Alfie got his allergy tests today.

[Mistymillar]

Poor wee Alfie. He got his allergy tests today, they put him under.

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I was holding put such hope for today, we have waited a long time for him to be old enough. There were no clear enough reactions to identify any definite triggers.

The vet is doing some more blood testing (cytology? Or is this as well as blood testing?). I should have been listening better but my poor baby was still like a little limp rag doll when the vet derm was talking to me and I was more focused on him. I do understand that this means we still do not have any diagnosis so will carry on with his antihistamines, Anallergenic food, 3times a week baths and always, always with the jammies.

He has been up and walked about a bit, chased his ball once but for the most part is wanting to just sleep on our knees while he recovers from his first anesthetic.

He has tried to potty 2or three times but has only passed a little mucus, when he is up and about his tail is down and under, do you think this is because of the anesthetic and all the other trauma he has been through today?

Poor wee Alfie, getting stuck like a little pin cushion and still no further on, makes me really sad.

[Harrysmum]

Oh Tracey, your poor, poor little baby boy.....

You must be tearing your hair out, you're doing everything you possibly can for little Alfie, and I admire you more than you'll ever know for your care and compassion, you're so lucky to have one another.

When Harry had his anesthetic, yes his tail was down for a day or 2...and he was kind of dull and 'wandery'....if you're unsure about what was said to you, please call your vet tomorrow and ask them to re-explain - I know I've often been in a 'Vet-Daze' with it all - and they've been more than happy to re-go-over the detail

I hope you all manage to sleep well tonight (with his pj's on!! ) Love and a hug from Sally + Harry x

[mimimomo]

Poor you & poor Alfie! Did you see this? http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...vity-test.html

IDK if it's available in the UK, but worth a try.

[MandiesMom]

Awww, bless his heart!!! Bless your heart!! You are such a great mommy to Alfie, Tracey!! Hugs.

I agree that the anesthesia is messing with his "poop & tail" actions. It actually caused Mandie to be a little constipated so I had to give her some fiber and mineral oil. If he's still struggling to poo tomorrow, you might want to rub a tiny bit of mineral oil on his bum and feed him some green beans. If he seems to be struggling and/or hurting too much when trying to poo, give him a tiny tiny bit of mineral oil on a couple of those green beans.

Praying for you to get the answers you need to make Alfie feel better.

[Mistymillar]

Originally Posted by Harrysmum

Oh Tracey, your poor, poor little baby boy.....

You must be tearing your hair out, you're doing everything you possibly can for little Alfie, and I admire you more than you'll ever know for your care and compassion, you're so lucky to have one another.

When Harry had his anesthetic, yes his tail was down for a day or 2...and he was kind of dull and 'wandery'....if you're unsure about what was said to you, please call your vet tomorrow and ask them to re-explain - I know I've often been in a 'Vet-Daze' with it all - and they've been more than happy to re-go-over the detail

I hope you all manage to sleep well tonight (with his pj's on!! ) Love and a hug from Sally + Harry x

Thanks Sally, he has been fast asleep for the last few hours, I have him in bed with me (he usually sleeps downstairs) to keep an eye on him. I am glad he is sleeping as the Vet Derm said he would probably be itchy and agitated tonight with everything they pumped into him today.

I forgot to mention, the Vet said there is a new medication being released in January that she think may be good for him if we don't get any more info from the bloodwork. She says that of all the animals she treats (as far as I know she is the foremost vet derm in Northern Ireland, so that is a lot) Alfie is the most suitable for this drug. So a little bit of light at the end of a long tunnel.

[Mistymillar]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Poor you & poor Alfie! Did you see this? http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...vity-test.html

IDK if it's available in the UK, but worth a try.

Thanks Jenny, yes I did see that, I think the testing he had included intolerances as well as full blown allergies, but like I said I didn't take everything in.
I will be checking back in with my vet and have them send on a copy of the testing that was done and ask them about this to.

[Mistymillar]

Originally Posted by MandiesMom

Awww, bless his heart!!! Bless your heart!! You are such a great mommy to Alfie, Tracey!! Hugs.

I agree that the anesthesia is messing with his "poop & tail" actions. It actually caused Mandie to be a little constipated so I had to give her some fiber and mineral oil. If he's still struggling to poo tomorrow, you might want to rub a tiny bit of mineral oil on his bum and feed him some green beans. If he seems to be struggling and/or hurting too much when trying to poo, give him a tiny tiny bit of mineral oil on a couple of those green beans.

Praying for you to get the answers you need to make Alfie feel better.

Thanks Terri, he had eaten very little first thing this morning, because of the anesthetic (vet told me to feed him a little cos he is so wee) he was hungry when we got home and ate a good portion of his food, green beans are the only other food he gets and I gave him some extra tonight and he enjoyed them, hope that helps with his stomach, I can't give him anything else at all, not even fish or coconut oils in his food due to his treatment regime.

I will be checking back in with the vet tomorrow if he doesn't have his usual morning potty.

[Juliealfies mum]

Poor wee Alfie , I hope he can get some relief from his allergies.

[Wylie's Mom]

Wow, Tracey...just can't believe this ! I thought for sure you, of all people, would get some positive results from allergy tests for Alfie. It really makes you wonder what the heck is going on with his skin....?

What action in the body does the new med work to mediate, do you know? Is it steroid related or different?

[Mistymillar]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Wow, Tracey...just can't believe this ! I thought for sure you, of all people, would get some positive results from allergy tests for Alfie. It really makes you wonder what the heck is going on with his skin....?

What action in the body does the new med work to mediate, do you know? Is it steroid related or different?

Ohh Ann, I know, there has to be something going on. I think the new meds block itch receptors?

I will get a better chance to discuss them with her at our next app when the bloods come through in 2 weeks, we also talked about Atopica the app before his testing so will decide on what to try next. And when I am not more focused on making sure he woke up from the anesthetic.

He had a couple of break out patches when he was cold turkeying off his meds before the testing, one on his left hind leg and another in his armpit which is the most common break out spot for him.

He is such a wee dote, I am just holding out hope that the bloods will show something treatable. Pat (vet derm) says that he could just be so hyper sensitive that there doesn't need to be any specific triggers and anything random could be setting him off.

He is back to his old self today, playing, drinking, eating, pooping as normal and back on his antihistamines, I won't bath him until tomorrow as I want to give the test site a rest.

So will let you all know the blood results in two weeks.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Mistymillar

Ohh Ann, I know, there has to be something going on. I think the new meds block itch receptors?

I will get a better chance to discuss them with her at our next app when the bloods come through in 2 weeks, we also talked about Atopica the app before his testing so will decide on what to try next. And when I am not more focused on making sure he woke up from the anesthetic.

He had a couple of break out patches when he was cold turkeying off his meds before the testing, one on his left hind leg and another in his armpit which is the most common break out spot for him.

He is such a wee dote, I am just holding out hope that the bloods will show something treatable. Pat (vet derm) says that he could just be so hyper sensitive that there doesn't need to be any specific triggers and anything random could be setting him off.

He is back to his old self today, playing, drinking, eating, pooping as normal and back on his antihistamines, I won't bath him until tomorrow as I want to give the test site a rest.

So will let you all know the blood results in two weeks.

I still can't believe this...was thinking about it last night too, how mysterious his skin issues are! Vet Derms are so brilliant, and I bet your Derm is so mystified by Alfie's case bc it's truly unusual. I hope that new med or Atopica helps the little fella. It's so unfair that he has so much to deal with and that solutions are so fleeting. Keep hanging in there, I know you'll eventually find what works!

[Mistymillar]

Soooooooo, Alfie's Vet Derm called this morning - after the inconclusive allergy testing we were waiting for the blood results.

No major allergies to all sorts of dust, mites, pollens etc. some medium intolerance to beef, lamb and venison (he has never had venison in his life) also some concerns that he has intolerance to yeast (I think his own yeast on his skin) and is prone to staph.....can you tell that from bloods? Oh and dairy got scored too.

Anyhoo, she has advised starting him back on steroids until she can get him on the new drug coming out in January, forgot again to get the name.

We have also been considering for a while that excitement triggers his itching, for instance, he will be fully relaxing on his window cushion waiting for us to come home, then when we get in and get kisses he will scratch, so because this drug blocks itch receptors she is pretty sure it will help.

So back on steroids, thrice weekly baths (which we do anyway) but the good news is we can start trying to give him a little chicken for a while and just watch in case he reacts.
Idk, he will probably scratch his whiskers out at the excitement of getting
chicken rather than having a reaction to it....

[Mistymillar]

image.jpg

Here he is chillin on the sofa with mum - you can see a little hotspot on his neck, it's hard to find a pair of turtleneck
PJs.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Mistymillar

Soooooooo, Alfie's Vet Derm called this morning - after the inconclusive allergy testing we were waiting for the blood results.

No major allergies to all sorts of dust, mites, pollens etc. some medium intolerance to beef, lamb and venison (he has never had venison in his life) also some concerns that he has intolerance to yeast (I think his own yeast on his skin) and is prone to staph.....can you tell that from bloods? Oh and dairy got scored too.

Anyhoo, she has advised starting him back on steroids until she can get him on the new drug coming out in January, forgot again to get the name.

We have also been considering for a while that excitement triggers his itching, for instance, he will be fully relaxing on his window cushion waiting for us to come home, then when we get in and get kisses he will scratch, so because this drug blocks itch receptors she is pretty sure it will help.

So back on steroids, thrice weekly baths (which we do anyway) but the good news is we can start trying to give him a little chicken for a while and just watch in case he reacts.
Idk, he will probably scratch his whiskers out at the excitement of getting
chicken rather than having a reaction to it....

Sigh...how frustrating...still no concrete answers, just hints. I'm really hopeful for you with this new med though and can't hardly wait for him to try it...in January! I hope the steroids help in the meantime.