Sassy's Allergy Test Results

Cathy I hear you -- but at 30 pounds they are considering even the 100 mg an "immune suppressant dose" -- and man I can NOT wait until he's done with the steroids.  That may take a year (if ever) -- but if you use the Atopica, I would seriously give him milk thistle twice every single day (and the liquid if Sassy will take it in her food). 
 
Trust me -- I truly understand.  I feel sometimes like I've been on a freakin merry-go-round with Billy in the two years we've had him.  I had JUST gotten the skin under control when the IMHA hit. 
 
I was having GOOD luck with the homeopathics when the IMHA hit.  200 mg of Atopica is gonna be about $500 a month I *think*.  In honesty my vet is getting it for me at his cost (which isn't a lot less than that) to help us keep it affordable. 
 
Also -- with the Atopica -- read the box/label.  YOU can't handle it.  It comes in these blister packs and there's a big huge deal about washing your hands because even thru the gel caplet it can affect YOUR immune system just giving it to her.  Again I'm not talking you out of it -- just passing on what's been emphasized to me. 

I plan to do both, but frankly with Sassy testing high on both outdoor allergens and indoor allergens (dust mites), I'm not going to kid myself that I could begin to do enough with filters or supplements to truly keep this under control

 
   I tried holistic supplements before doing allergy testing. I didn't know about idog and Callie at the time but read "The Nature of Animal Healing", "The Allergy Solution for Dogs", and a book by Dr. Jane Bicks. All three had similar suggestions for holistic methods for dealing with allergies. I tried many supplements including quercitin, echinicea(sp?), msm, some tablets for dogs with allergies made with chinese herbs, food supplements like powdered barley grass, biotin, fatty acids, Nzymes, and many other things but they didn't help. I was dissapointed knowing others have tried the supplements and had success. Antihistamines didn't help either; I'm glad Benedryl helps Sassy. I think the reason they didn't help was because Jessie scored seven to twelve times more for several allergens than what was considered significant. I do plan to ask the veterinary dermatologist if there are any known side effects from the use of allergy shots long term when Jessie goes for her recheck this fall. She is somewhat holistic minded,  knowing about and liking foods like Wellness and Solid Gold and not wanting allergy dogs to have their vacs until winter,  so I think she wouldn't mind telling me if there were any known side effects from the shots.

200 mg of Atopica is gonna be about $500 a month I *think*.

Yowch!!  I'll bet you're right Callie, but that's pretty cost prohibitive unless it's the only way to go.  I'm pretty sure that allergen shots would be less, but I need to do some research. 

Janice - my derm vet said that they know from the years of studies that using the allergen serum shots is very safe, even for the longterm.  She said that the studies show that Atopica is safe for 7 years but beyond that, they don't know.  I'm assuming that's the number of years it's been used for animal allergies.  I share Callie's concerns though.  It just concerns me to use something that suppresses the immune system, even though they say it's designed to target only the specific area that triggers allergies and not the whole system.

I'm pretty sure that allergen shots would be less, but I need to do some research.

 
 There's no way the allergy shots can cost $500 a month even in the initial stages when the shots are given every three days. Jessie's serum costs $165 and lasts about 6 months. The needles and syringes are inexpensive if you get them through a pet supply catalog like jefferspet   [linkhttp://www.jefferspet.com/ssc/search_results.asp?CID=0&mscssid=71BF7LSEP13J9P2VRMW9LPD772U246UE&keywords=needles&cmkw=needles]http://www.jefferspet.com/ssc/search_results.asp?CID=0&mscssid=71BF7LSEP13J9P2VRMW9LPD772U246UE&keywords=needles&cmkw=needles[/link]   or at a farm supply store; the vet will charge more for them.

Hi Guys,  Thank you so much for all the info I have read here. I took my Parker to the Vet today and since his allergies are just starting and seemed to start when we switched his food obviouslythe thing to try is switch it back to the food he didn't itch on. The Vet did give him a cortisone shot and said it should last him 1-2 months. We actually had started to switch Parker back to his old food a week ago at a 50/50 ratio and I am noticing a big difference in his allergies and he IS itching less already. So, maybe we will get lucky and it will end up being his food. I opted for the allergy shot because Parker had hip displasia surgery almost 2 yrs ago and the Vet said this shot will also help his hip feel a little bit better  ( sometimes his hip bothers him) after running.  So, after reading your stories and the costs involved I felt pretty good getting out of the office for $64. 
  I can't tell you how much your information has helped me and I'm sure others who read yet don't post. I just wanted to Thank you all so much for your help and hope your furry loved ones get better fast. Thanks again!!!  David in HOT ( but dry) Arizona!!

There's no way the allergy shots can cost $500 a month even in the initial stages when the shots are given every three days. Jessie's serum costs $165 and lasts about 6 months. The needles and syringes are inexpensive if you get them through a pet supply catalog like jefferspethttp://www.jefferspet.com/ssc/search_results.asp?CID=0&mscssid=71BF7LSEP13J9P2VRMW9LPD772U246UE&keywords=needles&cmkw=needles or at a farm supply store; the vet will charge more for them.

Thanks Janice, that is great to hear.  I did just go pick up a 15 day supply of the Atopica and it was $101.  I realized what I'd been giving Sassy was 2 50 mg caps a day, so it wasn't 200mg after all.  I'd forgotten that since they were free, she just gave me what she had.  What I got today was 100mg capsules.  It's a little low for her weight, but I figure if we were giving her the normal dose (and not using the ketaconazle to supplement), it'd be about $250 a month.  At some point, after a few months, we'd decrease the days she gets it, so it might be 2/3 to 1/2 that cost.  Still the allergy shots are a fraction of that cost, so if all else is equal and the shots are safer, I'd prefer to go that route.

  I'm sure you will make the best choice for Sassy, and thanks for telling me what your dermatologist said about the safety of allergy shots. Jessie had been so miserable and I was so relieved to find a treatment for her problems that I forgot to ask about the long term effects of the shots but they had to be better than antibiotics all the time or prednisone.

We actually had started to switch Parker back to his old food a week ago at a 50/50 ratio and I am noticing a big difference in his allergies

 
  What was the protein source of the Nutro you were feeding him; chicken, beef, or lamb? Meat protein is the most common cause of food allergies; Jessie is allergic to chicken. You need to compare the protein sources of the EVO with the Nutro to avoid possible problems with food in the future if indeed it is a food allergy.

Just to add a GOOD thought on the allergy shots....Ollie only took the initial injections...he did NOT need them after that. His doctor gave a percentage which I no longer remember,,,but a certain percent of dogs are NOT helped with allergy shots,,,a certain percent have to be on them for the rest of their lives,,,a certain percent will need them but at a lower rate,,such as once a month or so....but Ollie does not need them.  Maybe food that agrees with him and supplements, and the fact that he does NOT get vaccinated anymore...help, but we do not know that.
There IS hope for us all!

 I'm hoping that Jessie will only need them for a few years; I've read that after 3 years a lot of dogs don't need them anymore.

,,,but a certain percent of dogs are NOT helped with allergy shots,,,a certain percent have to be on them for the rest of their lives,,,a certain percent will need them but at a lower rate,,such as once a month or so...

That's supposedly the same for humans too, so I believe it to be true.  I'd like to think that'd be the case with Sassy, but even if it helped and we had to do it for the rest of her life, it'd be better than what she's living with now.

but even if it helped and we had to do it for the rest of her life, it'd be better than what she's living with now
Your right Cathy!  I wish you GOOD LUCK!!

,,,a certain percent will need them but at a lower rate,,such as once a month or so...

 
   Jessie normally gets one shot every 2 weeks but when her allergies flare up like they did a month ago she gets them once a week, so the frequency can be adjusted according to the dog's needs. She has now had 3 shots a week apart and after the second shot she was feeling better; now she is doing well enough that she has not gotten an antihistamine the last few days. I'm really happy because she had an infection on her stomach the middle of July, a nasty foot infection a week after that, and an infection in both ears 2 weeks ago, so changing her shot schedule made a big difference.[]

Hi.  Great idea...I'll check on that.  After only 2 days Parker has stopped itching 98% of the time and has energy like I have never seen. I tell you those cortisone shots are little white milky miracles.... I have a question...a lot of the posts say we gave him/her  " Allergy Shots " etc.. are you guys talking about a Cortisone Injection?   Is Allergy Shot the same thing as a Cortisone Injection?  I hope this is not an obvious /stupid question.  When Parker got his Cortisone/Allergy shot it was about a 2ml or 2 1/2 ml and it's a milky white shot. The Vet said it would last almost 2 months. Someone said they give an allergy shot once a week or once every 2 weeks and I thought the Corisone Injections last a few months ...I guess that's why I am confused about the name ( Allergy Shots) Vs ( Cortisone Injections).  Thanks for the help .David

I have a question...a lot of the posts say we gave him/her " Allergy Shots " etc.. are you guys talking about a Cortisone Injection? Is Allergy Shot the same thing as a Cortisone Injection? I hope this is not an obvious /stupid question

 
 It's not stupid at all;  I think people use the term "allergy shots" for both the cortizone injections and allergen serum injections,  I'm referring to the serum when I say allergy shots. Jessie usually gets an allergy shot every 2 weeks but is getting them weekly right now because she was having flare ups. The serum has extracts of allergens she reacts to; no one is 100% sure how they work but they desensitize dogs to the allergens and she doesn't itch or have skin infections. There are no known side effects with them where there are with cortizone; [linkhttp://www.wedgewoodpharmacy.com/monographs/prednisone.asp]http://www.wedgewoodpharmacy.com/monographs/prednisone.asp[/link];
 
" Side effects seen in dogs include polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, poor haircoat, GI disturbance, diarrhea, vomiting, weight gain, GI ulceration, pancreatitis, lipidemia, elevated liver enzymes, diabetes mellitus, muscle wasting, and possible behavioral changes.
• Polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia may be seen in dogs even on short-term therapy.
 Corticosteroids can cause or worsen gastric ulcers."
 
   There is much more under the heading "Precautions" on the page. These side effects are associated with long term use. I don't know if 2ml is a large enough dose to cause potential problems but some other members probably do.  Sometimes prednisone is necessary to treat conditions such as auto-immune disorders. My vet , whom I love, only gives it to dogs with allergies when they have severe symptoms from scratching and chewing such as bloody ears, and then he only gives it for a short period. He knows many other ways to help relieve the itching and doesn't like to use steroids. My former vet prescribed steroids the first time I brought Jessie in for itching and never discussed things like antihistamines, baths, immunotherapy, and fatty acid supplements.
    There is something I should tell you;  if your dog is itching from food allergies steroids won't help; 
 
 [linkhttp://dogs.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Dog_Food_Allergies]  http://dogs.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Dog_Food_Allergies[/link];
 
  
"Food allergies can be hard to distinguish from other health problems and other types of allergies, but there are some signs to look for. Likely candidates for food allergies are dogs who experience symptoms year round rather than seasonally, dogs who do not respond to antihistamines or steroid treatment, dogs who develop skin problems at a very young age and those who have recurrent ear problems."
 
  [linkhttp://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1664&articleid=143]http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1664&articleid=143[/link];
 
  " However, there are a few signs that always make me suspect food allergies. One of these, is a dog with recurrent ear problems, particularly yeast infections. Another, is a very young dog with moderate or severe skin problems. A third tip off, is if a dog suffers from allergies year-round or if the symptoms begin in the winter. And the final clue, is a dog that has very itchy skin but does not respond to antihistamines or steroid treatment."
 
  I don't remember if your dog started improving with the food change or the steroid shot but since you've done both it isn't possible to tell if it's a food allergy or environmental allergies, so the itching may return once the shot wears off.