Allergies and Allergy tests?

marc515

Our 5 year yellow lab has environmental allergies (we did not have him tested for food allergies). We had him tested about 3 years ago, and he is alergic to certain trees and grasses. We give him shots every 2-3 weeks, and while it has helped somewhat, he still itches, and we have to give him prednisone for a few days every now and then. He is much better in the winter.

How many of you guys have dogs with allergies, and how often do you have them re-tested?

Have you ever had your dog tested for food allergies?

We use Frontline, and never find fleas on him.

Any good ideas on how to relieve the itching during the summer?

Thank you,......marc

Dutchie

Be careful with the prenisone. I'm not a fan... it's a steriod and not to good for the body long term. I don't know why vets push the pren so much??? Maybe use it for isolated flare ups. Check into using bennadryl daily along w/ the shot every few weeks. I like the dye free gel caps. Anyone correct me if i'm wrong but I would dose a 30 # dog one 25 mg cap a day and two caps for larger dogs. (since it would be an everyday thing). Another option you may try is atopica- once a day or everyother day. It's pricy but I have seen great results from it. You do need an Rx for that. Good luck. I also know of medicated shampoos from the vet and feet sprays if they chew the feet. My b/f two frenchies have bad allergies the cream one more than the brindle. Light coats= more severe allergies, due to their pigments in the skin.

Sry did not see your NOT using pren. everyday.

Renoman

If he environmental allergies there's a good chance he may have food allergies too. Having him tested would be a good idea. That way you'll know for sure.

As for prednisone - I just found out 2 weeks ago (very long story) that there are other new anti-inflammatory meds available out there that do not have the side effects pred does. The start/stop dosing you're using is the one thing I've always been warned about. I've always been told it needs to be introduced gradually, full dose, then weaned off gradually usually over about 10 days time. Has that thinking changed?

Did you have the interdermal testing done by your vet or a vet dermatologist?

Anela

How many of you guys have dogs with allergies, and how often do you have them re-tested?

Have you ever had your dog tested for food allergies?

We use Frontline, and never find fleas on him.

Any good ideas on how to relieve the itching during the summer?

I am assuming you have taken the dog to a dermatology vet for the testing.

For the past 16 years I have been dealing with allergies in one form or another with three of my dogs. My old girl that I lost last January had a corn allergy.

My theory is if you have had the dog tested once for a allergy, you don't need to dog it again. You should already know what is going on.

Even though I now have two dogs with a food allergy (wheat) I did not have them tested. The symptoms indicated that they had an allergy, I switched to a hypo allergic food, and they symptom stopped (severe lower GI) within a few days. Typically you don't really know if there is an allergy to food for at least 6 weeks after you start to feed hypo allergic food and nothing else. That is how long it takes for old food to leach out of the dogs system.

You mention that you are using Frontline for a flea treatment. These collars are poisonous, the poison goes into the dogs system, fleas bite the dog, and they die. These collars can cause all sorts of allergy problems in dogs, especially Labs. Labs and Shepard are notorious for their allergies, food and environmental.

I also would be concerned about using Pred. over an extended period of time. It is not meant for long term use.

You are in a stage of dealing with this that indicates some success and some failure. How did you get here? Was it by trial and error trying to find the right medication and allergy (vet trying different meds more than once). Why are you using the Pred. so much? Is this the only thing the vet (not you) thinks will work for the dog.

Your dog has these issues and they are not gone. There has to be a reason, and a "qualified" dermatology vet should be able to nail it down. If there is more than one diagnosis or vet switches meds more than once something is wrong. When you use meds, ask the vet how long it will be before you start to see positive results. If you can't get timing, down to a date, vet probably does not know what is going on.

My experience has been that lots of vets just don't recognize a food allergy when they see it. They keep trying different things to clear up either upper or lower GI issues or skin problems, but they just don't see what is really the problem.

Anela

TomN

This is the recommended diphenhydramine(Benadryl) dosage from my vets office. Dogs can actually handle higher doses than humans can. I have actually give my 60# GSP up to 6 - 25 mg tabs without problems in a 24 hour period for severe flareups.

If your pet weighs:

2-4# then give 1/4 teaspoon liquid (childrens)
4-6# 1/2 teaspoon liquid
6-8# 3/4 teaspoon liquid
8-16# give 1 teaspoon liquid
16-35# give 1 (25mg) tablet (adult Benadryl)
35-65# give 2 (25mg) tablets
65-85# give 3 (25mg) tablets
over 85# give 4 (25mg) tablets.

Note: these dosages would be give twice a day.

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Ginny01OT

I have a dog with allergies. I switched him to a predominantly raw food diet, some Timberwolf Organics kibble. In the fall he gets an antihistame from the vet, not benadryl as he is allergic to the mold in the mulchy leaves which have been quite a lot this year. Between the two weeks of vet-given antihistame plus the raw diet things have been very good, very, very controlable

Renoman

Unless I missed something new, Frontline is not a collar. It is a topical treatment. And I agree some dogs can have reactions to the treatment.

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