Ava at the Allergist Part 2

[Stacy]

I really like this vet dermatologist’s office. I didn’t want to leave her, and I knew that she wouldn’t want to go – and she didn’t. She kept trying to come back to me and I was trying not to cry. She was just breaking my heart. They let me walk her back and put her in the kennel. I promised her that I was coming back for her and that I wasn’t leaving her. But her English is sort of limited to “let’s go to bed” and “want to go for a ride?” so I’m not sure she understood. They usually schedule pickups for after 3, but they promised they would put her at the top of the list and try to get her home sooner than that.  And they called me to tell me that she was ready after 2 ½ hours! I was so grateful that they were able to accommodate her that way.

 

The verdict is in. She didn’t have a ton of positives, but what she reacted to, she reacted to fairly significantly. And she had some environmental allergies that make sense with the way her symptoms don’t seem to be seasonal. I will attach a photo of her allergy test, but she reacted most strongly to two different dust mites, and the yeast that is just normal body flora. She also reacted to cats. My dog is allergic to cats! (Me too Ava)

 

We will be starting her on allergy shots tomorrow. They said tonight, but I want to give them in the mornings, so we will just start then. I’m very pleased with the outcome. I hope this helps! I feel like the dermatologist was a real success. I’m glad that I went ahead with testing. 

I do have a question that I didn't think to ask regarding her sensitivity to corn. Do you think that she should avoid eating anything with corn in it, because she's allergic to the physical substance? I don't think that there is corn in any of the food or treats I buy for her (I buy off the approved list, I don't think any of them have corn.) But sometimes I let her have the junk treats at places we go. I mean, sometimes I eat McDonalds too! But I'm not sure if I should restrict those now?? 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Yeast do not like acidic environments so ear cleaners have acetic acid or similar things in them and cleaning ears regularly is a good thing. I would think you could use a dilute vinegar solution to rinse paws occasionally too. But really I think many dogs would show some reactivity to the things Ava did. I did react to many of them myself.

[Stacy]

I totally agree that many dogs would be reactive to these things! I always joke about my own allergy testing that if I didn't react to something they just kept injecting me with it until they could say I was allergic! If I could just get her itching under control I would say her allergies weren't bad at all. But it's just awful when she spends all night chewing on her feet. I have high hopes that this will be the solution to her itchiness!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Actually, we have the test results from several dogs in the Atopic Dermatitis Group, and they are all quite different. Ava probably had the smallest number of positives, but not all of the dogs tested positive for the things she did. Different trees, different pollens, different insects, etc. I see now another one she was positive for that JD wasn't, moths. And he was also positive for just one tree, but it wasn't black willow, it was maple. He had one mold, Ava has none. Some of the dogs in the group, like Ann's Duke, had high positives for several molds. 

Testing positive for both North American and European dust mites is not all that common, either. JD did, though. 

[Stacy]

I think it's interesting. They are just as different as people. I thought the moth allergy was interesting too. I hadn't even thought about a moth being something that you could be allergic to - I had never given it any thought one way or another, I guess. I mean, some people have a stronger reaction to mosquitoes than others, but they bite you. Moths don't do anything to you. And then she doesn't react to fleas at all. A flea allergy seems like it would be so much easier to deal with. Just don't let them get fleas! I can't prevent her from being exposed to dust mites. 

I'm glad she's not allergic to as many allergens as some. But even if she'd only been allergic to one thing, if it was causing a quality of life issue, then it was worth finding out what it is so we can address it.

It's funny. Before Ava and all of this I didn't even know that they did allergy testing and immunotherapy on dogs. And I know people have itchy dogs! But I don't know anyone who has ever given their dogs allergy shots. And I wonder if people are afraid of the cost of a specialist. But cost really shouldn't factor into it. The antigens cost 205.00 for 4-6 months of injections. And 30 Apoquel tablets were 50.00. So all other health factors aside, after the initial testing it won't cost any more to have her on immunotherapy than to give her a pill every day. And like we've already discussed, there is a health "cost" to long term use of the drugs. I think people just don't know. I didn't know. And I don't know that I would have even known enough to do the research on my own. This has been a really interesting educational experience!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Be glad for Ava that she's living in this day and age. When Jack was first diagnosed back in 2008, I couldn't find anyone whose dog had been tested, or tried immunotherapy, or even had a larger dog on Atopica (cyclosporine). It was name brand only then, and so expensive that only people with tiny dogs could afford it. And there was no Apoquel. 

And even JD was lucky. I had a foster GSD back in the late 90s who had severe Atopic Dermatitis. His adopter supposedly tried everything, even human doctors. I had no idea what it even was at that time. Allergies? What's the big deal?  Less than a year after he was adopted, she had him put to sleep. She said he was in such misery he was trying to chew his own paws off. Broke my heart.

I feel like I got a second chance. I couldn't help Kato, but I could help Jack. :) 

[Stacy]

Poor Kato. That's so sad. I know what you mean though. It's just allergies. Until there is no quality of life and it's not just allergies. 

Medicine is so amazing. I don't at all consider myself old, but sometimes these ex-preemies come in and I hear their gestational age when they were born and I just stop and look at them. If they had been born back when I started working they would be dead. And now they do such amazing things! And the protocols for treating even routine things changes from month to month and year to year as we figure out more efficient ways of doing things. I've decided that by the time I get old they will have cured old age. Or at least macular degeneration and dementia - those are the things I'm afraid of! 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

"And the protocols for treating even routine things changes from month to month and year to year as we figure out more efficient ways of doing things."

And that's exactly the reason for seeing a specialist...it's hard enough to stay up to date in one area or specialty, there is no way that a GP doctor or vet could possibly stay current on all of the newest research and treatments for every disease or condition. 

[Stacy]

I gave Ava her first shot this morning - scheduling wise it worked out best to wait until this morning. She did fine, but I had more anxiety about giving that shot than any other shot I've ever given! Maybe I should have done the oral immunotherapy! It's so different when it's your kid, even when your kid is a dog. I just hope she's not mad at me. I know it's ridiculous, but I don't want her to think I'm a terrible mom and not trust me any more. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That isn't going to happen, lol. And she has a pro doing it, I'm sure she didn;t even feel it. 

[Stacy]

I think she did feel it. She looked at me like, hey what are you doing? But there is a bit of a learning curve. I think the next one will be easier. My patients aren't normally quite so hairy! 

She's acting kind of extra sleepy today, and I wasn't sure what was wrong with her when I remembered that we did almost a 5 mile hike at the park yesterday. And we played in the lake a little and there were sooo many people and dogs (it was 72 in February! The whole city was at the dog park) I think today she's just tired! Katie is not so tired though. She's ready to go again. But it is not 70 today.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Sleepy is okay. What you want to watch for is an allergic reaction to the antigens, and you know what that looks like, lol. :)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

We started Lucy's shots shortly after we lost Sophie to Cancer.  I told Mike I just spent the last 5 months shoving handfuls of pills down Sophie's throat (while she tried to hack them back up), you are going to be the one to give Lucy her shots.  The Vet helped him learn and let him practice a few times.  But don't you know, the night the first one was due, he was in the hospital and I had to do it.  ugh.  Lucy never even acted like she felt them.  I hope they work really well for you guys.