I got Logan's VARL allergy test results back today, and there are 14 non-food allergens that have a score of 2 or greater. 12 can be put into allergy serum and used for hyposensitization therapy.
He's allergic to almost all the foods >.< The only food I have found that he can eat (and isn't crap like Hills) is TOTW Pacific Stream. Seriously, I searched three stores (Petco, TSC, and a local store specializing in natural pet food), and that's all I came up with. He can't even have Orijen or Acana because everything has peas in it. EVERYTHING. He's allergic to corn, chicken, yeast, oats, rice, turkey, lamb, peas, and barley.
But the point is, I FOUND THAT ONE FOOD. So he's no longer eating 4+ different kinds of allergens at every meal (he was on lamb and rice food most recently, and he's allergic to both lamb and rice...the two foods prior to that had a lot of peas in them, and peas is his single worst food allergen with a score of 4).
My vet is pretty much giving me free rein, and said to let her know what I want to do. I can either order the serum and start hyposensitization therapy, or I can try to manage it without the injections.
Or - and this is the option I'm leaning towards - I can use this food on him, and continue steroids and antihistamines for a month and see how it goes. And if I don't see significant improvement in a month, order the allergy serum. At the moment he takes presnisolone twice a day (he was on it every other day until I tried to wean him off and it all got worse again), Allegra in the morning, and Claritin at night, plus 10cc of Welactin split morning and evening (and vitamin E).
I can get Denosyl or Denamarin for free to help protect his liver from the steroids, though my goal is to get him to NOT need steroids at all. I'm okay with having to use antihistamines, but I'm not really comfortable with long-term steroids.
He's also on Dasuquin right now, and it has brewer's yeast in it. He is allergic to yeast (with a score of 2). I get this supplement for free every 6 months, and my current supply is suppose to last through May. Would you keep giving it, or stop it? I can use it for Gavroche, so either way it won't go to waste. Logan doesn't necessarily NEED a joint supplement, but as a working dog I feel more comfortable with him on one, just in case.
His symptoms are dandruff (it's maddening, it's okay for about 12 hours after a bath, but that's it), a watery eye (and redness around the eye when his allergies get really bad), and when it flares up, he gets staph infections (this last time I was able to keep it in check with medicated shampoo and conditioner, and didn't have to give him oral antibiotics). He doesn't act super itchy, but I can't imagine it's comfortable.
I may also be moving in the near future if I get a job out of town. The move may be as little as 3 hours away, and as much as across the country. Allergy tests are zip code specific, and hyposensitization can take 5-6 months to actually start working.
So...what would your plan of action be?
He's allergic to almost all the foods >.< The only food I have found that he can eat (and isn't crap like Hills) is TOTW Pacific Stream. Seriously, I searched three stores (Petco, TSC, and a local store specializing in natural pet food), and that's all I came up with. He can't even have Orijen or Acana because everything has peas in it. EVERYTHING. He's allergic to corn, chicken, yeast, oats, rice, turkey, lamb, peas, and barley.
But the point is, I FOUND THAT ONE FOOD. So he's no longer eating 4+ different kinds of allergens at every meal (he was on lamb and rice food most recently, and he's allergic to both lamb and rice...the two foods prior to that had a lot of peas in them, and peas is his single worst food allergen with a score of 4).
My vet is pretty much giving me free rein, and said to let her know what I want to do. I can either order the serum and start hyposensitization therapy, or I can try to manage it without the injections.
Or - and this is the option I'm leaning towards - I can use this food on him, and continue steroids and antihistamines for a month and see how it goes. And if I don't see significant improvement in a month, order the allergy serum. At the moment he takes presnisolone twice a day (he was on it every other day until I tried to wean him off and it all got worse again), Allegra in the morning, and Claritin at night, plus 10cc of Welactin split morning and evening (and vitamin E).
I can get Denosyl or Denamarin for free to help protect his liver from the steroids, though my goal is to get him to NOT need steroids at all. I'm okay with having to use antihistamines, but I'm not really comfortable with long-term steroids.
He's also on Dasuquin right now, and it has brewer's yeast in it. He is allergic to yeast (with a score of 2). I get this supplement for free every 6 months, and my current supply is suppose to last through May. Would you keep giving it, or stop it? I can use it for Gavroche, so either way it won't go to waste. Logan doesn't necessarily NEED a joint supplement, but as a working dog I feel more comfortable with him on one, just in case.
His symptoms are dandruff (it's maddening, it's okay for about 12 hours after a bath, but that's it), a watery eye (and redness around the eye when his allergies get really bad), and when it flares up, he gets staph infections (this last time I was able to keep it in check with medicated shampoo and conditioner, and didn't have to give him oral antibiotics). He doesn't act super itchy, but I can't imagine it's comfortable.
I may also be moving in the near future if I get a job out of town. The move may be as little as 3 hours away, and as much as across the country. Allergy tests are zip code specific, and hyposensitization can take 5-6 months to actually start working.
So...what would your plan of action be?