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Post by RealPitBull on Jun 29, 2009 10:59:50 GMT -5
Luca isn't allergic to storage mites, as far as I know. I never did an official allergy test, because he basically cleared up when I switched him to a vegetarian diet (minor flare ups here and there). Not sure exactly what this ear problem is related to yet, but I think it may be due to the LID formula I switched him to (venison). Going to put him back on the veg formula from Natural Balance and see if there is any change.
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Post by maryellen on Jun 29, 2009 14:06:57 GMT -5
you should really do the blood allergy test, because with the changing seasons the allergies will flare up, and you wont really know what he is allergic to.. its not that expensive,and its easier to do the allergy blood test then change foods and get vet care for ear infections lol... been going thru that for 8 years now with jesse, once i had the allergy testing done it saved me aTON of trouble and money,as i knew exactly what she was allergic to... and storage mites was her main problem, her reading was i think 3000 and my vet said she never saw it that high before lol... once you find out what he is allergic to then you can treat accordingly. like if he is allergic to grass pollen you will know in the spring when the grass grows to either give him benedryl,wipe his coat/feet off,etc...
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Post by maryellen on Jun 29, 2009 16:29:17 GMT -5
also, the food allergy test sucks, it is not accurate so dont waste your money on the blood test for that.
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Post by Dave on Jun 29, 2009 18:32:12 GMT -5
We (my vet and I) did an allergy panel on Lola when I got her. It cost $300. Her biggest problems are grasses, dust mites and trees. But we also found out she's mildly allergic to cats. ;D
We tried many things, from diet (raw included) to benadryl to allergy shots. Nothing worked, so we put her on a steroid, Temaril-P, full time. She's on a very low dose, and since we already test her thyroid twice a year (yep, she's got problems) we also run her organ functions too. So far after 2-1/2 years on the steroid, she's shown no ill effects. It keeps her symptoms in check, and her flare-ups are limited to some belly scratching when the steroid begins to wear off.
You should consider it. It's hard to tell when your switching foods if it's helping or if it's just a flare-up.With the allergy panel results you can focus on each suspected item and get better results.
dave
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Post by RealPitBull on Jun 30, 2009 7:32:24 GMT -5
I've actually had really good luck with monitoring and keeping his issues in check. He's not 'on' anything (no steroids, etc), and just occasionally gets a little itchy in the belly area (I do think he has a slight grass allergy). I believe this current ear issue is due to a change I made in his diet - or it could be residual from his surgery last year (his weakened immune system). It's starting to clear up, so I'm not too worried about it, and he's not itchy anywhere else. I am going to be switching him back to the vegetarian food he's been on that has kept his allergies in check for 5 or so years now. Thanks for the input, guys! I was actually planning on doing extensive allergy testing when he had a major flare up about 6 years ago, but it never even came to that, because once I switched to the veg diet (the change came almost immediately), he has been about 95 - 100% better at any given time. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
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Post by maryellen on Jun 30, 2009 7:53:06 GMT -5
if he does good on the veggie food, dont switch.. like you said, if it aint broke dont fix it....
also, if he broke out in an ear infection on the new food, then its something in the new food.. take the veggie food ingredients, write them down. take the new food ingredients write them down, compare the 2 ingredients. its probably something in the new food that is irritating him.
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Post by RealPitBull on Jun 30, 2009 8:27:41 GMT -5
if he does good on the veggie food, dont switch.. like you said, if it aint broke dont fix it.... also, if he broke out in an ear infection on the new food, then its something in the new food.. take the veggie food ingredients, write them down. take the new food ingredients write them down, compare the 2 ingredients. its probably something in the new food that is irritating him. I'm thinking it's probably the venison LOL That's the most obvious. He's only been on veg or fish before this, but I was curious to try the venison to change up the protein source.
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