[Anonymous]

Helpful article below:
By Klaus Loft, DVM
Angell Dermatology Service

Anyone who suffers debilitating environmental allergies tied to changing seasons, pet dander or household dust mites knows first-hand the misery of a scratchy throat, itchy eyes or painful rashes.

Not everyone knows, however, that our pets can experience similar allergic reactions — and other very bothersome dermatological issues. But our pets need not suffer in silence. Modern veterinary science has evolved such that advanced, comprehensive treatments are now available to treat a range of skin conditions.

Top pet dermatological issues

Our four-legged friends suffer from some of the same skin issues as we do — and several that we do not. The most common conditions we see at Angell include:

•Parasites, such as mites, fleas and mange (scabies)
•Infectious diseases, such as Staphylococcal pyoderma (“Staph”) skin infections, yeast and fungal infections and skin fold infections
•Systemic diseases, such as autoimmune diseases
•Skin cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphoma, Mast cell tumors
•Allergies, such as flea allergy dermatitis, adverse food reactions, environmental allergies, etc.

All of these conditions can become serious and, if untreated, dramatically reduce quality of life. But the tremendous strides made in veterinary innovation, however, is very good news for our pets. Specifically, the testing and treatments for allergies now rivals human healthcare in its sophistication, quality of care and long-term health outcomes.

Unlike humans, dogs and cats cannot tell us about their dermatological health issues. So we as pet owners must look for the signs. The most common indicators that a pet is suffering from some kind of allergy involve frequent episodes of ear infections, red raised or open sores on the skin, constant licking or biting of paws or groin — sometimes causing wounds that will not go away.

Allergies present a particular challenge because there can be hundreds (even thousands) of potential allergens that impact pet health, from foods to pollen from grasses, weeds, trees, dust mites and more. Today’s specialty veterinary hospitals have access to the very latest diagnostic tests to get to the bottom of what’s ailing our pet. Among these tests is the Intra Dermal Test (IDT).

IDT is generally considered the gold standard of testing for identifying allergens that cause pets to suffer from chronic skin and/or ear diseases. IDT involves injections of a series of concentrated allergens into the skin to determine which of them generate allergic reactions in a given animal. The use of fluorescein — a chemical that illuminates the inflammation caused by the injected allergens in order to visualize the strength of individual reactions — is key to accurately diagnosing pet allergies, and is just one of the many ways veterinarians use new technologies to improve care and diagnostics.

The results of IDT (as well as a review of the pet’s medical history) can then inform comprehensive immunotherapy treatments to relieve suffering. Veterinary dermatologists rely on IDT to build customized treatment plans for patients called Allergen Specific Immuno Therapy or “ASIT” for short.

ASIT involves a series of injections specifically created for the allergic animal’s skin. These injections, of diluted allergens, are designed to make a pet less sensitive to their allergens over time. In most cases these injections must be continued for life to reduce symptoms, but they are highly effective. Seventy to 90 percent of pets experience a reduction in symptoms as a result of ASIT treatment. These treatments can be delivered even more easily via droplets under the tongue, perfect for pet owners who are squeamish about giving injections to their pet.

This treatment is very new to the North American field of medicine (both human and veterinary) and underscores just how far innovation in veterinary medicine has come.

When it’s time to see the vet

Many pet owners are understandably concerned about taking their animals to the veterinarian because the cost (to say nothing of the fear some animals experience when going do the doctor) may outweigh any perceived reduction in suffering. To help pet owners know when it’s time to bring Fido to the doctor I’ve compiled my “Top Ten” list of dermatological symptoms that should never be ignored:

•Intense itching of the skin (head shaking, running the face into the carpet, furniture, etc.)
•Biting at the skin that creates red, raw crusting areas of the skin
•Multiple ear infections (head shaking, odor from ears, scratching at the ears with hind legs)
•Paw licking or chewing and frequent infections of the skin in the webbed skin of the paws
•Staining of the fur of the paws and nails on multiple feet
•Reoccurring skin infections in the groin, under the shoulders, perianal areas (on or under the tail)
•Greasy scaling skin and/or fur with odorous skin
•Hair loss, or thinning of the fur
•Dark pigmentation of the skin that is chronically infected
•Sudden depigmentation of skin

Allergies and other dermatological issues can be as frustrating for pet owners and their veterinarians as they can be for pets. I encourage any pet owner whose animal is experiencing any of these symptoms to consult with their veterinarian.

[Anonymous]

The symptoms you describe sound like environmental allergies and may not be related to her food sensitivities, which btw fluctuate and change.

You may want to consider seeing a specialist/dermatologist, this has been going on for 4 months/1 year without any periods of significant relief.

Or consult a homeopath http://theavh.org/

Has your dog had the skin testing to identify environmental allergies? In my experience environmental allergies are much more common that food allergies.
People often refer to food sensitivities as allergies.

My dog is doing well, she receives immunotherapy, she now eats a variety of foods with Nutrisca (salmon and chickpea) as a base.
The scratching, skin irritations, stomach upset, 2 ear infections, red rashes, 2 prednisone trials went on for a year before I took her for skin testing. I never had the blood test that identifies food allergies done. A lot of the allergens are airborne….impossible to avoid.
I tried an air purifier, dehumidifier….useless and noisy.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 7 months ago by Anonymous.

[JeffreyT]

Here is Dr. Karen Becker’s overview of environmental allergies…she has other good ones listed on the right side of screen. She highly recommends bathing for environmental allergies. We did her betadine foot soak and it helped stop the paw licking/chewing.

If you don’t already…use only natural, unscented laundry detergent, avoid fabric softener, scented products like room deodorizers, candles, body care, etc., use pure and non-toxic household cleaning and body care products for your family and dogs, avoid all chemicals including flea/tick treatment. For dog shampoo I stick with unscented health food store baby shampoo, and use Mercolas flea and tick spray. BioKleen household cleaners are very pure and effective. I stay away from Meyers…very toxic stuff, even though it’s sold in health food stores.
Carpet and Persian type rugs can hold a lot of allergens…consider steam cleaning but do not let them use the cleaning solution..use only the steam. Best thing is no carpet at all if it is environmental allergies.
I’ve found my dog does better with commercial raw freeze dried and frozen raw than kibble or canned. When I’m in a rush, I use Ziwi Peak or Real Meat Food Company…both air dried using grass fed meat. I think home cooking is also a good option if you can swing it.
Also, a good air purifier helps.
Keep at it and you will find the solution.

[Anonymous]

I received incorrect information from the regular vet.
It doesn’t matter what you feed the dog if the allergies are environmental, the dog will still have symptoms. Most allergens are airborne and impossible to avoid.

Allergies get worse as the dog gets older, not better.

My dog is doing so well, she may not even need to continue the immunotherapy (after 2 years).

We see the specialist once a year, he returns phone calls otherwise. The treatment is cheaper than going back and forth to the regular vet. In fact we haven’t gone to the regular vet in 3 years, get heartworm checks at Petco. Vaccinations for this dog are avoided.

PS: At one point I had 2 air purifiers and a dehumidifier going at the same time.
All they did was make noise, gave them all to the Goodwill.
And I never did find the perfect dog food, in fact, if a dog is allergic to the storage dust mite (common allergen), the specialist told me this allergen is in all kibble, regardless of how well you store it, they get in during the processing.

[Anonymous]

Has your dog had the skin testing to identify environmental allergies? In my experience environmental allergies are much more common that food allergies.
People often refer to food sensitivities as allergies.
I would consider taking the dogs to a specialist/dermatologist, if you haven’t already.

My dog is doing well, she receives immunotherapy, she now eats a variety of foods with Nutrisca (fish) as a base.

[Anonymous]

Allergies? If the current treatment is not effective and the dog is seriously uncomfortable, you may want to consider seeing a specialist/dermatologist, especially if this has been going on for 1 year/4 seasons without any significant periods of relief.

http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/#comment-1283

Or consult a homeopath http://theavh.org/

Dr Falconer’s latest blog http://vitalanimal.com/natural-dog-food-work/

/forums/topic/atopic-dermatitisyeast-issues-smartest-food-choice/

Helpful article below:
By Klaus Loft, DVM
Angell Dermatology Service

Anyone who suffers debilitating environmental allergies tied to changing seasons, pet dander or household dust mites knows first-hand the misery of a scratchy throat, itchy eyes or painful rashes.

Not everyone knows, however, that our pets can experience similar allergic reactions — and other very bothersome dermatological issues. But our pets need not suffer in silence. Modern veterinary science has evolved such that advanced, comprehensive treatments are now available to treat a range of skin conditions.

Top pet dermatological issues

Our four-legged friends suffer from some of the same skin issues as we do — and several that we do not. The most common conditions we see at Angell include:

•Parasites, such as mites, fleas and mange (scabies)
•Infectious diseases, such as Staphylococcal pyoderma (“Staph”) skin infections, yeast and fungal infections and skin fold infections
•Systemic diseases, such as autoimmune diseases
•Skin cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphoma, Mast cell tumors
•Allergies, such as flea allergy dermatitis, adverse food reactions, environmental allergies, etc.

All of these conditions can become serious and, if untreated, dramatically reduce quality of life. But the tremendous strides made in veterinary innovation, however, is very good news for our pets. Specifically, the testing and treatments for allergies now rivals human healthcare in its sophistication, quality of care and long-term health outcomes.

‘Doc, it itches when I do this!’

Unlike humans, dogs and cats cannot tell us about their dermatological health issues. So we as pet owners must look for the signs. The most common indicators that a pet is suffering from some kind of allergy involve frequent episodes of ear infections, red raised or open sores on the skin, constant licking or biting of paws or groin — sometimes causing wounds that will not go away.

Allergies present a particular challenge because there can be hundreds (even thousands) of potential allergens that impact pet health, from foods to pollen from grasses, weeds, trees, dust mites and more. Today’s specialty veterinary hospitals have access to the very latest diagnostic tests to get to the bottom of what’s ailing our pet. Among these tests is the Intra Dermal Test (IDT).

IDT is generally considered the gold standard of testing for identifying allergens that cause pets to suffer from chronic skin and/or ear diseases. IDT involves injections of a series of concentrated allergens into the skin to determine which of them generate allergic reactions in a given animal. The use of fluorescein — a chemical that illuminates the inflammation caused by the injected allergens in order to visualize the strength of individual reactions — is key to accurately diagnosing pet allergies, and is just one of the many ways veterinarians use new technologies to improve care and diagnostics.

The results of IDT (as well as a review of the pet’s medical history) can then inform comprehensive immunotherapy treatments to relieve suffering. Veterinary dermatologists rely on IDT to build customized treatment plans for patients called Allergen Specific Immuno Therapy or “ASIT” for short.

ASIT involves a series of injections specifically created for the allergic animal’s skin. These injections, of diluted allergens, are designed to make a pet less sensitive to their allergens over time. In most cases these injections must be continued for life to reduce symptoms, but they are highly effective. Seventy to 90 percent of pets experience a reduction in symptoms as a result of ASIT treatment. These treatments can be delivered even more easily via droplets under the tongue, perfect for pet owners who are squeamish about giving injections to their pet.

This treatment is very new to the North American field of medicine (both human and veterinary) and underscores just how far innovation in veterinary medicine has come.

When it’s time to see the vet

Many pet owners are understandably concerned about taking their animals to the veterinarian because the cost (to say nothing of the fear some animals experience when going do the doctor) may outweigh any perceived reduction in suffering. To help pet owners know when it’s time to bring Fido to the doctor I’ve compiled my “Top Ten” list of dermatological symptoms that should never be ignored:

•Intense itching of the skin (head shaking, running the face into the carpet, furniture, etc.)
•Biting at the skin that creates red, raw crusting areas of the skin
•Multiple ear infections (head shaking, odor from ears, scratching at the ears with hind legs)
•Paw licking or chewing and frequent infections of the skin in the webbed skin of the paws
•Staining of the fur of the paws and nails on multiple feet
•Reoccurring skin infections in the groin, under the shoulders, perianal areas (on or under the tail)
•Greasy scaling skin and/or fur with odorous skin
•Hair loss, or thinning of the fur
•Dark pigmentation of the skin that is chronically infected
•Sudden depigmentation of skin

Allergies and other dermatological issues can be as frustrating for pet owners and their veterinarians as they can be for pets. I encourage any pet owner whose animal is experiencing any of these symptoms to consult with their veterinarian.

[Rachel A]

Hello, I am new here and would really love some help. I have two small breed dog (a cotton de tulear, and a Shih tzu) The shih tzu has had allergies from day 1, more than 4 years now. Unfortunately, I did not realize there was a problem with her food until a few years had passed. We first though it was an allergy to pesticide, or lawn treatment. From there we have tried pretty much everything before being told to switch her food. They were both originally on Wellness small breed, which always worked great for my coton. (The shihtzu came later and had a constant raw stomach). So I switched to the allergy formula (salmon and potato). That did not work, so 6 months later, I switched to the turkey potato version. When that didn’t work I tried switching brands. (Blue Buffalo allergy formula). Now, not only have I not seen a change for the shih tzu, but my coton is licking her paws constantly and she is suffering from ear infections all of a sudden. I have no idea what to try now,(homemade, raw, another brand) but I certainly wish that I had never started on the BB. I am hoping that someone can shed some light on what might be the allergy causing ingredient that is common in these foods. I am open to any and all suggestions. I can cook for them if I need to. Just if someone can point me in the right direction. My girls are very uncomfortable. 🙁

[Anonymous]

I use the human kind, or the pet kind when I find a good deal, omega-3 1000mg-1500mg?.
I have been taking krill oil every day myself, 500mg or 1000mg/depends on the brand….anyway I have been thinking about giving my dogs 1 tab a day instead of the other stuff. I have heard good things.
It is supposed to help with a multitude of things, including dry skin, pruritis. I think it helps my dog with allergies.
Two meals a day is fine. Always have fresh water available. I add water because my old guy was not drinking enough and developed bladder stones. I load him up with water and the stones have not come back. But, you are right, I have to take him out for bathroom breaks every 2 hours.

PS: She’s a beauty! Doesn’t look her age, at all.
At present my dogs are all on Sundown Naturals fish oil 1200mg that I picked up at the drugstore on sale.

[Rajeev S]

The dog gets 10% chance of affecting allergies.some common thing that could trigger a food allergy is a genetic problem. The most common allergies are beef,wheat,egg,dairy,chicken,lamp,pork,and fish. Sometimes young animals treated with antibiotics that could be the other reason for the allergy later in life. The primary symptom is itchy skin affecting primarily in face,feet,ears and aoundthe anus. It may also include hair loss.
The diagnosis is that feed them a novel food source of protein and carbohydrate for at least 12 weeks.

[Wendy J]

Can you please help me find the top foods for my dog with allergies and oxalate crystals?
Thanks Wendy Jones

[theBCnut]

My JRT used to get an upset tummy from any food change at all, but I read about all the benefits of feeding a rotational diet and I had a pup with food allergies that had to have a diet change, so I decided to commit to a rotational diet. The first 3 rotations took at least a month each, but I very quickly, after that, realized that she was able to change foods quicker with no bad reactions. I kept with it and with in 3 more months, I was feeding her something different with every single meal. She has never had an upset stomach or loose stool since, no matter what she eats. And my 13 year old dog acts like she did at 7 or 8 years old. She is trim, muscular, and very active.

I feed Nature’s Variety Instinct, Nature’s Logic, Earthborn, Acana, Orijen, Canine Caviar, Annamaet, and many others.

[Dog_Obsessed]

Huh…I’ve never heard anyone recommend not to feed dogs pork kibble. My vet recommended it as a novel protein for my dog’s elimination diet, and so I have been using Acana Singles Pork and Butternut Squash. It is hard to tell if it is working or not, especially since we found out she also has environmental allergies, but she didn’t do badly on it.

As for Pork treats/chews, I have occasionally heard of contamination issues, or dogs having issues with the fat, but I think they are generally fine if from a reputable company, and of course, supervised to make sure the dog doesn’t choke or consume too much in one sitting.

[Anonymous]

Any kibble with chicken (salmonella), or any jerky/treats (China) are suspect, no matter what the brand, imo.

Nutrisca salmon and chickpea dry food is the food that my small breed that has allergies and a sensitive stomach likes. Her specialist/dermatologist agrees it is the right food for her, limited ingredients.

I like Wysong, but she had some GI upset with it, however, my senior small breed does best on Wysong senior.

[theBCnut]

My wonderful SIL brought this to my attention in a discussion about essential oils and I immediately thought of how it affected so many people here, especially Dog Foodie.
http://science.psu.edu/news-and-events/2008-news/Sheets3-2008.htm?hc_location=ufi

[Susan]

Hi Sam, join this group on F/B https://www.facebook.com/groups/11164787803 it’s called “Dogs With Inflammatory Bowel Disorder”
I’m finding a few rescued dogs suffer from IBD due to a poor diet & malnutrition from a pup, when I rescued my boy he was doing the same every 12-15 days, we were back & forth vets he was put on antibiotic (Metronidazole) for 2 weeks & a vet diet then everything went good in the end… I found I had to stick with same diet & not give any treats nothing except his vet diet Eukanuba Intestinal low residue kibble that’s low in fat-10% & low in fiber-1.70% to let his bowel rest & heal…as soon as I’d try & change his diet he went good for 4-6 days then back to real sloppy poos & vomiting, he’d have the rumbling, gurgling bowel noises early hours of the morning then his diarrhea….I finally found out Patch had Food Intolerances & Food Allergies..that was causing his IBD, I have him on a single protein hypoallergenic, gluten free, sugar free & dairy free kibble now…with 10% fat & 4% fiber & a good Dog probiotic….

Find an limited ingredient kibble, less ingredients is the best something like “California Natural” Lamb & Rice has only 4 ingredients http://www.californianaturalpet.com/products
there a few diets you can look at… then just feed the new diet & nothing else for a good 4 months, do the Giardia test also if her foster mum swears she was never sick, what was she feeding her, maybe you’re feeding kibbles that are too high in protein & fat, some dogs cant handle high protein diets…

[Coonhound Dad]

My 6 year old Black & Tan Coonhound always seems to have allergies this time of the year as well. Much scratching and chewing on paws, etc. She was on Evo Red when this started 3 months ago and I thought, yep Natura has done something to my dog…although I still believe in this company and like their foods. I switched her to Origen Adult and it got worse. Then California Grain Free Chicken and later California Natural Lamb and Rice without improvement. Hmmmm…then I saw that pork was supposed to be good for dogs with allergies and put her on Acana Pork and Butternut Squash. As you might imagine, no improvement. Now she’s on Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream which is supposed to be good for allergies and I actually think she’s better but after two weeks is still occasionally itching. I’m really thinking she has mostly an airborne allergy or is allergic to the grasses she runs through happily looking for gophers and squirrels. Her digging probably doesn’t help either. If this season is typical, most of this will be over by Summer. Good luck, Fred, hang in there!

Jim

[Anonymous]

Allergies? If the current treatment is not effective and the dog is seriously uncomfortable, you may want to consider seeing a specialist/dermatologist, this has been going on for 4 months….seasonal?
http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/#comment-1283
Or consult a homeopath http://theavh.org/

Dr Falconer’s latest blog http://vitalanimal.com/natural-dog-food-work/

/forums/topic/atopic-dermatitisyeast-issues-smartest-food-choice/

[Susan]

This is the best test for environment allergies its done at a animal Dermatologist its called Intradermal Skin Testing it gives 100% correct results as blood testing can give false positives… Its safe, its pain free & easy they do this testing on humans horses etc

There’s a really good group on Face Book called “Dog Allergy International group” that has just started & has information on dog Environment allergies & food intolerances & sensitivities, limited ingredient foods to start your dog on while you work out what your next step is… https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogallergyinternationalgroup/

[cms60]

I used Dog Food Advisor years ago when my sweet Betty was first diagnosed with allergies. Wish your site was active then! I’m going to have to try something new now, so I’m glad to have it! The only allergy Betty has that isn’t listed is peanuts, but they don’t seem to be in any of the foods she can have otherwise since you kindly listed the ingredients.

Here is my problem: She is now a little older and the vet says she has an alarmingly high Calcium Oxalate concentration in her urine. They recommend the prescription dog foods, but the only ones she can have with her allergies are the wet ones, and I’m not a fan of the all wet diet. My dogs have always had great teeth, and I can’t discount the fact that I make them crunch some of their food. I add anything wet immediately before they eat.

Her allergies are: alfalfa, barley, carrots, peas, rice, soy, sunflower, and peanuts. My personal research indicates she could benefit from a diet higher in protein, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and moisture and contents with decreased urine acidifying potential. The dry food has a greater potential for problem than wet (no moisture). In contrast, there is some evidence that diets higher in fats and lower in protein and potassium are likely to increase urine acidity and cause the Ca Oxalate to precipitate out.

Do you have any suggestions about this since you seem to have thoroughly studied the ingredients? I have been feeding Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream formulation for years. Currently, I am adding a lot of water to it to increase water intake.

Thanks!
Carolyn S.

[Susan]

Hi L M Proper skin testing where they shave the dogs hair either on their side or back & prick about 20 little holes then insert the allergens doesn’t cost a few bucks even in America its very expensive, this is the only proper testing for environment allergies as blood test will give false positives…I though your dog had a proper skin testing done.. Some Dermatologist will guess what is wrong with our dog & come up lucky that probably only cost a couple of hundred dollars to see the Dermatologist as they are dearer then a vet visits…I thought you may have known about environment & food allergies…

[Anonymous]

My dog’s skin test showed allergies to a variety of grasses/weeds/trees, wool, Cockroach, American (specialist explained this doesn’t mean you have roaches) this stuff is dander, waste of all living things, it is everywhere, in the air, dirt, she scored a 3 for this one, plus the wool and one of the trees.
Three 3s. The other 13 were 2’s
The scratching, skin irritations, stomach upset, 2 ear infections, red rashes, 2 prednisone trials went on for a year before I took her for testing. I never had the blood test that identifies food allergies done. A lot of the allergens are airborne….impossible to avoid.
I tried an air purifier, dehumidifier….useless and noisy.

The link I provided (previous post) to Dog Allergy Central explains immunotherapy in detail.

I noticed a little improvement right away, it will be 2 years now, she’s sees the specialist once a year. She is much improved. She still scratches occasionally, but not that crazy, intense stuff.
The specialist I went to doesn’t even recommend the skin test unless the symptoms have been going on for 1 year/4 seasons without any periods of significant relief.

Helpful article below:
By Klaus Loft, DVM
Angell Dermatology Service

Anyone who suffers debilitating environmental allergies tied to changing seasons, pet dander or household dust mites knows first-hand the misery of a scratchy throat, itchy eyes or painful rashes.

Not everyone knows, however, that our pets can experience similar allergic reactions — and other very bothersome dermatological issues. But our pets need not suffer in silence. Modern veterinary science has evolved such that advanced, comprehensive treatments are now available to treat a range of skin conditions.

Top pet dermatological issues

Our four-legged friends suffer from some of the same skin issues as we do — and several that we do not. The most common conditions we see at Angell include:

•Parasites, such as mites, fleas and mange (scabies)
•Infectious diseases, such as Staphylococcal pyoderma (“Staph”) skin infections, yeast and fungal infections and skin fold infections
•Systemic diseases, such as autoimmune diseases
•Skin cancer, such as Squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous lymphoma, Mast cell tumors
•Allergies, such as flea allergy dermatitis, adverse food reactions, environmental allergies, etc.

All of these conditions can become serious and, if untreated, dramatically reduce quality of life. But the tremendous strides made in veterinary innovation, however, is very good news for our pets. Specifically, the testing and treatments for allergies now rivals human healthcare in its sophistication, quality of care and long-term health outcomes.

‘Doc, it itches when I do this!’

Unlike humans, dogs and cats cannot tell us about their dermatological health issues. So we as pet owners must look for the signs. The most common indicators that a pet is suffering from some kind of allergy involve frequent episodes of ear infections, red raised or open sores on the skin, constant licking or biting of paws or groin — sometimes causing wounds that will not go away.

Allergies present a particular challenge because there can be hundreds (even thousands) of potential allergens that impact pet health, from foods to pollen from grasses, weeds, trees, dust mites and more. Today’s specialty veterinary hospitals have access to the very latest diagnostic tests to get to the bottom of what’s ailing our pet. Among these tests is the Intra Dermal Test (IDT).

IDT is generally considered the gold standard of testing for identifying allergens that cause pets to suffer from chronic skin and/or ear diseases. IDT involves injections of a series of concentrated allergens into the skin to determine which of them generate allergic reactions in a given animal. The use of fluorescein — a chemical that illuminates the inflammation caused by the injected allergens in order to visualize the strength of individual reactions — is key to accurately diagnosing pet allergies, and is just one of the many ways veterinarians use new technologies to improve care and diagnostics.

The results of IDT (as well as a review of the pet’s medical history) can then inform comprehensive immunotherapy treatments to relieve suffering. Veterinary dermatologists rely on IDT to build customized treatment plans for patients called Allergen Specific Immuno Therapy or “ASIT” for short.

ASIT involves a series of injections specifically created for the allergic animal’s skin. These injections, of diluted allergens, are designed to make a pet less sensitive to their allergens over time. In most cases these injections must be continued for life to reduce symptoms, but they are highly effective. Seventy to 90 percent of pets experience a reduction in symptoms as a result of ASIT treatment. These treatments can be delivered even more easily via droplets under the tongue, perfect for pet owners who are squeamish about giving injections to their pet.

Dog is prepared for Intra Dermal Testing

This treatment is very new to the North American field of medicine (both human and veterinary) and underscores just how far innovation in veterinary medicine has come.

When it’s time to see the vet

Many pet owners are understandably concerned about taking their animals to the veterinarian because the cost (to say nothing of the fear some animals experience when going do the doctor) may outweigh any perceived reduction in suffering. To help pet owners know when it’s time to bring Fido to the doctor I’ve compiled my “Top Ten” list of dermatological symptoms that should never be ignored:

•Intense itching of the skin (head shaking, running the face into the carpet, furniture, etc.)
•Biting at the skin that creates red, raw crusting areas of the skin
•Multiple ear infections (head shaking, odor from ears, scratching at the ears with hind legs)
•Paw licking or chewing and frequent infections of the skin in the webbed skin of the paws
•Staining of the fur of the paws and nails on multiple feet
•Reoccurring skin infections in the groin, under the shoulders, perianal areas (on or under the tail)
•Greasy scaling skin and/or fur with odorous skin
•Hair loss, or thinning of the fur
•Dark pigmentation of the skin that is chronically infected
•Sudden depigmentation of skin

Allergies and other dermatological issues can be as frustrating for pet owners and their veterinarians as they can be for pets. I encourage any pet owner whose animal is experiencing any of these symptoms to consult with their veterinarian.

[Susan]

Hi, your dog probably has food intolerances to an ingredient in this kibble, it can take days for some dogs to have a reaction to a kibble when they have food sensitivities or food intolerances, when they have food allergies which is very rare, the dog has a reaction that day after eating….. when my boy eats potatoes as soon as he eats them within 20mins, he gets a red rash all over chest, then if I keep feeding the potatoes, he has bad diarrhea, Food allergies are like when people cant eat peanuts, but food intolerances can take up to 21 days to see any symptoms, itchy ears, itchy anus, red paws, hive like lumps all over body, sloppy poo, diarrhea, itchy mouth,vomiting, hair loss etc… right down all the ingredients from the kibble & avoid these ingredients in other kibbles also is the fat% higher?? …there’s a new group on Face Book that has heaps of info about food intolerances & food allergies…. there’s even an offer thru “Immune IQ” Home assessment kits that test the dogs Salvia & Hair, with 55% off normal price for only $45 when you get a coupon…. all info is on the F/B “Dog Allergy international group” page just scroll down & you’ll see a white Labrador & a hand with a cotton tip in his mouth….
https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogallergyinternationalgroup/

[Susan]

Hi Anne, you write that your your Lab mix seems to get a upset stomach for no reason …. it sounds like this has happened before….your boy may have IBS or IBD, he needs to stay on just 1 diet as certain foods may be irritating his bowel, either thru food sensitivities or food allergies, Rice is a old myth now & it doesn’t work for all dogs as the small pieces of boiled rice can irritate the bowel getting caught in pockets of the bowel, boiled mashed potatoes is best….

Feed him a limited ingredient kibble like “Natural Balance” Kangaroo & Potato or the Rabbit or the Duck look at the ingredients & pick the one with the least ingredients as some of the limited ingredient have peas …there’s also California Natural” Lamb & Rice with just 4 ingredients just keep him on the limited ingredient kibble for a good 2-3 months, let the bowel heal, then only if his poos have been firm maybe give a food or treat that is low in FAT, no bones if that treat never gave him diarrhea stick with thought treat….there could be just 1 ingredient in his kibble that he may have an intolerance too & he may start having sloppy poos from 1-21 days…my boy goes really well on a new kibble then about the 5-6 day his poos start being slop then if I keep feeding it, he has diarrhea…..
Here’s 2 groups on face Book called “Dogs With Inflammatory Bowel Disorder” Or “Dog Allergy International group” for support & more info in Files for foods….if this does keep happening, if you keep letting this happen, he can have more problems as he gets older.. so the problem needs to be fixed while he’s still young…

[Anonymous]

Nutrisca salmon and chickpea dry works best for my dog that has allergies and a sensitive stomach. It is grain and potato free. See the reviews at chewy.com

[Jennifer H]

Due to food allergies, we switched our dogs to Nature’s Recipe Pure Essentials chicken and sweet potato. If I recall. We had them on TOTW before that. Petsmart did not have the chicken flavor when we had to buy food last month, so we got the lamb and brown rice, which they seemed to love. Now, we’ve switched back to the chicken; this was on Monday of this week. Last night, one of my dogs, Kaia (the one with allergies, as well as GI issues) started vomiting up the food. We noticed that this bag had an unusually high amount of the dried carrots, peas, and cranberries, but didn’t think much about it at the time. My husband seems to think that it’s too much for my Kaia. She had me up all night with the vomiting.

Has anyone had an experience with the Pure Essentials line of products, or known anyone who has? Any ideas why she all of a sudden doesn’t seem to tolerate the food? Of course, I will call the vet, but thought maybe someone here could offer advice as well. Thanks!

[Cheryl H]

Does anyone have a recommendation for how to determine a good ratio of canned to dry food? During one of my dog’s regular exams, three years ago, he had struvite crystals and was put on a Hills prescription diet. Once the tests reflected the crystals were no longer a problem, I switched to a Blue Buffalo dry formula. Since then there have been no struvite problems. However, due to some problems with bad bags(?) of BB and some potential food allergies I am switching him to Wellness Simple Turkey and Potato. I have read that canned food may help prevent urinary problems due to higher water content, however I would like to try a combination of canned and dry food. Wellness provides guidelines for a canned/dry mix, but they’re confusing. We’ve adjusted the recommended daily amounts of the foods we’ve been feeding him to avoid unacceptable weight gain. I assume we’ll need to do that for Wellness as well.

[Anonymous]

And, the allergies may be seasonal. The specialist I saw said he didn’t recommend skin testing unless the symptoms had been going on for 4 seasons without any significant periods of relief. Despite diet changes, etc.
Bathing once or twice a week with Malaseb helps my dog, daily fish oil supplements are good for dry itchy skin too.

[Sam Koch]

I will check those two out, thank you!
I have always wanted to do homemade food, maybe I will when I move back home for the summer and get a full-time job, I don’t have much money right now.
It doesn’t seem like her allergies are too bad, and I also think some of it is stress.

Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

I like Wysong, however my allergy girl does the best on Nutrisca salmon and chickpea as a base combined with homemade http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

She’s sees a specialist once a year (had the skin testing) and receives immunotherapy.
http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/#comment-1283

If you decide to go the homeopathic route, http://www.vitalanimal.com

Home

BTW: I tried all the diet changes and nothing worked till she saw the specialist. Dogs can have both environmental allergies and food sensitivities, it is often difficult to figure out which is causing what.

[Sam Koch]

Hello,

I have Honey, a 13.4 pound Chihuahua mix. We just got back from the vet, and they are really great. She has had GI issues before and also has some pretty nasty teeth, and they gave me something that helps with both! They said she is very healthy and looks great. Their only concern is her licking. She has a spot that she licks, the underside base of her tail, and her paws. I have been feeding her Whole Earth Farms for about 2 months now and I am ready to switch. He said this would be a great idea and to try to find something without chicken protein, which is what Whole Earth Farms has. He said the obsessive licking could possibly be food allergies. He said fish protein would be better, and he recommends something with about 10% fat. Any suggestions? Price is not a problem at all with me, as long as she gets what she needs to keep her in optimum condition I don’t care about the price. Just let me know! And if you have any other suggestions or questions I’d love to hear them!

Sam

[Susan]

Hi, sounds like environment allergy with the watery eyes & runny nose could also have food intolerances there’ s this product called “Platinum Allergy & skin performance”
http://www.platinumperformance.com/pets/allproducts/ just scroll down & you’ll see the Skin & Allergy also there’s a group on Face Book called “Dog Allergy International Group” look in the files there’s antibacterial shampoos & foods that are limited ingredient single protein diets, that have worked for some dogs with allergies & food intolerances, there’s a lot of info & help https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogallergyinternationalgroup/

[GSDMom]

Hello All,
I have a male GSD that will be 7 in June. Since he was 1, I’ve been trying to find out why he scratches so much. I’d read that allergies tend to start at a year old, but when it started I was really unprepared. Since then, I’ve done the Spectrum Blood allergy testing through the vet, twice (2009 and April 2014) I’ve done the Nutriscan test (saliva – 2014) with Jean Dodds. (She told me she disagrees with blood testing for food allergies) I’ve recently done the Glacier Peak Holistics test as well (hair and saliva). In addition to all of that, he’s been blood tested for environmental allergies and he has those as well.
Every season he seems to have a secondary bacterial infection or a yeast infection… and I truly have no idea if it’s environment, food or both causing them. Currently his hair is growing back on his sides where he had been tearing it out from chewing, and his inner thighs and underarms are bright pick. The vet has given me a 21 day (2 per day)prescription of 200mg Simplicef. I hate to use it, as I always do, but after being given Chinese herbs from a holistic vet time and time again, I’ve never seen results.
Can anyone give me their opinions (and not about me being crazy, I already know I am, haha) …good, bad or indifferent about these tests and their reliability? Thanks!

[Sarah Y]

I should also add that as far as I know, Billy does not have any allergies. He has had full anal glands before and he seems to have done better with the grain free food.

[Anonymous]

Some dogs shed a lot, you could try a daily fish oil supplement…in case the shedding is related to dry skin.

She may have environmental allergies, if so, and it is causing her discomfort for 4 seasons, I would consider getting her tested. http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/#comment-1283

Have you considered a home made diet? You could still use kibble as a base
http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

Is she getting enough exercise? A 20 minute brisk walk 2 or 3 times a day will aid with weight loss.

[constant_lurker]

Hi all,
I’ve hit kind of a roadblock and I’m hoping someone here may have a suggestion.
My dog has a mix of environmental allergies and food sensitivities (or possible sensitivities I’m still trying to figure out). Since the summer, I’ve fed her a combination of a raw diet and The Honest Kitchen foods. Her allergies have improved greatly and I’ve been able to figure out some of the meats that set her off. Chicken (and chicken eggs) and beef are out, and unfortunately, so is fish and fish oils.
I’ve been trying to add in variety and am making headway. But I want to find a good source of useable omega 3s for her. She does very well with rabbit, which has a decent omega 3 to omega 6 ratio. We’re still iffy on lamb, though lamb heart has a decent omega3:omega 6 profile from what I can tell.
Are there other meats I can/should look at? I know (or think I know) that flax oil has lots of omega 3s, but that it doesn’t convert into the important kinds well. Are there other oils worth looking at?
Anyone have a dog with fish sensitivities who’s had good luck with krill oil?

Thanks for taking the time to read through this, and for any suggestions.

[Susan]

Hi Christine, German Shepherds are prone to IBD EPI & SIBO, boiled rice is a no no for some dogs, can you get the Vet Diet “Eukanuba Intestinal” not the Intestinal Plus just the Intestinal, I even think there’s a Eukanuba puppy Intestinal…The Eukanuba Intestinal was the only diet that help my boy get stable.. also join this Face Book group “Dogs With Inflammatory Bowel Disorder” make sure you start to fix this problem now when he’s still young & don’t let him keep going with the irritated bowel like my rescued boy did…. a lot of dogs with IBD are real stress heads, don’t keep still, eat everything in site (Pica) anxious… see a vet that specialises in IBD… some vets wouldn’t have a clue about IBD & say “Oh its just a sensitive stomach” when it isn’t, he might have food sensitivities or food allergies have you tried boiled potatoes & a protein that he has never eating before like kangaroo, rabbit duck…. on another Face Book group called “Dog Allergy International group” I’ve listed limited ingredients kibbles in the files section…. have a look at “Natural Balance” Limited Ingredients http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/ on ur top left click on “Dog Formulas” thin click on the Limited Ingredient Diets the Kangaroo, Rabbit & Duck have the least ingredients, a few dogs with IBD are doing really well on this kibble…also NO TREATS nothing just his kibble & NO CHEESE it has diary & FAT….then when he’s doing firm poos & only 1-3 a day for a good 3 months then give him a new food & see does he have sloppy poo, see what happens if everything is good in the poo department give again the next day & the next day as some dogs wont react for 5-10 days like my boy he does really well the first 5-6 days them BOOM diarrhea… hope to see you in the F/B groups you’ll get some help when needed from a few German Shepherd owners…

[Anonymous]

Allergies (food or environmental)? Obsessive compulsive behavior? Stress related? Maybe she doesn’t like being in the crate?
Talk to your vet, she may do well on an antidepressant, if it is anxiety. They often don’t have to stay on these meds forever….

[Anonymous]

Wysong has a vegan food, Evanger’s has a vegetarian canned food.

Has your dog had the skin testing to identify environmental allergies? In my experience environmental allergies are much more common that food allergies.
People often refer to food sensitivities as allergies.

If your dog was allergic, for example, to microscopic dust mites (common allergen) she would be scratching and uncomfortable no matter what you fed her.

I would consider taking her to a specialist/dermatologist, if you haven’t already.
http://www.allergydogcentral.com/2011/06/30/dog-allergy-testing-and-allergy-shots/#comment-1283

My dog is doing well, she receives immunotherapy, she now eats a variety of foods with Nutrisca (fish) as a base.

[LeAnn]

We have 3 pitbull rescue dogs–two of our own and one foster. We recently noticed an increase in their food allergies (and yes, they are allergies with hives, swelling, skin lesions, induced secondary infections, congestion, and more) from commercial dog foods. One dog is so severe he has had to be put on steroids and an elimination diet.

I found sources for what ingredients are safe for foods, and obviously this website has info on beneficial ingredients by extrapolation from the reviews.

But where can we get the nutritional values that are accessible to dogs from these ingredients? Are caloric, vitamin, mineral, fiber, and other nutritional content in foods equally accessible to dogs as they are humans?

What exactly are the nutritional requirements for dogs?

Where can we find that info?

Once we find out the allergies from the elimination process, we would like to either partially use limited ingredient commercial foods or supplements to make sure the dogs get what they needed. But without knowing the impact of the home prepped food we give them, we won’t know what they need.

Suggestions or reference resources?

Thanks!
Le’

[Liz S]

I know this is an old post, but I’m compelled to share! My little scruffy rescue thing is an allergy pup. We’ve been dealing with his food allergy & intolerance issues since he entered my care at 6 months of age, and even more so after I officially adopted him at 9 months (2010) via elimination diets & trial/error. He seems to acquire new allergies every few months to a year. I work in the veterinary field, so after a recent rapid decline in his health (and trips to the emergency vet) I bit the bullet and we allergy tested him.
He is allergic to chicken, duck, turkey, beef, bison, venison, rabbit, lamb, fish, dairy, egg, barley, flax & pea. He is intolerant to raw carrots (cannot digest them – vomitting), corn & soy (tear stains, upset tummy). (Enviro allergies are bayberry & corn pollen).
That’s nearly every protein source available to us. Our options are pork (did not react), possibly boar, possibly kangaroo, possibly goat & possibly brushtail. Try finding ANY of those foods in high-quality kibbles (none), canned without pea or egg (none), raw without flax or egg or barley (two – OC Raw Dogs Goat & Addiction Raw-Dehydrated Summer Brushtail) so it looks like raw will be the winner! He is currently eating Orijen Six Fish & Cetirizine HCL SID or he breaks out in hives DAILY.

I might add – he also did not react to oats, green bean, pumpkin, sweet potato, potato, rice or alfalfa. Small miracle.

[Kathleen C]

aimee, from your answer above: “When fewer calories were fed as fat and more as carbohydrate the dogs lost more weight and a greater percentage of fat (Borne).” This is what I find hard to comprehend. I always think of carbs as the reason for dogs getting fat to begin with, for some reason. And no, I’ve not thought about canned, raw or dehydrated food. I would like to get him away from the chicken though. Since hearing dogs can have a problem with chicken allergies I’ve looked at regular kibble but nothing out there is low calorie. His first owner fed a low quality salmon food from Costco and she said he never seemed to have any ear allergies like he does now.

[Anonymous]

That is quite a list, I would go to a homemade diet. I would also consider consulting a homeopathic veterinarian or an animal nutritionist….or a specialist (dermatologist/allergies) depending on your treatment preferences (if you haven’t done so already) and if the problems continue.
Have you tried a little boiled hamburger and white rice?
See my posts in other threads for links that might be helpful.

Ps: I had a pup that had loose stools till she was about 8 months old…and then it just stopped. I had tried various foods, I never did get it diagnosed.
I wondered if it had to do with all the vaccinations she had received and maybe her immune system was out of whack.

[Mark M]

Buddy is 8 years old and has always had allergies. He is a Lab/Pit mix we rescued from the pound 2 days before he was to be “put down” when he was 12 weeks old. With our Vet, we have tried Apoquel, and Hydroxyzine, both expensive and minimal help. We feed him Blue Buffalo Healthy Weight Adult dry. He weighs 90 pounds. Can anyone help with dry food and biscuit advise? Home cooked is not an option.

[trakrsmaandpa]

At the age of two years, my Dutch Shepard developed terrible allergies. He licked and scratched himself tell he was bloody, we tried everything. Working with our vet we worked our way directly to the source, the commercial dog food we were feeding him. The only answer we could come up with, was to start making homemade dog food based on a recipe I found online, high-protein and high in nutrients. He has ceased almost all the allergy symptoms, yes we go through an occasional bout of “itchiness” during allergy season, but nothing like it was, I am convinced it was the commercial dog food we were feeding him. I’ve been on this recipe for two years now and he’s not only virtually allergy free, he is also a healthier, happier, active dog!

[Anonymous]

I know what you mean, I had to take one of my dogs to a specialist/dermatologist $$ for her allergies.
But it was totally worth it, the maintenance isn’t that bad at all. If you find something that works….

[Freddy w]

Hi LM
No not related to allergies at all according to the veterinarian
Also no blocked glands he checked for that
At first that’s what he thought.
Yes chewy is a great online store
To get dog food
I don’t see why she can’t have fish I’ll look in to that
It also has to be A single source of protein only dog food
But thank you Sooo much for your help LM
I certainly do appreciate it !

[Anonymous]

What kind of fistulas? Are they related to allergies? Blocked anal glands?
My dog with allergies does well on Nutrisca (fish), assuming your dog can have fish, I know it contains no potato or grains. Wysong has a vegetarian blend.
I may start getting my Nutrisca from chewy.com because the prices are better.

I like Wysong and consider it to be a quality food and still feed it to my senior dog. However I noticed my dogs seemed to be drinking more water, so I worried that maybe it’s high in sodium? If that’s a concern I think someone at their company could answer your questions.

PS: Consider consulting a homeopathic vet, they may have some treatment ideas different from the traditional vets http://www.vitalanimal.com Some of them do phone consults, if there isn’t one located near you.

[Susan]

There’s this new Face Book group that has just started as there’s no Dog Allergy groups on Face Book, if anyone wants to join that needs help or has had experience with a dog with Skin, Food, Environment, allergies or intolerances, please join.. its called “Dog Allergy International group” https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogallergyinternationalgroup/

[Lori E]

I have been doing a lot of research on Acana which is manufactured by Champion Pet Foods in Canada and who also produces Orijen. I have my 5 yr rottie and shepherd doing food rotations between the Grasslands and Duck and am seeing some hopeful results due to their allergies. Its only been 3 weeks but so far so good. My local pet supplier also recommended Go from Petcurean. If you go to their website you can get a coupon for a free trial bag. This is my next trial.

Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Plenty information at these websites.
http://www.homeovet.net/dynamic/php/downloads/dog-c8470f2c75dbe4b683205c3919ee2310/dog_diet_complete.pdf

http://www.allergydogcentral.com/

Environmental allergies are more common than food allergies, often food sensitivities are referred to as allergies.
If the symptoms have been going on for more than a year, 4 seasons without significant relief I would consider seeing a specialist and having the skin testing done (if you haven’t done so already).

Have you considered consulting with a homeopathic veterinarian?
http://www.vitalanimal.com
for a list of homeopathic vets in your area http://theavh.org/ Make sure the vet has at least 75% homeopathic cases in their practice, or you might just get the same old same old.

My dog with allergies receives immunotherapy and seems to do best with Nutrisca dry (fish) as a base food. A daily fish oil capsule. Frequent baths with Malaseb.