I just got the allergy test back from the vets yesterday indicating she has a variety of allergies. I have already done the protein panel and she can have duck, turkey and beef. The environmental allergies show mold, grasses and trees.

I would like to treat her hollistically by supplementing her diet but what would I use and how much? I read that salmon oil and vitamin e is quite common to boost the immune system to resist allergies but not sure if that is true.

My dog is a German Shepherd and weighs 67 pounds, clear eyes, good skin and coat.

Salmon oil has anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin E should be given with salmon oil since it protects the omega 3's from oxidation.

Salmon oil dosage is 1000 mg per 10 lbs. of body weight.

Vitamin E dosage is 100 IU for small dogs, 200 IU for medium dogs, and 400 IU for large dogs.

Vitamin C is a good natural antihistamine. You'll want to be careful with dosages because too much can cause diarrhea. Otherwise, it is water-soluble. Meaning that it doesn't build up in the body and excess is flushed from the body via urine.

 Quote:

Vitamin C with Bioflavonoid minimum dosage
0-25 pounds 100- 250 mg
25-50 pounds 250-500 mg
50-75 pounds 500-1,000 mg
50-100 pounds - 1,000-2,000 mg

Vitamin C dosages came from http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/category/vitamins/

Connie has posted in the past about dogs responding better to antihistamines when given in conjunction with salmon oil. I'll try to find that thread.

Here is a good site to research supplements and anything nutrition related for dogs.

http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/

If Connie, or any of the other allergy experts don't see this thread, bump it so they do.

They will be able to explain things better and have more recommendations.

I'm just reading off what I've learned from here and research on the internet. No real first hand experience with allergies.

 Quote: denise hau

I just got the allergy test back from the vets yesterday indicating she has a variety of allergies. I have already done the protein panel and she can have duck, turkey and beef. The environmental allergies show mold, grasses and trees.

There is no way to identify food allergies except by an elimination diet. For environmental/inhalant, the skin ("scratch") tests are the gold standard.

The RAST and ELISA (blood) tests are the least useful but not completely useless for inhalant/environmental allergies, but if you have had a vet tell you that a blood test will diagnose food allergies, you need a different vet.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1664&aid=143

Food allergies are BY FAR the least likely allergies, despite the many vets who will try to convince you otherwise.

QUOTE from URL above (and this would be the same in every vet manual, including Merck): Many owners and veterinarians attempt to look to other tests {meaning other than elimination diets} to diagnose food allergies. Blood tests such as the RAST test or the ELISA test can be performed to screen for food allergies. In addition, intradermal skin testing could also be performed. Despite the fact that these tests are routinely performed and used as a diagnostic aid, there is no evidence that blood tests are accurate for the diagnosis of food allergies. END

Your post sounds very unlike a skin test or elimination diet result.

The blood test route (the only test that GP vets can usually do, so many do it rather than refer the patient to the derm vet where s/he should be) is so common and such a terrible waste of money and time (and misery for the dog) that you will usually see several extremely experienced folks here pop onto a thread like this to tell you so.

A derm vet may seem like a big expense. The thing is, sadly, you can do it now, or you can do it in six months after you have wasted a small fortune on ear infection treatments, waiting room "prescription foods," and steroids. The second way (often years later) is the unfortunate route that many take, having a vet who does not know how much s/he does not know or who wants to sell something. (Yes, it does frustrate every one of us who has been there.)

For right now, I would do trials of Hyrdroxyzine and Chlorpheniramine, rinse off the dog of pollen and grasses before s/he gets them on the mats, carpets, etc., start the salmon oil and E, watch the insides of the ear carefully (and nip any inflammation before it's a full-blown infection), keep an eye on the paws, and tell us if the dog is on flea meds or has any flea exposure at all.

(Flea hypersensitivity is so far ahead of food allergies ... )

It's flea hypersensitivity, environmental/inhalant, and food, in that order, and food accounts for maybe 10 or 15% of dog allergies.

The vast amount of specialized info needed to diagnose and treat allergies is why derm vets exist. It is a specialty for a reason.

There are also (if you are fortunate in where you live) holistic vets with specialized nutrition/allery education. :-) .

Please check for flea dirt and/or post back about the flea info and how the insides of the ears and between the toes look.

Also, where on the body is the dog most itchy? (I assume that itch is what sent you to the vet for the allergy diagnosis.)

Connie,

What are "scratch" tests?

 Quote: Denise Hau

I just got the allergy test back from the vets yesterday indicating she has a variety of allergies. . .The environmental allergies show mold, grasses and trees.

That's helpful. That narrows it down to. . . everything!!

Sorry for the sarcasm there, but I think the only thing those tests help is the vet's bottom line. I have the same size female GSD with the same problems. The derm vet may be the best way to go for a permanent solution, but it's neither a quick nor inexpensive route to take. Others here can fill you in on the details of their experiences with them.

Along with Connie's good suggestions, I add a couple more things to consider using at some point. Probiotic supplements (yogurt, kefir, capsules, powders) and the Clear Allergies tablets from Leerburg that I mentioned in a previous post. Be glad to give you more info re: probiotics if you want it. I've also posted a lot about it here over the last year or two.

Unless you're going to a derm vet right away, I think the most important thing to do now is to start a log or diary to keep track of your observations and what changes you're making in diet, supplements, etc. Otherwise you'll quickly lose track of what you've done and what you think works or doesn't work. This is especially true considering some changes - antihistamines, steroids - may start working within 30 minutes while some supplements I've tried (successfully) may not show results for 3 - 4 weeks.

Mike

 Quote: maisha butler

Connie,

What are "scratch" tests?

Skin tests. Usually a derm vet or allergy specialist does them.

"Intradermal skin tests" are often called "scratch tests" (both for dogs and humans).

 Quote: Mike Armstrong

 Quote: Denise Hau

I just got the allergy test back from the vets yesterday indicating she has a variety of allergies. . .The environmental allergies show mold, grasses and trees.

That's helpful. That narrows it down to. . . everything!!

Sorry for the sarcasm there, but I think the only thing those tests help is the vet's bottom line. I have the same size female GSD with the same problems. The derm vet may be the best way to go for a permanent solution, but it's neither a quick nor inexpensive route to take. Others here can fill you in on the details of their experiences with them.

Along with Connie's good suggestions, I add a couple more things to consider using at some point. Probiotic supplements (yogurt, kefir, capsules, powders) and the Clear Allergies tablets from Leerburg that I mentioned in a previous post. Be glad to give you more info re: probiotics if you want it. I've also posted a lot about it here over the last year or two.

Unless you're going to a derm vet right away, I think the most important thing to do now is to start a log or diary to keep track of your observations and what changes you're making in diet, supplements, etc. Otherwise you'll quickly lose track of what you've done and what you think works or doesn't work. This is especially true considering some changes - antihistamines, steroids - may start working within 30 minutes while some supplements I've tried (successfully) may not show results for 3 - 4 weeks.

Mike

Ditto ditto ditto.

Denise, you have really received no diagnosis at all that's useful.

I left out half of what I should have said (being away, on the Other Coast), but Mike did better than I would have anyway.

(Probiotics are a huge part of my own allergic dog's regimen, too, and have been for over 18 months now, and I am ordering the LB herbal mixture today.)

Denise, I have an itchy dog. Sometimes "panicky" itching.

I haven't been to a derm vet (they are so far away and I haven't managed the trip yet) so I've only been to the regular vet.

She has a flea allergy. When she started this itching last year, the vet said flea allergy, this year it got worse.

It only takes 1, yea, that 1 flea to start the itching. It is not always possible to keep a flea off, so now I rinse her after she has been outside and I bathe her weekly. I give her Comfortis for fleas and that has worked better than any of the others.

When she got really 'panicky' with the itching, I increased her fish oil, vit e and yogurt rations.

I had always given her fish oil/vit e supplements, but I didn't give them to her every day. It was more like 3-4 times weekly.

Now I never miss a dose and she gets them every day. I also make sure she gets yogurt at least five days per week and am striving for daily. (She is a small dog and I sometimes don't get in everything due to feeding portions.)

So, until you can get to a derm vet, I would strongly suggest fish oil/Vit E supplements and probiotics of some sort. And make sure the dog is flea free.

ps The point of this long thread is to tell you that the supplements and yogurt are helping. She still occassionally scratches, but there is no 'panicky' scratching.

Edited by Nora Ferrell (06/28/2009 12:43 PM)
Edit reason: add ps