Winston's allergy test is done: He is allergic to...

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

...Kitties, Dust mites, feathers (my duvet) and the yeast that grows between his paws and in his ears when they get infected from all the chewing/scratching (viscious circle).***Update - forgot to Add Pigweed ?!?! What the heck is pigweed???

Here are some pics of his test patch and him in his Bluesfestival Volunteer t-shirt :o) He may not look happy, but he does look super cute and it keeps him from licking his 'patch'.

He's quite irritable from the testing and is snapping at Sophie a bit. I really wish the vet would have sedated him or at least given him some valium. Anyway, what's done is done, and we have a plan for treatment. His bacterial infections (ears, paws and skin) haven't improved despite the two week course of antibiotics he was on earlier this month. She suspects he's become immune to the antibiotics he's been getting. She's doing cultures to learn more about the bacteria. I'm not quite sure I understand this part but she says the cultures she's taken will tell her what kind of antibiotics are going to be most effective for him. She did send me home with drops for his ears and instructions to clean them out with a vinegar and water solution before putting in the drops. On the car ride home I was thinking about how when I went on a yeast free diet I was told to avoid vinegar as it is fermented with yeast. I am thinking that washing his yeasty infected ears with vinegar might not be so great....

I'm to take photos of the patch where the skin test was done in case there are any delayed reactions. That way we can be 100% sure to cover everything in the immunotherapy treatment, which will cost about $700 and she says is 75% affective. So basically, it better work!!

The visit cost me $850 plus a $200 speeding ticket :( but I'm so glad to have taken this step and can now move forward with treating him. Could have done without that darn ticket though.

One more thing, the vet remarked on how well informed I am and was surprised by some of the questions I was asking-I even stumped her once. I have only Karen and the rest of DK to thank for that! Thanks everyone for all your support, and mostly thank you Karen for guiding me through this process! I don't know what I would have done without you!!!

Ok, I'm going to take Sophie to the park, she needs to burn some energy and Winston needs a rest.

[BG and Gavin]

This sounds like a very postive trip (except for the speeding ticket).  I have an overwhelming feeling of optimism.  Love the t-shirt look too.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Sherri, here's your pigweed. There appear to be a couple of varieties that grow in Ontario:

http://www.weedinfo.ca/weed.php?w=AMAPO

http://www.weedinfo.ca/weed.php?w=AMARE

And this is the one JD is allergic to, which also came up when I netered Pigweed in the database; it's very widespread:

 http://www.weedinfo.ca/weed.php?w=CHEAL

 

 

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I don't recognize these weeds but will be sure to look out for them. wonder if they grew in that backyard that he used to spend all his time in.

[F, Calla & Luca]

It doesn't matter that much although I'd try to keep him from fields of them. The pollen from the weeds travels far and wide and aside from a hermetically sealed room there's not much, other than AC, filters etc., you can do.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Exactly what F said. Ragweed pollen, which is JD's worst nemesis, travels 400 kilometers.

[Colleen, Jake & Baxter]

Hi Winston - welcome to the shirt club - my mommy says you look really cute in yours - I hope you start feeling better now that you've been tested and are on the road to the correct treatment plan.  Your mommy has had quite a month this past one!  PS.  I know how it is but try not to be grumpy with your doodle sister - she's on your side:^) 

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Hi Jake, thanks for the compliment. I really don't like having this shirt on me, but mom says it looks adorable so I guess I'll have to believe her. she says I'm not allowed to lick my 'patch'. I'm really confused. Why the heck would they shave a patch and prick me all up with stuff and then not let me lick it? Then to make matters worse, my mom goes and squirts this stinky vinegar and water stuff in my ears and then sticks tissue in to clean it all up. WTD?? why would she put that awful stuff in my ears only to whipe it up again? Makes no sense to me, and I really wish she would just leave my ears alone because they are so sore and swollen right now. Then Sophie keeps trying to play with me by grabbing my ears and they hurt so much. I just don't understand what is happening and why everyone just can't leave me alone to sulk. Thank goodness Sophie is in her crate while mom's at work, this way she can't bother me.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

How is Winston feeling this a.m.? Hope you all had a good night.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Ditto.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

He was kind of mopy this morning, but I didn't spend much time with him as I sort of slept in a bit and had to rush through the morning. He is usually a little slow in the mornings so could have been normal. He was so upset with me last night after I cleaned his ears with the vinegar. He didn't like that one bit. I felt so awful that I didn't have the heart to go through with the solution for yeasty paws that the vet gave me. Poor Pooh Bear. I will check on him at lunch time.

[F, Calla & Luca]

The vinegar might sting if he has any open areas. The paws can wait a bit I'd think. Poor Winston indeed but sometimes they have to go through a bit to get better. 

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I just wish he understood that I'm doing all of this because I love him and it will make him better. Hopefully he'll 'get it' once he gets some relief.