying cause may involve environmental allergens, food reactions, flea allergy, secondary skin infection, skin barrier dysfunction, or a combination of several problems at once.
Why We Are Careful About Steroids for Long-Term Allergy Control
Steroids can absolutely reduce itching quickly, which is why they still have a place in veterinary medicine for selected cases and short-term flare control. But that is very different from saying they are a good long-term management plan for chronic allergies. Peer-reviewed veterinary literature consistently shows that systemic glucocorticoids are associated with adverse effects such as increased thirst, increased urination, increased appetite, behavioral changes, delayed wound healing, immunosuppression, and higher infection risk.
The International Committee on Allergic Diseases of Animals and later review articles note that while glucocorticoids can be effective, long-term control is best pursued with other strategies when possible, because adverse effects increase with potency, dose, and duration of use. A 2024 review on canine atopic dermatitis specifically states that long-term control is best accomplished with alternatives such as targeted therapy, immunotherapy, barrier support, and multimodal management rather than relying on chronic steroid exposure.
There is also published evidence linking long-term systemic glucocorticoid use in dogs to predisposition to infection, including urinary tract infections, along with skin thinning and other chronic side effects.
That is why our goal is not just to suppress itch today, but to create a safer, more sustainable treatment plan that supports your dog’s skin health and quality of life over time.