food allergy or something missing?

Re: food allergy or something missing?

vs0u — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 20:03:36 GMT

[quote user="chris jones"]

would need to be off all steroids and antihistamines for 21 days before allergy testing.

[/quote]

I thought you could still do the allergy blood test even if the dog was on steroids - just not the skin test?

Re: food allergy or something missing?

Gillian Mostyn — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 20:07:04 GMT

wow. Very impressed.

Re: food allergy or something missing?

Andrew Mellor — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 10:27:01 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

How did you work this out? The possibilities always seem too endless so I am impressed you tracked it down!

[/quote]

takes a while but am patient with owner and ask open ended questions like what has changed, any new bedding? any new chemicals, change of routine , new people in house - need to speak to them - this dog had only just started sleeping on the owners bed, owners bedding washed in same detergent etc as dog's bed - no problem no air fresheners in bedroom, and perfume applied in bath room- I get really intimate details some times amazing what people tell you , sometimes it feels like I am in confession! then we had to talk about any other chemicals that may have been in that room and the answer was hit upon. all very CSI ! breaks the monotony of anal glands !

Re: food allergy or something missing?

Richard Fox — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 11:51:38 GMT

[quote]I prefer tissue culture to a simple skin swab but do you think this is justified?[/quote]

Definately - a dry swab is not often very useful, charcoal swab better and tissue biopsy I think if sterile is much better

I did say uncomplicated pruritic skin disease but the condition is complicated and no specific dx has been made or rules outs are required then def. biopsy is useful! (not trying to put myself out of a job!) :) I suppose I see so many biospy specimens with non-specific perivascular dermatitis but the reason for bx i.e. rules outs etc has not been submitted so maybe that is where I am comming from

Re: food allergy or something missing?

Mark Holmes — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:35:44 GMT

[quote user="Richard Fox"]Just wanted to include that bx is not really worth it in cases of clear cut uncomplicated prurutis TBH [/quote]

Actually I find them worthwhile. I normally sedate for deep scrapes anyway and have always thought that if the dog is sedated I might as well place a bit of local and take a punch bx. I usually get a 4-6mm sample cut in half and have half cultured and half sliced. Ok so the culture is usually more informative than the hp but if I'm doing one then I might as well do both. I prefer tissue culture to a simple skin swab but do you think this is justified?

Re: food allergy or something missing?

Ruta — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 09:04:42 GMT

Thank you very much for all replies. Yuo was very helpful, at last I have plan what to do. And yes, she is a white American bull dog, and she is not insured... :(

By the way, thanks Chris for important information. I didn't knew that she needs of from steroids for such a long time before testing of allergy.

Ruta

Re: food allergy or something missing?

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:40:33 GMT

[quote user="Andrew Mellor"] have one at the moment that the dog was allergic to hair spray[/quote]

How did you work this out? The possibilities always seem too endless so I am impressed you tracked it down!

Re: food allergy or something missing?

Richard Fox — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:25:51 GMT

I agree with all the above - systematic work up is needed. Atopy being a dx of exclusion and aided by serology/CAT. Just wanted to include that bx is not really worth it in cases of clear cut uncomplicated prurutis TBH . But yes unfortunately its a bulldog so should come with a lifetimes supply voucher for atopica!

However inhouse smears of material from ears will indicate the presence of malassezia and the type of bacteria present if there is exudative or crusting otitis? i.e. if there is complicating pyoderma/bacterial overgrowth/malassezia proliferation.

Re: food allergy or something missing?

Andrew Mellor — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 19:20:01 GMT

personally I start with the house ! itchy dog with smelly ears owners probably use air fresheners/ fibreeze etc to get rid of the smell, then wash bedding in biological powder with fabric conditioner, clean floors with flash and have carpets shampooed regularly- hey presto dog scratches itself to pieces. have one at the moment that the dog was allergic to hair spray, owner did hair in bed room sat on floor back against bed once she left room dog slept on bed terrible periorbital lesions and chewed feet to pieces, since we discovered this owner washed bedding and now does hair in bathroom within 2 weeks dog normal.

I am also seeing a lot of dogs that seem to be allergic to chicken and / or rice so having to go for more novel diets like z/d ultra purina h/a etc or sensitivity caplin and tapioca

Is it a white american bull dog ? if so it is probably allergic to everything, try atopica if they can afford it , ucerax + chlorphenamine can work well too.

Re: food allergy or something missing?

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:35:52 GMT

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]

but then its an American Bull Dog so they probably won't be insured and will not be able to afford treatment.

You cynic Mark and I thought all the chavs with American Bulldogs lived in West Drayton. If you ask me they are just another excuse, along with foreign mastiff breeds, to have a legal fighting breed, to be well 'ard to impress your mates/enemies.

[/quote]

Re: food allergy or something missing?

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:37:15 GMT

would need to be off all steroids and antihistamines for 21 days before allergy testing.

Re: food allergy or something missing?

Mark Holmes — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:33:48 GMT

I always make sure they have a course of advoate to make sure beasties are not a problem. (Other than demodex but you have scraped for that) a decent course 4-6 weeks of cephalexin 30mg/kg, Nizoral can be useful as malasezia can be a problem. Allercept testing is handy once you have completed a food trial but I think it can be influenced by steroids so you will need to check withdrawal times. (i can never remember them) Being an An American Bull dog she is probably atopic, they all are (just about) Hopefully she is insured as you will probebly need to have her on Atopica or pred in the long term. You can tell your boss he can book that long fancy holiday he has been dreaming of as his finances are going to improve.... but then its an American Bull Dog so they probably won't be insured and will not be able to afford treatment.