What allergy tests should I ask the vet for?

[AGirlWithWheels]

Hi everyone! Holly can't stop scratching herself, the poor thing. She's going to the vet on Monday, but I don't know what type of tests I should ask for. Can anyone tell me what type of allergy related tests I can get? I've been looking for fleas and ticks, but she doesn't have any. Plus, she sleeps with me so if she had fleas I would too.

We've been using the same shampoo, conditioner, and food so nothing new has changed. She's been eating Blue Buffalo, and we wash her with Biogroom oatmeal shampoo and conditioner.

Recently she started to make a wired noise that sounds like part wheezing and sneezing as if she was trying to blow something out of her nose, and last night she was rubbing her face on the bed as if she was trying to rub something off the tip of her nose as well. I think it's allergy related, but any suggestions you guys have would be appreciated. Thank you!

[107barney]

Don't waste your money on food allergy testing like I did because the results are not reliable. Mine showed that my dog was allegic to some things and when the tests were repeated her "allergies" disappeared. Total waste of time and money! You can test for environmental allergies at least the testing is somewhat more reliable. My dog has environmental allergies in addition to a whole long list of other issues and has done excellently on atopica and most recently no medication and just a special diet.

Good luck keep us posted

[AGirlWithWheels]

Originally Posted by 107barney

Don't waste your money on food allergy testing like I did because the results are not reliable. Mine showed that my dog was allegic to some things and when the tests were repeated her "allergies" disappeared. Total waste of time and money! You can test for environmental allergies at least the testing is somewhat more reliable. My dog has environmental allergies in addition to a whole long list of other issues and has done excellently on atopica and most recently no medication and just a special diet.

Good luck keep us posted

Thank you, good to know! Is the test for environmental allergies worth it too, if they're just going to tell me that she's allergic to pollen and grass, and things like that? I've heard of atopica, I'll ask my vet if it will help. Can I ask what kind of special diet you put her on?

[Ellie May]

As Cathy said, food allergy testing = waste.

Is she just rubbing her face or scratching other areas?
So many causes of itching...
Environmental allergy testing is fine, but then the question is, how are you going to avoid grass and pollen when they tel you she is allergic? So if you aren't going to get the allergy shots after, it probably isn't worth it.

If the vet thinks it's environmental, they will probably start with antihistamines and go to Atopica.

But in their head this whole time they will likely be trying to rule out the other 400+ causes of itching... A big clue is where she is scratching and how her skin looks to them.

[AGirlWithWheels]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Environmental allergy testing is fine, but then the question is, how are you going to avoid grass and pollen when they tel you she is allergic?

That's exactly what I was thinking too. The environmental tests sound like it wouldn't help either, because there's no way we can avoid pollen and grass. She is an indoor dog, but when we take her out she runs at the first sign of grass.

She mostly scratches her face, ears, and her sides. She even rubs herself against the wall to scratch her sides. I'm always looking for fleas, so I see her skin alot and it looks nice and pink under her coat, nothing unusual like scabs or dry skin. The nurse said to give her Benadryl until Monday, so that's what we're doing. It seemed to have helped last night, so I'll just have to give it to her a few times a day.

[dwerten]

here is some info on allergies as I have been dealing with it for 5 1/2 years now with Dee Dee so I wrote up this info to help others.

If you do allergy testing then do it with either VARL,HESKA OR GREER LABS per our dermatologist

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...ml#post3147954

from what I have read the oatmeal shampoo can be a problem as well as blue buffalo food as too many ingredients for an allergy dog and oatmeal is a grain and allergy dogs can be allergic to oatmeal shampoo for that reason

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by AGirlWithWheels

That's exactly what I was thinking too. The environmental tests sound like it wouldn't help either, because there's no way we can avoid pollen and grass. She is an indoor dog, but when we take her out she runs at the first sign of grass.

She mostly scratches her face, ears, and her sides. She even rubs herself against the wall to scratch her sides. I'm always looking for fleas, so I see her skin alot and it looks nice and pink under her coat, nothing unusual like scabs or dry skin. The nurse said to give her Benadryl until Monday, so that's what we're doing. It seemed to have helped last night, so I'll just have to give it to her a few times a day.

zyrtec actually works better for dogs than benedryl

If you are not going to do hyposensitization shots the allergy testing really is a waste of money

If your dog has allergies I would definitely be dealing with a dermatologist as it is a life long thing and very frustrating and you want to be dealing with the best to handle the situation and keep your baby comfortable.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

As Cathy said, food allergy testing = waste.

Is she just rubbing her face or scratching other areas?
So many causes of itching...
Environmental allergy testing is fine, but then the question is, how are you going to avoid grass and pollen when they tel you she is allergic? So if you aren't going to get the allergy shots after, it probably isn't worth it.

If the vet thinks it's environmental, they will probably start with antihistamines and go to Atopica.

But in their head this whole time they will likely be trying to rule out the other 400+ causes of itching... A big clue is where she is scratching and how her skin looks to them.

If I had to do it over again I would do the hyposensitization as if your dog is in the 85% that it works for it is better than atopica or steroids as 90% of the time it is environmental but you have to rule out food first.

You cannot determine food allergy with blood testing only environmental

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by AGirlWithWheels

Hi everyone! Holly can't stop scratching herself, the poor thing. She's going to the vet on Monday, but I don't know what type of tests I should ask for. Can anyone tell me what type of allergy related tests I can get? I've been looking for fleas and ticks, but she doesn't have any. Plus, she sleeps with me so if she had fleas I would too.

We've been using the same shampoo, conditioner, and food so nothing new has changed. She's been eating Blue Buffalo, and we wash her with Biogroom oatmeal shampoo and conditioner.

Recently she started to make a wired noise that sounds like part wheezing and sneezing as if she was trying to blow something out of her nose, and last night she was rubbing her face on the bed as if she was trying to rub something off the tip of her nose as well. I think it's allergy related, but any suggestions you guys have would be appreciated. Thank you!

I see you are in california too worst state for allergies as blooming all year round

I think animaldermatology.com is near you and that is where we go and highly recommend them

[AGirlWithWheels]

Originally Posted by dwerten

I see you are in california too worst state for allergies as blooming all year round

I think animaldermatology.com is near you and that is where we go and highly recommend them

Wow, thanks for all the info. California is the worst, I have the WORST allergies ever. I can't believe I ended up with a dog that has allergies as bad as I do. What food and shampoo do you recommend?

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by AGirlWithWheels

Wow, thanks for all the info. California is the worst, I have the WORST allergies ever. I can't believe I ended up with a dog that has allergies as bad as I do. What food and shampoo do you recommend?

lol that is probably why you got this dog with allergies as many times we get them for a reason I believe

I use hypoallergenic blue and i use dr bronners mild unscented baby shampoo as well - both she does not react to like the others. I think I posted that on link at least i hope I did

[AGirlWithWheels]

We went to the vet and she gave Holly Temaril. I'm supposed to give her 1/4 of a tablet twice a day for 4 days, then once a day for 4 days, and finally every other day after that. There's only four pills total, and she said it should last a few weeks. She didn't mention allergy testing, just that she's seen alot of allergies in dogs lately. Hopefully it will help!

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by AGirlWithWheels

We went to the vet and she gave Holly Temaril. I'm supposed to give her 1/4 of a tablet twice a day for 4 days, then once a day for 4 days, and finally every other day after that. There's only four pills total, and she said it should last a few weeks. She didn't mention allergy testing, just that she's seen alot of allergies in dogs lately. Hopefully it will help!

I would go to dermatologist as if you can do naturally much better in the long run. Steroids should be the last option when nothing else works. Many vets go straight to steroids but you have to rule things out and steroids just mask the problem

[AGirlWithWheels]

The dermatologist from animaldermatology.com only comes here to Northern Cali 4 times a year, and I'm worried a little about the cost. I'll have to call and see how much a consultation is. I've seen Dr. Bronners shampoo at Target, I'll try switching her to that. I've found a tea tree oil dog shampoo too, do you think that can sooth her skin as well? I can't find hypoallergenic blue food, but what about Orijen?

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by AGirlWithWheels

The dermatologist from animaldermatology.com only comes here to Northern Cali 4 times a year, and I'm worried a little about the cost. I'll have to call and see how much a consultation is. I've seen Dr. Bronners shampoo at Target, I'll try switching her to that. I've found a tea tree oil dog shampoo too, do you think that can sooth her skin as well? I can't find hypoallergenic blue food, but what about Orijen?

NO TEA TREE - dogs with allergies are allergic to meleuca tree where tea tree is from per dermatologist

Hypoallergenic blue is a shampoo not food but I do not think they make it anymore

Earthbath hypoallergenic is also good

You need to have limited ingredient food as well.

Do 12 week food trial of venison and sweet potato natural balance food but slowly transition and NO TREATS NOTHING ELSE. This will rule out food. You need to do that first

Dermatology appt will be $160 for first appt and $80 for follow ups so I do not let a year lapse or back to $160 so we go about twice a year unless dd has a flair up. If too costly then I can help you so first you have to rule out food so we need to make sure tht is not the problem.