Quote: cheri grissom

First, hello everyone. I'm a new member. The subject of canine allergies is near and dear to me (unfortunately). Since someone asked about the cost, I just want to mention that I paid $375 for the blood testing method, and it was sent to two different labs. Not sure if it was worth it, though. It's been three months, we've been avoiding all the no-no foods, and there's little if any improvement. I guess an allergy specialist is the next step.

Cheri, you will learn a ton by searching for and reading a bunch of allergy posts here.

Not to get too far off topic, you will learn that the chance of your dog's allergies actually being food allergies was pretty small. (Less than 10% of dog allergies are food allergies.)

In addition, the RAST and ELISA (blood) tests cannot identify food allergies in dogs, and are not even very good (yet) at identifying airborne/environmental allergies in dogs.

In other words, if you have been told that a dog's food allergens could be identified via blood tests, you joined the gigantic list of owners (including me, until I started realizing that allergies were not a GP topic) who have been told that expensive non-fact.

"There is no evidence that blood tests are accurate for the diagnosis of food allergies. Veterinary dermatologists insist that there is no merit in these tests whatsoever in the diagnosis of food allergies. The only way to accurately diagnose food allergies is with a food trial as detailed above. While the intradermal skin testing is excellent for diagnosing atopy (inhalant allergies) it is ineffective for food allergies. While specialized blood tests can be used to help in the diagnosis of atopy, they have no benefit in diagnosing food allergies. In our review of all the current books and articles on veterinary dermatology and allergies, we could not find a single dermatologist that endorsed anything other than the food trial as an effective diagnostic aid. If you want to diagnose and treat food allergies you must do a food trial."

That's it in a nutshell from Doctors Foster & Smith at peteducation.com ... but believe me, this is not just one respected authority saying this. This is repeated in every authoritative source, from every current vet manual and book on canine allergies to every single vet-center website. The use of blood tests to ID food allergens for canine patients has to be one of the most amazing practices to continue, year after year after year, despite there being zero reinforcement for it in any authoritative source anywhere.

Connie, thanks so much for your input. I kind of knew in advance that the allergy blood testing was controversial, but I was desperate. I don't want to hijack someone else's thread here, so sometime soon I will start a new one with Logan's story. Just briefly, he's had mushy stools and skin problems almost his whole life. Our regular vet tried everything and finally said she was stumped, so we tried this holistic vet who specializes in treating dog allergies. I have spent more than a small fortune, and no improvement.

To Barbara, the OP, best of luck to you with your beautiful boy, Falcon. I'll be interested to hear what you find out.

Here is the process as it worked with my dog:

1. Go to bank and withdraw enough cash (10's and 20's) to fill a large suitcase.

2. Put cash in a large suitcase.

3. Put Dog in crate in back of Expedition.

4. Put suitcase full of cash in back of Expedition.

5. Drive to Vet. clinic.

6. Bring Dog and suitcase into clinic.

7. Give Dog and suitcase to vet.

8. Sit and wait in clinic.

9. When vet brings back dog and empty suitcase, put both in truck and drive home.

10. Wait for vet to call and tell you to come pick up the report.

I may have made this sound more complicated than it really is. It just comes down to giving the vet access to your dog and a huge sum of (your) money.

Yes. Over-complicated. Wire transfers work just as well as the suitcase.



eta

It is at least possible to avoid bestowing full suitcases on both the GP vet AND the derm vet, though, by going the the specialist as soon as the "allergy" word comes up.


JMO.

Edited by Connie Sutherland (09/30/2010 06:50 PM)
Edit reason: eta

 Quote: connie sutherland

It is at least possible to avoid bestowing full suitcases on both the GP vet AND the derm vet, though, by going the the specialist as soon as the "allergy" word comes up.

JMO.

YES! Over $1000 dollars was poured into my last dog at a GP Vet (who was very good IMO, and I got a generous discount as an employee) before she gave up and sent us to the derm/allergist. Problem Solved. Money spent.

We go see the allergy specialist Monday AM... I see I'll be doing a lot of reading this weekend and I am so VERY thankful to have this forum, the information in the posts and a few very helpful, very experienced folks on whom to "tap"...

I realize I am guily of having NOT done what I often suggest others do before posting a question... "use the search function".

I realize part of it is the desire to "talk" with you guys for the comraderie and support, but my gosh the info out there is worth searching for and reading...

My bad. But thanks for the advice.

Not wanting to re-type the same stuff over and over is not the only reason for the emphasis on that search function. It's more that there is so much here, so amazingly much, on most dog topics, that taking one new thread without all the dozens of recent ones too, is to rob yourself.

Allergies alone: There is more solid info here than there is in most good vet med sites. Plus links to good vet med sites.

As you read, you'll probably have questions. And you know that folks here are happy to help (and also empathize).

Hi Barbara,
We have had such a great experience with our derma vet. Yes, it's pricey, but she goes out of her way to be conservative first. A good derma vet can tell soooo much with an exam. After spending a lot at our regular vet, our derma vet had it narrowed down to environmental/inhaled allergies at our first appt by how his skin looked and where on his body he was itching.

We had already gone the elimination food diet before we went to her, but she admits true food allergies are rare, and when they do have them, they usually have digestive issues with the itching.

She explained that you really have 2 choices with environemtal allergies - skin testing (she doesn't even do the blood tests as she agrees they are not accurate and a waste of money) followed by allergy shots, or you choose to manage with drugs and keeping their environment as clean as possible. We did the skin testing and are doing the shots. They help about 70% of dogs (ranging from the itching getting about 20% - 80% better). It usually doesn't eliminate the itching altogether unless the dog is only allergic to a couple of things. Kasey is allergic to 43 of the 75 things tested (they test for the things most common to your specific area). Needless to say, you can't desensitize for 43 things! They can put 12 allergens in a vial of serum - some dogs become what they call 'multiple vial dogs'. Each vial of serum costs approx $200 depending on your vet. Once the initial build up period of over (a couple months) the shots are given every 2 weeks and the vials last about 6 months.

It can take up to a year to see any benefits if they are going to work. During that time they prescribe RX's to help the dog stay comfortable. It hasn't worked real well for Kasey - he still itches a lot in the summer and fall especially. We think he would be worse without the shots, but we still have to give antihistimines on a regular basis and occasional steriods to break bad itching cycles.

There is also cyclosporine (brand name Atopica). Super expensive and works as an immune suppressant. We broke down and gave it a try, but he just throws it up all day. No can do. I'm kind of glad though - it's a serious drug and I don't like to suppress immune systems.

As you can see we've been through the wringer! But he is worth it!

Lori, Your experience reminds me of what we went through with a sweet, yellow lab many years ago... Doug and I were talking about her tonight trying to remember all we/she went through - it was a journey, to say the least. Thank you for sharing your experience - it is so helpful!