Allergy testing - costs, best type?

I did get your PM and appreciate all of this info you've given me. It looks like the testing prices are all over the map, so I'll be anxious to see what it would cost here.  I'll be sure to let everyone know.

They said on the news this morning that grass and tree pollens are in the "high" range and it's windy.  I also found Sassy licking her paws this morning and she hadn't been doing that for a long time.  Last June we had to treat her for yeast infection on the paws, so I figure I need to get a handle on this soon.  In the meantime, I'll be using the tea solution which seemed to help quite a bit.

Hey Cathy
 
I got that shampoo yesterday the same one you use on Sassy. WOW its really mentholated isn't it? That is the only thing that I was surprised about. I bathed Alley today so will see what happens.
 
As for this thread and what is best for Allergy testing... SKIN TEST that is your answer..
My Holistic vet confirmed this also when I brought her Alleys skin results in from years back she was glad It was skin testing.

Yeah Kim, it's definitely got that medicinal smell, but I guess that made me feel like it might be helping, and it sure does.  It's much better than the prescription KetaChlor the vet gave me, although I think they serve different purposes.  I found that diluting it a little before I put it on helped distribute it.  Sassy's so big, I could easily use 1/4 of the bottle to really get it on good without diluting it.  I hope it works as well for you as it has for us.  
 
You know I had ALWAYS heard that skin testing was best too, but even the derm vet said "not really much difference".  I can't figure that out and you hate to look at your vet and say "are you sure about this?"  She's a derm vet, so I hope she'd know.  If cost is about the same (which also surprised me), then I'd certainly choose the blood test.  It would mean no anesthesia and I wouldn't have to stop the benadryl for several weeks.  Plus, I'm sure it'd be less miserable for Sassy to just have blood drawn.  I'm going to be giving the vet a call today or tomorrow, so I'll know more then. 

Cathy one more thing about the shampoo.... It really cooling as inbetween my fingers was cool when shampooing her.....do you get that sensation on your hands when you bath Sassy? I finally found the Oxy-med itch spray by Tropiclean so Iv been using that also...
Alley has 2 semi bald spots on her side...and her back paw is loosing hair on top...Now this is all NEW....the 2 semi spots are were she keeps getting really really red almost to the point to a hotspot... in fact she had 2 hotspots there but I got them under control. I gave her a benedryl also today so she would be sleepy and not itchy...
I posted on the nutrition site about anyone feeding "Honest Kitchen Deyhdration diet didn't know if anyone on this post has done that?

I'm guessing the cooling effect comes from the menthol.  I used the KetaChlor the last time (what a waste) but I'm going for the Nu Sal T this weekend.  I need to order some more.  Were you able to get it locally? 

Hey Cath
 
I just picked it up at the vets office... I go to another vets office to by all my products cause they are WAY cheaper than my Vet... so I get shampoo's sprays and my intereceptor and flea treatment from them.

If I could I would start with blood testing,,,just because there is less envolved.    And hope for the best.  I guess with my neighbor they did both....that is what she said.       
I heard on our news that the pollen count is as bad as its ever been. Our guy said Maple and Oak trees. Then he added that the grass count in just starting here.
But all in all this is a bad year for allergies...both for humans and pets.

We've had some really bad days too.  Got a little rain and it's settled down a LITTLE.  I'm living on benedryl......and the vehicles are COVERED with green pollen.  But, honest, I do love spring....

Here's our pollen levels and it's been like this for a few weeks.  I love spring too and have been blessed to suffer very little from allergies.  I have a coworker who is out today because of allergies and asthma.  I truly feel for the people who suffer this time of year.  I was going to call the vet today and then I got my credit card bill and decided to take a breath and call tomorrow [].
OT, but I had to have thyroid surgery a few weeks ago.  Dr. said I'd have to stay overnight.  My insurance co. charges a $1000 deductible per night (for the first 3 nights).  So they put me in my hospital room at 4:30 and the Dr. comes in at 5 and says "do you want to go home?  You did really great and I think it'd be fine".  I said "yes, I'd love to.  Can I get my $1000 back?"  Of course he said he didn't have anything to do with that and the insurance co. says no, cause it was coded as inpatient surgery.  So I have that little goody on my credit card bill this month [>:]
 
Forecast for ROSEVILLE, CA (on a scale of 1-12):
Today's allergy levels:
Thursday - 8/High
Today's predominant pollen:
Oak, Ash and Grass.
Tomorrow's allergy levels:
Friday - 7.7/Medium

So yuck,,,you made me go find out what ours is.........boy it sure LOOKS nice this spring, doesn't it???

Its 9.0 for 3 out of the next 4 days,,,,and that will be 8.7.
 

[linkhttp://pollen.com/library_index.asp]Predominant pollen: Mulberry, Oak and Birch.[/link]