Allergy testing
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pugpillow
Two Crazy Pugs
6 posters
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Allergy testing
So we are doing blood work for allergy testing with Gidget. Her skin issues keep cropping up and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to what triggers it. We pulled her off the Atopica since it suppresses the immune system and that is counter-productive when she has the history of MCTs. (the good news is we haven't had a occurrence of MCTs since taking her off the Atopica and adding Benadryl twice daily.)
Anyhow. Who has done the blood work for allergy testing and was it successful? I am really hoping to get some answers. I feel so bad for her when her skin gets all icky and itchy. The vet said she had a dog (a patient) once that tested positive for an allergy to human dander! Tim and I laughed and said that is probably going to be Gidget because she is always sitting on someone and has to be touching a human!
Anyhow. Who has done the blood work for allergy testing and was it successful? I am really hoping to get some answers. I feel so bad for her when her skin gets all icky and itchy. The vet said she had a dog (a patient) once that tested positive for an allergy to human dander! Tim and I laughed and said that is probably going to be Gidget because she is always sitting on someone and has to be touching a human!
Two Crazy Pugs-  
- Number of posts : 1295
Location : Las Vegas
Re: Allergy testing
My Kimmy (1995-2010) had allergy tests and tested positive to several environmental allergens. We gave her allergy shots every 2 weeks for many years - they didn't work. What did work was taking her off grains.
pugpillow-  
- Number of posts : 944
Location : Ontario, Canada
Re: Allergy testing
I'd be interested in what they find. is it expensive? I'm convinced Zoe's had allergies for a long time. She's always scooting, but I thought it was anal glands. Now I think it might be allergies. I've taken her off of gluten, grain and on only LID food and snacks. Benadryl didn't do anything so she's on Zyrtec and still scoots and has itchy ears. it's so frustrating.
I hope you find out what it is soon. and I hope it's not human dander. poor Gidge!
I hope you find out what it is soon. and I hope it's not human dander. poor Gidge!
Mel-  
- Number of posts : 3270
Location : Las Vegas
Re: Allergy testing
I'll be watching this thread. That is the next step for us with Gracie and her skin issues she's all of the sudden started having. I've heard mixed reviews on allergy testing. Some say it has worked, others said it was a waste of money. My vet said we're either gonna love her or hate her. It is pretty expensive, my vet gave us a quote and Erik almost had a hairy canary!!
Poor little girl, let us know how she does!!
Poor little girl, let us know how she does!!
GracieNEmma-  
- Number of posts : 1065
Location : Gracie & Emma's House (Florida)
Re: Allergy testing
I have heard of a new way to allergy test, which uses saliva. I remember reading about it on Dr Karen Becker's site. Might be worth a visit and read what she wrote.
I too would like to do allergy testing on my Skeeter, but I am not feeling confident about the results so I have not done it yet.
I too would like to do allergy testing on my Skeeter, but I am not feeling confident about the results so I have not done it yet.
Re: Allergy testing
I think this might be Dr. Dodds' test for food allergies?
pugpillow-  
- Number of posts : 944
Location : Ontario, Canada
Re: Allergy testing
pugpillow wrote:I think this might be Dr. Dodds' test for food allergies?
Yes, I believe that is it. Dr. Becker did an interview with her and discussed how the saliva test is supposed to be better than blood testing.
Any thoughts?
Re: Allergy testing
GracieNEmma wrote:I'll be watching this thread. That is the next step for us with Gracie and her skin issues she's all of the sudden started having. I've heard mixed reviews on allergy testing. Some say it has worked, others said it was a waste of money. My vet said we're either gonna love her or hate her. It is pretty expensive, my vet gave us a quote and Erik almost had a hairy canary!!
Poor little girl, let us know how she does!!
Our previous vet never wanted to do it because it doesn't always give answers. The new vet we are seeing pushed for it. Since we shouldn't use Atopica anymore and long term steroid use isn't a great option either I thought this might give us an answer or two. If it is food, then we can work on eliminating whatever that is and if it is environmental hopefully we can avoid whatever that might be. The vet said her dog tested positive for an allergy to wool and she felt so bad because his bed and blankets were wool!
We will see. She said it takes awhile to get the results back. The cost is insane, but for what we have paid in vet appointments and pills to help Gidg this might be really worth it.
Two Crazy Pugs-  
- Number of posts : 1295
Location : Las Vegas
Re: Allergy testing
Is it anything like how they do testing for human allergies? So if the allergic reaction is ongoing at the time of testing, you don't get very accurate results since the body is already in the throws of an allergic reaction?
smoochieface-  
- Number of posts : 5123
Location : California
Re: Allergy testing
smoochieface wrote:Is it anything like how they do testing for human allergies? So if the allergic reaction is ongoing at the time of testing, you don't get very accurate results since the body is already in the throws of an allergic reaction?
Good question. I have no clue. I know they drew blood and are going to send it off for testing. I know very little about allergy testing for humans or canine.
When our vet tested her dog, he was having allergic reactions to the wool at the time. Not sure if that would skew it or not, but they found what was causing the dog itchies.
Two Crazy Pugs-  
- Number of posts : 1295
Location : Las Vegas
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