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  • Allergy Testing

    Just looking for some insite on what is the best way to test for allergies. Blood panel? Skin testing? Are there any specific kinds of allergy tests? I don't want to spend money on tests that won't be conclusive or that don't test EVERYTHING.

    Thanks!
    Mandi

  • #2
    RE: Allergy Testing

    Maybe Gus can help me out when he returns.
    Mandi

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    • #3
      RE: Allergy Testing

      We recently went through allergy testing with our male dane. First we had to see if it was the food and the vet put him on Eukanuba FP. We also had to use Revolution instead of Interceptor, because it is topical. After a couple of months, there was no change. We also had a blood test that determined he was supposedly not allergic to stuff in the air from grass. Then we went the next step and had the patch tests of about 43 sticks with the needles of various things. It didn't take long and they didn't need to knock him out, as he is very tolerant. Needless to say, he is allergic to quite a few things, and now I give him allergy shots. We haven't been doing this very long yet. One thing that has helped is Tinactin spray on his feet to fight fungus. Good luck to you. ;-)

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      • #4
        RE: Allergy Testing

        Zoey is on the Euk Response FP also. We have used the topical Revolution, also with no luck. She isn't having any problems with her feet at this time, just her face, eyes and ears.
        Mandi

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        • #5
          RE: Allergy Testing

          Poor Zoey! :-(

          Hugs and kisses to her!

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          • #6
            RE: Allergy Testing

            See teh FOOD ALLERGIES thread below. Some information on allergy testing and treatment there.

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            • #7
              RE: Allergy Testing

              Donna,

              Did you keep him on the Euk diet after the testing? Or did you switch his food? Even though you haven't been doing the allergy shots for a while, have you noticed a difference, is it helping at all?
              Mandi

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              • #8
                RE: Allergy Testing

                Even though he loved the Euk FP, the allergy specialist said we could go back to the food he used to eat, so we did, as well as the Interceptor.

                I don't know if it's the allergy shots that are helping yet or if it's the Tinactin powder for his feet. His problem is constant red feet, followed by infections in the feet from fungus and bacteria, and one lymph node in his leg that is constantly enlarged. Red itchy ears sometimes too. The lymph node has been smaller lately. He's only been on the shots since 1/26/02. There are three vials, and we aren't to the third vial yet, which is the strongest. They say that some dogs improve quickly and some dogs may take up to a year to improve.

                The constant infections followed by antibiotics and prednisone were too much. We had to try something else and hope this works. If you have to go this far, I hope it works for you.

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                • #9
                  RE: Allergy Testing

                  Thanks Donna!
                  Mandi

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                  • #10
                    RE: Allergy Testing

                    I'm a firm believer in allergy testing in general, better the devil you know. Allergies in dogs are as complicated as in people. The high incidence of food allergy in dogs prompts a lot of vets to start with an elimination diet. That used to be Lamb and rice, but so many dogs improved on it that every food company started producing a lamb and rice diet and most also included corn, beef and poultry by-products, and all the other garbage that they didn't work for food allergic dogs and now there are as many dogs allergic to lamb and rice as anything else. This is why companies are searching for unique protiens and coming up with things like Fish and Potato, duck and alligator as base protein sources for these diets. Hill's has developed a Prescription diet Z/D and Z/D ultra using very small chain protein molecules that the body doesn't recognize as allergens. This seems to be working pretty well. For an elimination diet to work (even as a diagnostic test diet) it has to be ABSOLUTE. You can't "contaminate" the diet with even a single piece of , and it can take months to decide if it's working. That's why I like the blood test allergy panels. A complete allergy panel from a company like Heska will include the most common food ingredients and a regional environmental panel. It's a lot faster than elimination diets too. There may also still be a need to do some skin patch testing if you're in an area that has some unique plants. Desensitization works well if your dog is allergic to a lot of things or something you can't eliminate such a dust mites.
                    There may be some initial cost to bear but in the long run it's much better than having your dog on steroids for life and dealing with both the long and short term effects.

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