zayda_asher

It certainly effects Asher, thankfully Zayda doesn't seem to be worried by it on the few times we've had to use it on her... Not much fun to see them all down is it?

Shouldn't effect them, as long as they are comfortable. If on a long course of pred they may need more water, as it is dehydrating. My dogs do obed, agility, come to work with me, bike, walk, play etc. on antihistamines... we don't use pred, unless absolutely needed (very rare). My boy becomes depressed on pred, but is still up to exercise...

Exactly! I fail to see how someone can love one and not the other As they say: "Unite, fight, get dog laws right"

Glad to hear the anti-histamines have helped and there are no long term side effects to using them. Take it from me - its best to buy them in bulk as it works out much cheaper. Great to hear he's doing better with the anithist! Yep, buy anything you can in bulk... With two allergic dogs and one allergic human here I spend more on supplements etc. than anything else I think

Oh, that's excellent! You used to need a referral... great news! :rolleyes:

Yes, you need a referral to Murdoch...

Your yeast and staph infections that allergy dogs get are slightly different: they're overgrowth of the skin's natural flora...

Yeah, I didn't think your dog was allergic, just chucked that out there more for Mason's mum Weird that the vet didn't say what it was... did they offer a treatment at all? Can you ask them?

Did your vet say what is was? I would suspect bacterial or fungal cause if related to the dam... Mason's Mum: An allergic dog may be more prone to picking up fungal or bacterial things from the dam / river as well, as their skin barrier function may be compromised, so getting that functioning better may help in the long run...

Ok, so he's still in the age bracket where allergies may be / are developing, so their symptom pattern may get worse (or develop new things) as this happens. Yep, pet plan should cover it, or help to cover it, as you were signed up before he developed symptoms.

Your vet should be able to contact the Derm in question and find out what things they routinely test for then, but you should be able to get a copy of your test results, regardless of what the actual outcome was. I find it very odd that he got an absolutely blank panel and not even some low responses - was he on cortisone or antihistamines at the time? This may cause such a result. Perhaps you need to discuss with your vet the possibility of trying some of the blood tests that test for allergies: my derm uses the intradermal test and the HESKA Elisa blood panel in conjunction with each other now, because they can get a clearer picture in some cases this way. I'd also talk to them about the possibility of other diseases that cause skin complaints. Your vet should be able to refer you to another dermatologist, you may just need to travel to get to them... I find it very odd that a derm would do the testing, get such a result and go "oh well, that's it for you"... did they mention no other options at all?

How old is he? Food allergies are actually far less common than atopy (air borne) and insect related allergies... So you don't have a regular routine of bathing, antihistamines, fatty acid supps etc.? It does sound like a trip to Murdoch is on the cards... once you know what they're reacting to you can do immunotherapy and its so much easier to keep their environment clean of their allergens!

So you've actually been to murdoch and seen the Derms? Are you doing immunotherapy or anything else?

Looks like self trauma from licking to me... very possible if your dog has allergies. Has he been tested so you know what he's allergic to and what is your treatment / management regime?

It depends on what area you're in as they test for the universally most common (like dust mites) and the most common to your location (specific plants for e.g.). Broadly speaking intradermal testing normally includes plant pollens, mould spores, & some insects (including mites). Ask your vet to contact the Derm for the records, they should be able to get them. I'd also consider a referral to a more user friendly Derm, you can take the records from the previous derm with you once your vet has gotten them for you (or ask the new derm to get them)... I assume other problems that can cause skin complaints, like thyroid issues, have been ruled out?

The biggest benefit to you in testing, it sounds, would be a) to know what she is reacting to so you can remove anything easily removed from the immediate environs and b) to try immunotherapy, which may mean you don't need to use other meds with her (she sounds like a mild case if she only has problems every so often, so if she responds well to immunotherapy that may be enough). You could start with a blood test and go from there... blood tests are best done in conjunction with intradermal testing, but there's nothing stopping you from doing one on its own, just be aware that they are not accurate for diagnosing food reactions in dogs and cats (even though they test for them). Bloods on its own is less invasive and I would imagine you'd draw bloods at some stage for Cushings tests anyway?? So not hard to collect another vial whilst you're at it... According to my Derm the HESKA Elisa blood panel is the better one to use.

Its intradermal testing where the patch is shaved and antigens are injected, no stitches involved either. There was someone who said their dog (many years ago) was tested and had biopsies done that needed stitching, but I don't know what that test is, certainly not a standard or normal allergy test. Intradermal testing is for atopy (air borne - pollens, moulds etc.) and insect reactions. A patch test for contact allergy involves placing the antigen on a patch of skin (belly or inside leg, or a shaved patch) and covering it for 24-72hrs and looking for a reaction. You know on the box of hair dye how it tells you to put a little of the product on your arm and see if you react BEFORE you put it on your head? That's a patch test. If you find an antihistamine that works for your dog and its not contraindicated with any of her other meds, use it! They are considered to have very low side effects and benign for long term use.

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner on this - too much to do Now that I have a scanner again, I can show you a pic if you still want it

When I've put a t-shirt on the dogs after an op, for example, I just grab up the excess in the back and tie it in a knot... that works well... mind you, I've only done that on the girls... you'd have to tie it off in front of the willy for the boys, and make sure they didn't pee on themselves - we had some problems with vest type jackets with Asher with that (much skinnier in the back end, so it was loose) and it was most mortifying for him! :laugh:

Yes, she is, I've spoken to her before on the subject of allergies and vaccinations. Very helpful and knowledgeable person We didn't go any further with finding out about thyroid testing here, as it wasn't really appropriate in our case in the end, so just got the "yes, you can" but not into how much it might cost etc.

Its weird... we always think of WA as "backwards", but it seems we are forward in some things!

I was told we could do the free T4

I was told I could get a full panel done here, if I wanted, by a health professional (I asked specifically)... Maybe we can in WA, I know we can get titers done here that you guys in the east have to send away for, so some labs here at least seem to do a little more ETA: I see Dr Dodds has new testing as of 09, we wouldn't have that.

You can have a full panel done here, you just have to request it...

Yes, many of the definitions I've seen for atopy do state that... If you find a good ref in your stuff for it, let me know... I'm compiling info on it atm to present to the AmStaff community - every bit helps! Oh yeah, a proper study would be excellent... I'd love to see that too!! Would be very interesting to know!! I'd also love to see more research in the genetics of allergies in dogs... ETA: I believe there is one being done in Aus atm on Westies, maybe it was in NSW?