Is allergy testing worth it?

[deonk1]

Hi All,

well many of you know Harley's been having troubles lately, he's been sick on and off since August. His IBD issues flare up cyclically, and we can't figure out the triggers, (he's been seeing a vet every 2 weeks), and his skin was getting ALOT better, but last night he had a minor IBD flare-up, (stomach gurgling, massive poop, bum itches, not eating, burrowing in blankets), which annoyed me cause I thought we were making progress, and today he's nearly chewing his foot off his paws are so itchy, and his skin has turned red again.

Just to avoid comments about rushing to a vet, I've been told by my vet how to deal with the IBD flare-ups to stabilize him, and the itch issues we've been doing to the whole trial and error thing for 4 months, no immediate vet attention will fix it, seeing we don't know what it is. He has also seen his new vet every 2 weeks for over a month now.

Sorry for the long ramble... but my question is, has anyone with a baby with severe skin issues had success with allergy testing? Is it conclusive? My vet seems to think that it can be successful, I've heard mixed reviews from my friends, and before dropping $500 on a blood test, I wanna see what others have to say about it. Also if you're insured, did insurance cover it.

He's on a vet diet (the only thing his IBD would handle), gets no treats or foods other than kibble, doesn't go outside too much (we exercise inside), he isn't exposed to other dogs often, I always use the same cleaning supplies (cause I have allergies and can't switch my detergents etc). I track his daily poos, food intake, water intake, temperament levels, itch levels, when I bath him (use vet shampoos for allergies), and we've removed all flea prevention, wormers, and luckily he hasn't need vaccines yet cause he was up to date prior to these issues.

I'm trying everything I can think of...
Sorry I'm having a mini break-down and needed to come rant, I had a bad day and to come home and see my baby sick just upsets me.

[capt_noonie]

I'm sorry to hear that! I think you are ahead of the game as far as what we have dealt with so far with Uni's itching. At lease she doesn't have the tummy issues. We did discuss with the vet today about the testing for allergies. He said it is about $500 and only about 70% of the time you will find out what it is the dog is allergic too. Sometimes you find out it's something like house dander, or dead skin flakes, or something that you cannot get rid of, which turns out to kinda be a waste of money. I mean you know what it is that triggers the allergy, but you can't get rid of dander from the world you know?

For us, we decided to go the steroid/antihistamine route first to see if that helps. If not, we may just go down the $500 route too.

But for Harley, does your vet think the skin issues are caused by the IBD or separate things? Is he currently on any meds for the IBD and skin conditions?

[deonk1]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I'm sorry to hear that! I think you are ahead of the game as far as what we have dealt with so far with Uni's itching. At lease she doesn't have the tummy issues. We did discuss with the vet today about the testing for allergies. He said it is about $500 and only about 70% of the time you will find out what it is the dog is allergic too. Sometimes you find out it's something like house dander, or dead skin flakes, or something that you cannot get rid of, which turns out to kinda be a waste of money. I mean you know what it is that triggers the allergy, but you can't get rid of dander from the world you know?

For us, we decided to go the steroid/antihistamine route first to see if that helps. If not, we may just go down the $500 route too.

But for Harley, does your vet think the skin issues are caused by the IBD or separate things? Is he currently on any meds for the IBD and skin conditions?

As far as my new vet (just got rid of the old one cause she didn't know what she was talking about... loooong story), she thinks that the IBD is separate from the skin allergies, but both could possibly be caused by the same trigger. If that makes sense. I think the majority of his IBD problems were food related, as now that we have him on the vet food they have gone from severe (vomiting, bloody stool, extreme discomfort, dehydration and not eating) to the manageable symptoms above.

He is not currently on anything, but we have tried multiple medications for both the IBD and the skin stuff, mostly antibiotics and steroids, plus this new shampoo and spray (which was working for like 3 weeks :S). So the only thing he's getting now is this spray and shampoo. I'm instructed to bathe him every week, and spray every 3 days.

She did say that if I did 2 tests the results would be more conclusive, but I'm in NS and the nearest place to get the second test is in Ontario. We are going away to ON for vacation this summer and could consult the doggie dermatologist then but that's still 5 months away. But that would likely be an additional $500

[capt_noonie]

Yeah it's a tough call. When they are that miserable, you don't really have a choice, you just have to do it to find out what's causing it. Do you think you'd be able to go to a different hospital and get a second opinion on the allergy testing? or if they would give meds now? For ex my vet advised against the testing for now, unless I really wanted to do it. But we have just the skin issue to deal with. We had the diarrhea problem before, but turned out to be pancreatitis and not IBD. Have you guys done bloodwork recently? Maybe that may show something?

[deonk1]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Yeah it's a tough call. When they are that miserable, you don't really have a choice, you just have to do it to find out what's causing it. Do you think you'd be able to go to a different hospital and get a second opinion on the allergy testing? or if they would give meds now? For ex my vet advised against the testing for now, unless I really wanted to do it. But we have just the skin issue to deal with. We had the diarrhea problem before, but turned out to be pancreatitis and not IBD. Have you guys done bloodwork recently? Maybe that may show something?

Yeah all bloodwork is clear...
This vet is the second opinion, as I'm adverse to permanently putting him on drugs, which is what my previous vet wanted (in addition to constantly switching foods :S).

It's such a tough call cause I've exhausted all emergency funds, and require medical stuff myself which will require me taking out a HUGE loan (braces for jaw pain). Hopefully I hear some stuff about whether to do the test.

I'm also thinking about asking the vet if we can switch his food again, to a duck version of his food, to see if that helps.

[capt_noonie]

Ohh, like I said you are ahead of the game as far as what I've had to deal with, so I guess I don't really have any other advice. I hope others will chime in with their thoughts soon. It's so sad to see our pups suffer.

[deonk1]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Ohh, like I said you are ahead of the game as far as what I've had to deal with, so I guess I don't really have any other advice. I hope others will chime in with their thoughts soon. It's so sad to see our pups suffer.

Thanks. even the moral support helps... it's theraputic to be on here, I know he doesn't understand why I'm upset.

[ritapatt]

Our 11 year wheaten has done amazingly with probiotics and digestive enzymes, no puking, no diarahea(after years of off and on tummy upsets, anal gland issues etc). It has really boosted her immune system so much that if she gets a bug bite it doesn't set her off scratching her skin off, the ear infections are also a thing of the past! She is on one dry food (fish-no grain), no treats.

[Wylie's Mom]

If this were me...I'd get something for temporary relief (Temaril P, steroids, Atopica)...and save my money for the Derm. I've dealt w/ allergy issues...and if I'd only gone to a derm from the beginning...sigh. They are so specialized, and so skilled at walking you thru the options, the facts, the stats. Skin testing can help for some, but the only real reason to do it is if you are going to give the custom allergy shots afterward.

I know meds aren't a first choice for anyone, but if quality of life is really being affected - meds then def have their place.

Have you done a true elimination diet yet?

[gemy]

Deon: I posted about Dr JEAN Dodds - she should have out her new allergy test for 20 common allergies; it is done by a saliva sample. www.hemopet.org

I'm looking at ordering the kit for my three. It is pretty reasonable and very accurate. I think about $100 or so. They are very helpfull over the phone and knowledgeable about all the tests they do.

Also with this type of thing I would email Dr Jean Dodds explain the ,history, and see if she would recommend an expanded thyroid profile. She goes even further than the regular expanded one that is done for CHIC. I'm doing that one this year for all my dogs too. It is about the same cost as what a paid for the Tprofile on Razzle last year. I don't have quick access to my Thyroid notes from her lecture, but I'm pretty sure wacky thyroid function can cause a whole host of problems.

[deonk1]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

If this were me...I'd get something for temporary relief (Temaril P, steroids, Atopica)...and save my money for the Derm. I've dealt w/ allergy issues...and if I'd only gone to a derm from the beginning...sigh. They are so specialized, and so skilled at walking you thru the options, the facts, the stats. Skin testing can help for some, but the only real reason to do it is if you are going to give the custom allergy shots afterward.

I know meds aren't a first choice for anyone, but if quality of life is really being affected - meds then def have their place.

Have you done a true elimination diet yet?

The meds we've tried thus far, never really worked. Which is why I'm hesitant to put him back on. (I had a horse that needed to be on steroids for 10 years it made him really sick after).

What do you mean by true elimination diet yet? Right now he's been put on Hills D/D and hasn't been given anything else, the vet suggested trying to implement some natural remedies, to help his stomach, but I pulled them away in fear that they were upsetting him (she suggested celery). The vet asked if I could prepare food for him, but honestly our lifestyle wont allow me to do that right now, plus I couldn't afford the ingredients, seeing we think he can't have chicken or beef.

[deonk1]

Originally Posted by gemy

Deon: I posted about Dr JEAN Dodds - she should have out her new allergy test for 20 common allergies; it is done by a saliva sample. www.hemopet.org

I'm looking at ordering the kit for my three. It is pretty reasonable and very accurate. I think about $100 or so. They are very helpfull over the phone and knowledgeable about all the tests they do.

Also with this type of thing I would email Dr Jean Dodds explain the ,history, and see if she would recommend an expanded thyroid profile. She goes even further than the regular expanded one that is done for CHIC. I'm doing that one this year for all my dogs too. It is about the same cost as what a paid for the Tprofile on Razzle last year. I don't have quick access to my Thyroid notes from her lecture, but I'm pretty sure wacky thyroid function can cause a whole host of problems.

Thanks I'll look into this and see if it's covered by my insurance at all and see how it works.

[gemy]

Kendra my consult with the vet dermatologist at VEC in toronto cost $250.00 It was very well worth it. Very knowledgeable specialist. I went in for Magic to see about his nose depigmentation. My regular vet had done a punch biopsy, and that result was sent to the specialist. He ended up saying, the only thing he would have suggested, is to send off the biopsy to the best pathologist in Canada, but my vet had already done that.lol. I had eliminated plastic bowls, and he was on a grain free diet, etc etc. Ultimately the ddx was "idiopathic depigmentation of the nose". Now about 2yrs later the condition has almost entirely cleared up.

[deonk1]

Originally Posted by gemy

Kendra my consult with the vet dermatologist at VEC in toronto cost $250.00 It was very well worth it. Very knowledgeable specialist. I went in for Magic to see about his nose depigmentation. My regular vet had done a punch biopsy, and that result was sent to the specialist. He ended up saying, the only thing he would have suggested, is to send off the biopsy to the best pathologist in Canada, but my vet had already done that.lol. I had eliminated plastic bowls, and he was on a grain free diet, etc etc. Ultimately the ddx was "idiopathic depigmentation of the nose". Now about 2yrs later the condition has almost entirely cleared up.

Was there an additional test fee on top of the consult? We're not planning on going to Toronto, so I wonder if the prices would be the same in Ottawa. luckily apparently my vet said one of the best clinics is the Alta Vista clinic, and these are the people who cared for Harley in his initial emerge case when were were on vacation last year. Maybe I'll have to call them and see what it'll cost.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by gemy

Deon: I posted about Dr JEAN Dodds - she should have out her new allergy test for 20 common allergies; it is done by a saliva sample. www.hemopet.org

I'm looking at ordering the kit for my three. It is pretty reasonable and very accurate. I think about $100 or so. They are very helpfull over the phone and knowledgeable about all the tests they do.

Also with this type of thing I would email Dr Jean Dodds explain the ,history, and see if she would recommend an expanded thyroid profile. She goes even further than the regular expanded one that is done for CHIC. I'm doing that one this year for all my dogs too. It is about the same cost as what a paid for the Tprofile on Razzle last year. I don't have quick access to my Thyroid notes from her lecture, but I'm pretty sure wacky thyroid function can cause a whole host of problems.

Wow, that sound very promising!