Daphne is entered in an allergy/food study group and testing starts next weekend

[FroxerMom]

Hi all,

I switched Daphne over to a raw diet (commercial grind) soon after we adopted her and brought her home with us because she had a horrible pus filled ear infection, cysts between her toes and she stunk and was quite itchy. I saw improvement immediately - we are talking within mere days. She has not been to the vet since other than needing her yearly check up. Despite the raw, she is still itchy from time to time and I suspected environmental allergies (like pine straw or grass). I give her Claritin or Benedryl on particularly bad days and it does not seem to help. Her food has not changed, but now she sometimes rubs her face along the couch and rolls onto her back to do a shimmy/itch on the carpet when she previously had never done either of these things before.

A brand new pet supply store about an hour away from me is doing a study for 50 participants who suspect food/environmental allergies. They are performing allergy testing for free and then collecting data by way of two separate interview and observation sessions. Daphne's interview is this coming Sunday morning. The owners of the store are a former trainer and vet technician who have personal interest in pet nutrition after battling issues with their own dogs. I signed her up because I figure it can't possibly hurt to have a list of potential food and environmental triggers that she should stay away from. Normally allergy testing is several hundred dollars. All it is costing me is a $50 deposit to hold her spot and ensure that I return for the final interview. I don't know what to expect and hope that in the end, they don't try and sell me some high end dog kibble from their store, but we will see. I do plan to wait and see what protein is safe for Daphne after this testing is done and then I am switching her to a PREY model instead of one with fruits and veggies like I have been using. I found a company near me who will deliver every two weeks, 2 pound rolls of meat/organ/bone only.

I am hopeful that this study yields some helpful info because she seems miserable some days yet she looks great - no missing fur, no goopy eyes, no infected ears. She's always pretty stinky though, even after a bath which she gets twice per month!

 

[Honeys Owners]

Hi all,

I switched Daphne over to a raw diet (commercial grind) soon after we adopted her and brought her home with us because she had a horrible pus filled ear infection, cysts between her toes and she stunk and was quite itchy. I saw improvement immediately - we are talking within mere days. She has not been to the vet since other than needing her yearly check up. Despite the raw, she is still itchy from time to time and I suspected environmental allergies (like pine straw or grass). I give her Claritin or Benedryl on particularly bad days and it does not seem to help. Her food has not changed, but now she sometimes rubs her face along the couch and rolls onto her back to do a shimmy/itch on the carpet when she previously had never done either of these things before.

A brand new pet supply store about an hour away from me is doing a study for 50 participants who suspect food/environmental allergies. They are performing allergy testing for free and then collecting data by way of two separate interview and observation sessions. Daphne's interview is this coming Sunday morning. The owners of the store are a former trainer and vet technician who have personal interest in pet nutrition after battling issues with their own dogs. I signed her up because I figure it can't possibly hurt to have a list of potential food and environmental triggers that she should stay away from. Normally allergy testing is several hundred dollars. All it is costing me is a $50 deposit to hold her spot and ensure that I return for the final interview. I don't know what to expect and hope that in the end, they don't try and sell me some high end dog kibble from their store, but we will see. I do plan to wait and see what protein is safe for Daphne after this testing is done and then I am switching her to a PREY model instead of one with fruits and veggies like I have been using. I found a company near me who will deliver every two weeks, 2 pound rolls of meat/organ/bone only.

I am hopeful that this study yields some helpful info because she seems miserable some days yet she looks great - no missing fur, no goopy eyes, no infected ears. She's always pretty stinky though, even after a bath which she gets twice per month!

Sounds very interesting ! Are they doing blood testing for allergies? Supposedly the saliva testing is not very accurate. My dog is similar to yours, but she has a fair bit of environmental allergies besides the food allergies, so she's still fairly itchy and has had an ear infection since switching to raw. I've been able to keep her off Apoquel and Cytopoint so far by putting in EcoEars in her ears once a week prophylactically, and cetirizine (antihistamine) 10mg daily in the summer time. She does get a bit smelly as well, whether I wash her or not, so I only bathe her about every 2 months. I try to brush her daily or every few days with a Kong ZoomGroom to help with the itching. I sometimes give her the PREY diet frozen raw, and sometimes the complete one with fruit and veggies, as I'm scared of her getting nutritional deficiencies if only on the PREY. I do supplement her while on PREY diet with fish oil 1g daily and sea kelp 1/8 tsp twice daily and vitamin E 400IU weekly. Plus I give her some frozen sprat from the supermarket.

 

[Cbrugs]

Sounds interesting! Several years ago I took Jax to a dermatologist and they did an intradermal allergy test for environmental allergies and that’s how I discovered he was allergic to everything green outside. For food issues, it’s been trial and error to find out what he can’t tolerate. Jax is on Cytopoint as Benadryl just wasn’t enough for him. We went from weekly baths to monthly baths.

Hope you can get some answers!


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[FroxerMom]

Sounds very interesting ! Are they doing blood testing for allergies? Supposedly the saliva testing is not very accurate. My dog is similar to yours, but she has a fair bit of environmental allergies besides the food allergies, so she's still fairly itchy and has had an ear infection since switching to raw. I've been able to keep her off Apoquel and Cytopoint so far by putting in EcoEars in her ears once a week prophylactically, and cetirizine (antihistamine) 10mg daily in the summer time. She does get a bit smelly as well, whether I wash her or not, so I only bathe her about every 2 months. I try to brush her daily or every few days with a Kong ZoomGroom to help with the itching. I sometimes give her the PREY diet frozen raw, and sometimes the complete one with fruit and veggies, as I'm scared of her getting nutritional deficiencies if only on the PREY. I do supplement her while on PREY diet with fish oil 1g daily and sea kelp 1/8 tsp twice daily and vitamin E 400IU weekly. Plus I give her some frozen sprat from the supermarket.

Hi there -
Nope, no blood or saliva. This testing kit is with hair. I realize probably not terribly reliable, but for (basically) free, I'm going to just use the results as maybe a guide as I move forward. I don't currently give Daph any fish oil or coconut oil or supplements, but when I switch to PREY, I'll have to do more research to make sure she isn't lacking anything. I'm pretty sure the fruits in her current grind, are bothering her. Every once in a while she gives me eyes, and I'll slip her a bit of apple or tiny piece of watermelon or peach and she itches like crazy that night. So want to steer clear of fruits unless there is a neutral one out there.

 

[FroxerMom]

Sounds interesting! Several years ago I took Jax to a dermatologist and they did an intradermal allergy test for environmental allergies and that’s how I discovered he was allergic to everything green outside. For food issues, it’s been trial and error to find out what he can’t tolerate. Jax is on Cytopoint as Benadryl just wasn’t enough for him. We went from weekly baths to monthly baths.

Hope you can get some answers!


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Thank you!
I cannot find a vet that will give her a Cytopoint injection before trying Apoquel, so trying this study first. When I do a search for Bulldog friendly/knowledgeable vets near me, there are ZERO that are actively practicing. Frustrated!!

 

[Cbrugs]

Thank you!
I cannot find a vet that will give her a Cytopoint injection before trying Apoquel, so trying this study first. When I do a search for Bulldog friendly/knowledgeable vets near me, there are ZERO that are actively practicing. Frustrated!!

That is frustrating. Jax was on Apoquel for awhile but that was because Cytopoint hasn’t come out yet and at the time, it was the best option. Not sure why you’d have to try Apoquel first.


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[Honeys Owners]

Hi there -
Nope, no blood or saliva. This testing kit is with hair. I realize probably not terribly reliable, but for (basically) free, I'm going to just use the results as maybe a guide as I move forward. I don't currently give Daph any fish oil or coconut oil or supplements, but when I switch to PREY, I'll have to do more research to make sure she isn't lacking anything. I'm pretty sure the fruits in her current grind, are bothering her. Every once in a while she gives me eyes, and I'll slip her a bit of apple or tiny piece of watermelon or peach and she itches like crazy that night. So want to steer clear of fruits unless there is a neutral one out there.

Do you give her turmeric with some fresh ground pepper for absorption, or turmeric paste you make? Most of the complete formulae have some turmeric but if you are switching to PREY it's a great additive as it is a strong anti-oxidant. Dogs don't need fruits so don't feel guilty not feeding them.

 

[2bullymama]

Thank you!
I cannot find a vet that will give her a Cytopoint injection before trying Apoquel, so trying this study first. When I do a search for Bulldog friendly/knowledgeable vets near me, there are ZERO that are actively practicing. Frustrated!!

Ugh... how far from Indian trail are you... check with Bullies 2 the rescue, maybe they can recommend a vet near you.

Lambeau is on Cytopoint and my vet office never even mentioned using Apoquel first


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[FroxerMom]

Do you give her turmeric with some fresh ground pepper for absorption, or turmeric paste you make? Most of the complete formulae have some turmeric but if you are switching to PREY it's a great additive as it is a strong anti-oxidant. Dogs don't need fruits so don't feel guilty not feeding them.

I take turmeric myself, but haven't thought about it for Daphne. Thanks for the info!

 

[FroxerMom]

Ugh... how far from Indian trail are you... check with Bullies 2 the rescue, maybe they can recommend a vet near you.

Lambeau is on Cytopoint and my vet office never even mentioned using Apoquel first


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When I mentioned it, the vet said the office protocol was to use Apoquel first. She went on and on about how many vets at the practice use it for their own dogs. Completely safe, etc...I said I wanted Cytopoint, and she said they would only use that if no relief with Apoquel.

 

[Honeys Owners]

When I mentioned it, the vet said the office protocol was to use Apoquel first. She went on and on about how many vets at the practice use it for their own dogs. Completely safe, etc...I said I wanted Cytopoint, and she said they would only use that if no relief with Apoquel.

It's got a lot more possible side effects than Cytopoint, such as possible skin tumours and diarrhea, but more effective for a variety of conditions. Definitely worth trying Cytopoint first.

 

[2bullymama]

When I mentioned it, the vet said the office protocol was to use Apoquel first. She went on and on about how many vets at the practice use it for their own dogs. Completely safe, etc...I said I wanted Cytopoint, and she said they would only use that if no relief with Apoquel.

Ugh!!!


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[edwin814]

I often joke to my friends that my Frenchie is allergic to everything green (ever since she was a pup)! which is true to some degree. I started her on OTC medicine like benedryl then something stronger like Apoquel. I didn't like the idea of giving her harsh pills for the rest of her life, so I found a pet dermatologist and underwent sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). She takes a drop of serum tailored for her allergies everyday. Some vets also do the SLIT test.

 

[FroxerMom]

I often joke to my friends that my Frenchie is allergic to everything green (ever since she was a pup)! which is true to some degree. I started her on OTC medicine like benedryl then something stronger like Apoquel. I didn't like the idea of giving her harsh pills for the rest of her life, so I found a pet dermatologist and underwent sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). She takes a drop of serum tailored for her allergies everyday. Some vets also do the SLIT test.

Never heard of this - thanks for the information!!

 

[Honeys Owners]

Never heard of this - thanks for the information!!

Sublingual immunotherapy is a very safe treatment for allergies, but can take a few months to start working. Eventually you can stop therapy and dog is cured from allergies.
There's one sublingual immunotherapy called Respit that has all the environmental allergens for your region, and doesn't require dermatological testing beforehand to figure out what your dog is allergic to. That can save you going to a specialist.
RESPIT Spray | RESPIT - The Practical Alternative to Allergy Testing for Pets