What is oral immunotherapy? (Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT))

Oral immunotherapy is based on the same principles as allergy shots with the only difference being that offending allergens are dispensed into the animal’s mouth with a spray dispenser rather than injected under the skin. The spray can be placed into the side of the mouth between the gum and cheek or under the tongue. The misting effect of the spray enhances capture of the extract by the dendritic cells which move the allergens into the blood or lymph and circulate to various lymphoid organs where the antigens are presented to T lymphocytes. T-lymphocytes modulate overall changes to the immune system resulting in fewer allergic-like symptoms and suppression of inflammatory reactions. This form of treatment is also referred to as sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT).