Allergy testing

[.sarah]

Has anyone ever had an allergy test performed on their dog? I've got one set up tomorrow for Nova. Her allergies are just getting out of control lately. I'm not sure if she's allergic to a certain meat, or if it's seasonal, or what. But she's just so uncomfortable and she's always itching. She has constant ear infections and rashes, but her face is what's really bothering her right now. It's getting all scabby and she's losing hair. Take a look ...

[Jessika]

Yeah Charlie gets a hot spot on his butt and on his chest where he will scratch/chew himself raw if I let him (one time it was so bad he had blood all over his chest and a huge patch of missing fur. Definitely not attractive to the ladies). I've narrowed his down to seasonal allergies though since they are non-existant in winter months, but as soon as spring hit it was awful

[.sarah]

Do you put him on medication to control it? I'm just wondering what type of route we're going to have to go.

[lvpets2002]

What a adorable baby you have.. Oh yes I went threw all of that with my Late Brit & they decided not only did she have sesonal allergies, she also had Tyroid problems && at one time she took up to eight pills a day for all her problems..

[DogLover9501]

I don't post often, but I've been through alot with alergies! They aren't fun.

Do you know if the test is a blood test, or not? Jasper had the blood alergy tests, and neither showed anything. I've heard they are very inaccurate, but were the only kind available to us here.

That's the most I can say without more information. I hope you are able to find out what's causing Nova's, or atleast narrow it down. Good luck!

[.sarah]

Yeah, it's a blood test. I don't know if there's another kind? I'll try anything until we get a result.

[.sarah]

Thank you.

I really hope it doesn't get to that point. She is just miserable though, and she needs something. She has so many problems and she's only a year old

[Glacier]

We never did a full allergy test for Sleet, but she had a number of elemination trials. Initally we thought was a food allergy, but changing her food, even to the 90 bucks a bag hypo-allergenic stuff, didn't help at all. My vet thinks based on where Sleet shows symptoms(her belly and paws) that she's allergic to something she walks and lays on. I think I know what it is, but it's a plant that covers about 95% of the Yukon so there's no way she can avoid it! She gets a steriod shot(Depro-merdol) once or twice a year. It kills the inflammation and itching within a few hours. She used to go on prednisone, but it turned her into a completely different dog and not a nice one! The depro is almost as effective and doesn't change her personality. It does have the usual 'roid side effects of increased thirst and hunger.

Good luck. I hope you find out what's bugging your girl!