Friday, November 20, 2009

My golden retriever had an allergy skin test 2 weeks ago?

and his blood was sent to Heska labs in CO for additional testing. It came back just 5 days later and the vet is being very vague about the results. He now wants to try a food allergy test because he feels allergy shots won't help. I asked to see the results from the lab and fortunately that particular vet was not there, so they gave me the results (his tech gave them to be with great hesitation). I am curious. Has anyone had their dog tested with just the blood test and how many allergens they actually test for. I have been doing some research and see where others have been tested for foods, grains, environmental, but it appears my dog was just tested for a few things (no foods at all). Is this vet just looking for a sucker to pay off his new beach house (that would be me) or do they only test for a few things? Please advise ASAP... I love my golden more than anything and don't like being taken by someone who knows I would do anything for my baby.

My golden retriever had an allergy skin test 2 weeks ago?
I would definatly go to another Vet.





Allergies are serious business, and if your Vet is just going to not decide to tell your results, then there is something wrong.





Especially if your dog isn't allergic and they decide to make you pay for expensive allergy treatment, they could just be wanting money.
Reply:If I were you I would tell them directly and bluntly that they are being too vague about the results and you want a full explanation of what they found. It is your pet and you have the right to know what the test results are. I would call them or go back in and tell them you need a full explanation of what's been found so far. If they say they need to do further testing then ask them what on the other test results lead them to think they needed more testing.
Reply:first off CALL YOUR BREEDER...





second,, tell us what you are feeding your dog?? look at the ingredients and see if there is corn, wheat, soy , by-products listed ...








third,, i wouldn't go to a vet who was "hesitant" to fully go over all testing done on my dog
Reply:A lot of vets feel that the blood test is not accurate for food allergies. The number of allergens tested for depends on the type of test submitted. My educated guess would be that there wasn't many allergens that your pet was severely allergic to, therefore allergy sensitization would not be beneficial. I would encourage you to talk to your vet about why he wants to put your pet on a food trial and what allergens your pet was allergic to.
Reply:Have 2 goldens, my heart, both of them, 6th and 7th goldens to gild my life. Are you sure it's allergies or could it be hot spots which GR are prone to. (Vet told me to apply Witch Hazel to dry up that condition.





Usually corn is the ingredient responsible for skin allergies in dogs, check your ingredients. My kids love (did an actual taste test with them) Pedigree lamb and rice (won over Pedigree chicken - contains corn-, both products in each bowl.)





Don't have a clue about blood work tests. Wonder why you're sure it's allergies.





"aaawwwuuuuuf" from my kids to yours.
Reply:i would definitely find a new vet. you are entitled to the results and any information regarding your pet, the vet should be willing to discuss this with you without hesitation. one of my dogs was scratching badly and the vet first did a skin acrap to rule out mange, gave her some itch meds. we discussed diet and i was advised to have my family stop giving her table treats. if things didn't improve within a week or 2 then my vet suggested we do allergy test. guess what table food was the culprit, i think your vet didn't have the best interest of your pet at heart
Reply:I had a Golden Retriever that had allergies. What are your dog's symptoms? My dog would bite and lick so much that he'd become bald. We figured out that he was allergic to fleas and would take him to the vet to get a cortizone shot. That is some kind of steroid shot that worked wonders for my dog! Give it a try. As for that vet of yours, any vet who is hesitant in giving results to you should make you wonder about his confidence in the kind of vet he is. Take those results to another vet and get a 2nd opinion. A 2nd opinion is always good. Let me know how he's doing
Reply:The blood tests are extremely inaccurate, but the only option for dogs. I don't know why your vet only tested for a few things, maybe he doesn't hold much stock in the blood tests? You might ask him why it was done the way it was. If you are not satisfied with his answer, then yes, find another vet. Just understand that the results you are looking for may not be found in a blood test.





Many times, the best way to find food allergies is with an exclusion diet.

yew

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