Allergy testing

[Jakesmom]

Jake, my Golden Retriever, is now 9 1/2 year old, and has had allergy problems from about 7 months. He had allergy testing at about 9 months, then every few years or when we have moved. He is allergic to pretty much everything. We started with weekly shots which helped tremendously. A few years ago, we started a restricted diet (rabbit and potato) which helped. He still occaissionally needs to go on antibiotics for the skin infections he gets (dogs with allergies tend to get these skin infections and folliculitis) but the frequency is much reduced. I try to avoid having him on steroids, and have found that none of the antihistamines do much. If he is really, really ithcy, I give him amitryptilline until we get it back under control--has antihistamine (anti-iitch) and is sedating, so he doesn't scratch so much. In general, the problem is manageable but you need to be vigalent.

Your vet may do both skin testing and blood tests. I would definately reccomend seeing a veterinary dermatologist if you can.

Good luck.

[.sarah]

Got the results back a minute ago. She's allergic to quite a few inhalents.

Rhizopus, Candida albicana, Brome grass, Orchard Grass, Velvet Grass, Johnson Grass, Pigweed, Sagebrush, Russian Thistle, Goldenrod, and Red Mulberry.

Of course I was hoping for food allergies because they would have been much easier to treat. She's not allergic to any foods though. The doctor she's been seeing isn't in today so he's going to call me tomorrow to discuss treatment.

[Dixieland Dancer]

Of course I was hoping for food allergies because they would have been much easier to treat. She's not allergic to any foods though. The doctor she's been seeing isn't in today so he's going to call me tomorrow to discuss treatment.

I'm not 100% positive about this but the blood test doesn't check for food allergies. If you want to test for food related allergies you need to do the patch test and it is more extensive so it is also more expensive.

The next step in treatment should be a serum created from the allergens specifically for your dog. Then you will start giving injections.

I did some quick research on HYDROXYZINE. Some interesting information pasted from various sites:

{It is an antihistamine and does not contain any cortisteriods. Antihistamines in general are more effective in itchy cats than itchy dogs though many dogs achieve relief with this medication. The enteric coating and small sized tablet make it a common first choice in an antihistamine trial.

In the treatment of allergic skin disease, antihistamines are felt to synergize with omega 3 fatty acid supplements and, as a general rule for this condition, it is best to use these medications together.

Hydroxyzine should not be used with additional tranquilizing medications.

A newer antihistamine called Cetirizine has become available. This medication represents an active form of hydroxyzine which does not cross the blood-brain barrier. This means that Cetirizine would be helpful for a patient who’s responded well to hydroxyzine but had an unacceptable level of drowsiness.

CONCERNS AND CAUTIONS

This medication will interfere with allergic skin testing. Check with your veterinary dermatologist regarding how far in advance this medication should be withheld.}


When I first started out with allergies in Dusty we did food elimination diets and he was started on Chlorphenaramine (antihistimine). We tried several antihistimines but none really worked. Then we started on the Prednisone. He needed to be off all these for a minimum of 3 weeks but preferrably 6 weeks before being blood tested. I only mention this because you said your vet did not tell you this. Before spending money on having a special allergy serum created, verify with the vet that the tests are valid if Nova was still on antihistimines immediately prior to the test being taken. While they probably are, it is better to check than to be sorry later after many dollars are invested. It never hurts to ask the vet!

[.sarah]

This is freaky. I just posted about Fenway coming back from the Vet and how the Vet has put him on HYDROXYZINE. Did you vet recommend bathing in AVENO OATMEAL? It's for humans but the oatmeal supposedly helps with the itching. I haven't tried it on Fenway yet. I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to get him to take these pills. Good luck.

No, I haven't talked to my vet since the results came back. He is supposed to call today. I'll let you know what he says about shampoos.

I'm not 100% positive about this but the blood test doesn't check for food allergies. If you want to test for food related allergies you need to do the patch test and it is more extensive so it is also more expensive.

The blood test did check for food allergies, and she is free of them.

I did some quick research on HYDROXYZINE. Some interesting information pasted from various sites:

{It is an antihistamine and does not contain any cortisteriods. Antihistamines in general are more effective in itchy cats than itchy dogs though many dogs achieve relief with this medication. The enteric coating and small sized tablet make it a common first choice in an antihistamine trial.

In the treatment of allergic skin disease, antihistamines are felt to synergize with omega 3 fatty acid supplements and, as a general rule for this condition, it is best to use these medications together.

Hydroxyzine should not be used with additional tranquilizing medications.

A newer antihistamine called Cetirizine has become available. This medication represents an active form of hydroxyzine which does not cross the blood-brain barrier. This means that Cetirizine would be helpful for a patient who’s responded well to hydroxyzine but had an unacceptable level of drowsiness.

CONCERNS AND CAUTIONS

This medication will interfere with allergic skin testing. Check with your veterinary dermatologist regarding how far in advance this medication should be withheld.}

Thanks, that is really helpful. The medicine was prescribed the same day as we did the blood draw, so she didn't have any before the test.

When I first started out with allergies in Dusty we did food elimination diets and he was started on Chlorphenaramine (antihistimine). We tried several antihistimines but none really worked. Then we started on the Prednisone. He needed to be off all these for a minimum of 3 weeks but preferrably 6 weeks before being blood tested. I only mention this because you said your vet did not tell you this. Before spending money on having a special allergy serum created, verify with the vet that the tests are valid if Nova was still on antihistimines immediately prior to the test being taken. While they probably are, it is better to check than to be sorry later after many dollars are invested. It never hurts to ask the vet!

Thanks, I will ask about this.