[dwerten]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

An elimination diet instead of trying to maintain on steroids is, without a doubt, the best way to go if possible, but that doesn't mean steroids don't ever work in this case. Cyclosporine is just for environmental.

Food Allergies & Food Intolerance in Dogs
WSAVA 2001 - Update on Food Allergy in the Dog and Cat

Amazon.com: The Allergy Solution for Dogs:...
in this book written by dvm it states if a dog still itches while on steroids then food is the culprit as I agree the steroids will reduce the inflamation but it will not stop the allergent from food and why blood cannot determine food allergy same reason. This is how they determine many times it is food not environmental as they give the dog steroids and if they stop itching it is environmental if the dog does not stop itching it is food related.

both cyclosporine and steroids are immune suppressant drugs as they are using atopica in ibd dogs off label. The difference in the drugs is steroids affects the adrenals and atopica does not.