food and skin allergies and skin color

[Maggie & Zephyr]

Hi, I am about to choose a goldendoodle from a litter. I have had a couple of dogs with allergies. What I would like to know If your doodle or other dogs have allergies, does it have darker skin on it's underbelly or is it lighter skin? Both dogs of mine with the dark skin had allergies. Some vets say it is a sign of an immune imbalance. Some say its normal. Thanks for any info

[Maggie & Zephyr]

On the prednisolone, high dose is very dangerous. That is why it is given in small doses just to bring the cortisol up to a normal level. The vets that took the time to read the book I gave them on it and checked out the web site agreed to the long term use. www.drplechner.com

[F, Calla & Luca]

I hope this works well for your dog.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here is an interesting article from the Canine Inherited Disorders Database website. Apparently, hyperpigmentation can be caused by allergies in dogs: http://ic.upei.ca/cidd/disorder/atopy

 

(Also, Atopy is listed under Inherited immune Disorders, BTW, which I find significant. )

[Maggie & Zephyr]

Thanks for info.The vet who has been doing this  for more than 20 years is Alfred J. Plechner. I came across one of his books when my first allergic dog had problems. "Pets at Risk" his web site is www.drplechner.com  he is in Southern Cal. So  my vet and I have only spoke on the phone with him. I truely believe my dog would  not have made it past her first year if we had not gotten her on his program. That said I am also a fan of transfer factor and have used it on many animals (I used to foster cats for our SPCA)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Need I say more:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_factor

[F, Calla & Luca]

Yes, from chronic irritation hyperpigmentation can occur but it has nothing to do with a "balanced" immune system per se. Some hormonal diseases and other things can also cause this.

Here is a wikipedia link relating to humans.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperpigmentation

[Sue & Lily Grace]

@ Karen and F: you both have done so much research and have practical knowledge on the subject of allergies and compromised immune systems That I am wondering if you have knowledge of or have hear of these factors causing Mast Cell disease. I lost my Lhasa/Poodle to this disease. We fought it for three years and finally at age six it went into her lymph nodes. I have tried to get vets, oncologists to explain why the mast cell's histamine in response to allergic reactions will cause this in some dogs. It seems to me the culprit is algerns. Have you ever run across any research proving or disproving this. Although we fought this for 3 years, I now believed I just did not do enough and blindly followed the vets advice without being her advocate. I thank you all for this site. It makes you think and not take all things as truth just because they come from "experts". Anything you can tell me will appreciated. I am awaiting an ALD and want to do everything I can to keep her healthy. It seems so many of these dogs have allergies that I want to be more than one step ahead if that is possible. Thank you again.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Mast cell tumors are not uncommon but as far as I know the cause of these tumors remains unknown. I don't think that the normal mast cells function is necessarily related to the development of a cancerous transformation. I have not seen evidence that use or overuse of these cells causes it. Unfortunately it is often fatal. I am sorry you lost your dog at an early age.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I did see an article that associates mast cell tumors in dogs with allergies and other inflammatory conditions: 

http://www.kateconnick.com/library/mastcelltumor.html

Sue, I am sorry for the loss of your dog; please don't blame yourself. I'm sure you did everything you could do.

 

 

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

The author says she has no scientific or veterinary background and says there is some suggestion that chronic overstimulation may be related. She does not give any evidence to support this.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

She did cite several scholarly articles as references at the end of the article, although I didn't look at them.

I have no experience or knowledge of this myself, but it seemed to make sense to me. You would definitely know more about it, though. :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

I didn't read them myself since the author says only that there is some suggestion that chronic stimulation may be involved. I didn't think that would lead to any facts in the articles.