Allergy testing results are in

[Kathy and Ruby Skye]

Ruby was seen by our new dermatologist yesterday for a consult. As it turns out, she was ready to go with the allergy skin testing right then after listening to her symptoms. The results: strong or very strong reactions to 13 triggers including 4 weeds, 3 trees, 2 grasses, 2 types of mold, 1 type of dust mite and 1 container mite. She had a moderate reaction to 12 other things as well, mostly weeds and trees. I came home with my 3 vials of liquid in varying strengths and loads of syringes plus a sharps container. Can I just say even though I knew she probably had allergies, this was a lot to absorb in 2 hours? :( I guess I was hoping it might be easy like the peanut butter I was schmearing her fish oil pills with...lol. The drill is a shot every other day for a month, then weekly for a year. She said to look for results between 6 and 9 months. After that, it all ran together in my head and I was fighting back tears.

Today I feel stronger about it all and am remembering that she said Ruby has a better chance because we are starting this while she is so young-19 months. (Is that true?) But, now I have more questions that I should have asked and any help is much appreciated. The dermatology office is only there Tu, Th, Fri.

Should I stop giving Ruby her daily 10 mg generic Zyrtec?

Should I stop giving Ruby her daily fish oil supplement (I just read online to stop supplements with any immunosuppressive therapy including allergy)

How do these shots affect her health long term? Do they shorten her life? 

I’m sure I will come up with more later, but that’s all my brain can handle for now. I had previously read the awesome post about container mites a while back so have been following that protocol just because it freaked me out. 

Thank you for your guidance and support!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This is all very familiar to me. Even Ruby's test results are similar to Jack's. 

Let me first tell you that the immunotherapy shots will absolutely NOT shorten Ruby's life; in fact, this is the only allergy treatment that won't. All of the drugs (Atopica, cyclosporine, Apoquel, etc) carry an increased risk of cancer among other possible side effects. Immunotherapy does not. The antigens will gradually increase her immune system's tolerance for the substances that trigger her allergies; this is a very holistic treatment with few to no side effects. JD never had any side effects from his immunotherapy shots, and despite the fact that he had several other serious health issues, he lived to be 13 years old, which is pretty old for a large, immune-compromised dog from a puppy mill. So put your mind at ease about that, and pat yourself on the back for being willing to go with the healthiest and safest allergy treatment for your dog, even though it involves more work on your part. Ruby would thank you for that if she could. 
It IS true that the earlier you start the treatment, the better the chances for good results. So kudos to you for that, too. 

I did continue to give Jack his antihistamines and fatty acid supplements under the advice of his dermatologist. I'm guessing you should also continue Ruby's, but it wouldn't hurt to call the derm specialist and ask. 

My wish is that Ruby's results from the immunotherapy will be as successful as Jack's. He was symptom free for many years with only occasional minor flares. In fact, I would say he was less itchy than most normal dogs. May it be the same for Ruby.

[Kathy and Ruby Skye]

Karen, thank you so much for your kind words and for the additional information. I didn’t realize this was considered a holistic treatment which makes me so happy. And that it won’t shorten her life is the frosting on the cake! I am committed to Ruby’s well-being and will do whatever it takes to help her with her allergy struggles. Hopefully she won’t react to the vaccines. I will continue with the antihistamine and fish oil until I can ask the derm vet. 

I am so very sorry that you went through so much with your beloved Jackdoodle, but through his journey you have helped so many others. You must know how invaluable your input is here. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you in return for your kind words. Believing that Jack's life made a difference for others is what keeps me going.

It's important to know that the antigens are not vaccines; in fact, they work in the opposite way from vaccines. The purpose of vaccines is to stimulate the immune system to form antibodies to whatever disease you are vaccinating against. The allergy antigens are synthetic, diluted forms of the proteins to which the dog has already become sensitized and formed antibodies against. (The testing shows what those are, and the antigens are then custom formulated for your dog's specific test results.) The treatment involves gradually raising the immune system's tolerance to those proteins so that eventually, it will not have a reaction to them in the environment.  This is an overly simplified explanation, but the point is to reassure you that the antigens do not create the same risks as vaccines. 
Some dogs do have an iitial reaction to the antigens, simply because you are introducing a tiny amount of something that she is allergic to, but any reactions are usually mild and temporary, and easily treated. Jack didn't have any, although he did have a reaction to the testing process itself. 

[Kathy and Ruby Skye]

Okay, I understand better now. I’m at the tip of the iceberg of my comprehension of this journey we have undertaken and honestly I didn’t retain all that much from the derm vet’s visit. I sincerely appreciate your patient and detailed explanations regarding this subject. 

What type of reaction did Jack have to the testing process? Just curious. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

His testing site got bright red and inflamed, and was itching horribly, and he started drooling & staggering. It was pretty scary. We ended up in the ER at about 3 a.m. on New Year's Eve. I don't even remember what they gave him, but he was better very quickly. 

To complicate matters, I had stupidly given him a little of the boiled shrimp I had for dinner that night as a treat, and while his derm vet thought the reaction was due to the testing, she did say it was possible that the shellfish might have caused it. 

[Kathy and Ruby Skye]

Poor honey. Well, live and learn is all we can do. I’m sure he loved his shrimp treat and it sounds innocent enough that anyone could have done the same. High protein, no grain, no carbs. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And he loved sea food. He was like a cat that way, lol.