I don’t know. I am not a veterinarian. All I know is that when my dogs allergy issues were not resolved by a few visits to the regular vet, I decided to take my dog to a specialist.
The initial testing was a few bucks (much less than what you quoted), cost differs depending on location.
I was pleased with the results. We only see the specialist once a year. I have found it to be cost effective. Maintenance costs are reasonable.
There are a variety of tests, the specialist can determine what would be recommended for an individual dog after examining him and learning his history, and then prescribe treatment based on the results.
