Allergy Testing and Immunotherapy

All dogs scratch themselves at times, but if you find that your animal scratches himself non-stop during the springtime, then the problem might be allergies. The first thing you should do when you notice your dog scratching much more than usual is to give him a flea and tick bath. Fleas and ticks are the most common reason that dogs scratch and a simple flea and tick shampoo should do the trick. If after repeated bathing your pet is still scratching himself, then it is time to confront his allergies head on.

What are you options?

Many pet owners simply decide to subject their dogs to steroid treatments. While steroids can get rid of the problem, they have a number of side effects and are often very unpleasant for you animal. No, the best way to treat your furry friend is to find out exactly what he is allergic to. Once the veterinarian discovers this, he can have a medication made that will instantly help reduce allergies and keep you friend comfortable and happy.

In the next few paragraphs, we will be discussing the most common methods used by vets to determine what allergies your pet has.

Diet Trial

The first thing the veterinarian will do after he has checked your dog for fleas or ticks is to examine your pet's diet. Make sure you bring all his foods and snacks with you. Oftentimes an allergic food reaction comes from the introduction of a new type of food into your dog's diet.

Once the vet has determined that you pet does in fact have food allergies, he will immediate put him on a prescription diet that is often known as an elimination diet. These diets include ingredients like meat, fish, lamb, and potato. It is called the elimination because if your pet improves while he is on it, that means he has food allergies.

After that, your pet's normal diet is re-introduced one food at a time. Once the symptoms of his food allergy reoccur, the allergy is identified and you can simply stop feeding your pet that food.

Skin Testing

If it is believed that your pet's allergies are not caused by food, then skin or intradermal testing may be required. This is a test that is quite common and can be performed by any vet. It is also considered the most reliable and accurate way to identify pet allergies.

The test itself is simple and fairly painless for your pet. To start, a small section of hair is shaved bare and markings are made on the skin in a certain pattern. At each marking, an allergic substance is injected. In a day or two, the skin is checked by your vet for signs of allergy. If the skin is red or discolored, the likelihood is that you pet is allergic to one of the specific injected substances. If there is no discoloration, that means you may have missed something earlier and that something in your pet's diet is the culprit.

Blood Tests

Blood tests for pet allergies are probably the most popular method because they can be performed right there in your veterinarians office and there's a fast turnaround. The test is simple and it works by measuring a particular substance in the immune system known as IgE. If the IgE levels are higher than they should be with regard to a suspected allergen, then you pet is allergic to that substance.

Treating the Allergy

Once the allergen is identified, a treatment plan can be determined by your veterinarian. The most common treatment is a vaccine that will be injected into your animal over a period of several weeks. Gradually you will notice that your dog is scratching less and less and that his symptoms are going away.