blood test for food allergies

Shelly, How is your dog doing? Are the ears any better? Have you figured out the cause for the papules?

Jessies Mom,
 
Yes, the vet did do a culture of both ears and they both showed bacteria and yeast.  I had him at the vet yesterday for her to look at the papules.  They are definitely papules.  We stopped the Otomaz/Triotic medication for his ears (maybe that medication could have caused the papules).  He is now on an oral antibiotic called Cephalexin 3xday x14 days for the papules.  He is on a different ear medication called Baytril Otic for 10 days and also an antihistamine called Hydroxyz.  He's currently on the 1xday and I can increase it to twice a day if needed.  The papules are looking better and he isn't scratching as much. 
 
I also talked to her about a blood test for environmental allergies and the shots you are all talking about.  I'm really nervous about giving him a shot full of stuff he is allergic to.  I know you start off really small, but still.  She gave me the names of a few determatoligts if I decide to go to one.  Right now, I'm waiting for his infections to clear and take it from there.
 
Thanks for everyone's help.

  I'm glad your dog is improving. Hydroxyzine is a good antihistamine; I hope it helps.
     You may not have to do the shots; vets usually don't recommend it unless your dog has allergy symptoms most of the year and techniques like frequent bathing and antihistamines aren't working. Jessie began having seasonal allergies in the spring of 2000 when she was a year old and it didn't progress to a year round problem till about 2003. In 2004 and 2005 the usual treatments I used stopped working and she would get back to back skin infections, especially in her feet;she would finish a round of antibiotics and get another infection within two weeks, frequently less time than that. There are many things you can do to help; bathing your dog with a shampoo made for soothing the skin is a good start; there are many at the pet store. Besides soothing itchy skin bathing also helps because dogs absorb allergens through the skin so washing the pollen off your dog is helpful. If you keep your dog inside until ten in the morning it helps because early morning is when the amount of pollen in the air is highest. Make sure your dog is on a meat based diet because it's important to support the immune system of a dog with allergies; the dog food you use should have one or more meats or meat meals such as chicken or beef as the first ingredient. You may want to read Shawn Messonoer's book, " The Allergy Solution for Dogs"
                                           [linkhttp://www.leerburg.com/971.htm]http://www.leerburg.com/971.htm[/link]
 
and Martin Goldstein's book, " The Nature of Animal Healing".
        [linkhttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345439198/104-3763922-2089565?v=glance&n=283155]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345439198/104-3763922-2089565?v=glance&n=283155[/link]
 
 Both books are writen by holistic veteriarians and have several ways to help an allergic dog including many natural supplements.They should be at your library.