[Nadia K]

For those of you that have done allergy testing, what kind of test did you have run? Was it a blood test at your vet’s office or something different? I am thinking of having my puppy who is currently 10 months tested. When I got her from the breeder at 10 weeks, she was being fed Purina Pro Plan Sport. When she reached about 8 months old she flat out refused to eat her food. All the time she was on the Pro Plan she was itchy. I thought maybe it was the chicken in the kibble she was allergic to. I switched her over to Farmina Ancestral Grain lamb. Yet the itching continues. I also feed her an evening meal of Stella & Chewy freeze dried patties which she absolutely devours. They are a beef/salmon puppy formula. I really would like to figure out why she is so itchy. She has no hot spots or fur loss. Just often scratching.

[anonymous]

Have fleas been ruled out? Let me guess, you have carpeting? Flea allergy is common and can wreak havoc even after just one flea bite.
Talk to your vet.
/forums/search/environmental+allergies/

• This reply was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by anonymous.

[aimee]

Hi Nadia,

The only accurate test for food reactions including allergies is with a food trial. Blood tests, saliva tests, hair tests etc are not helpful as your dog can test positive for food they are not reacting to and negative for the food that is causing the problem.

[Nadia K]

I actually took my pup to the vet last week to have her checked for fleas as there was some debris in her fur. But the vet said it was just a little dirt from outside. She checked her thoroughly and said there was no signs of fleas. We do have carpeting in some rooms in our house. But she has been confined to just the kitchen and tile area of our family room due to potty training. I guess I will just have to do a food trial as suggested to see if I can narrow down what is causing her itching.

[anonymous]

I knew it (carpeting)! If the dog has a flea allergy, you may not see any signs of fleas. Again one flea bite can wreak havoc.
Work closely with your vet, however…
If the dog’s symptoms continue, please consider consulting a veterinary dermatologist, that was the only thing that helped my dog. Intradermal allergy testing
https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/canine-atopic-dermatitis-environmental-allergies-in-dogs
Final words about atopic dermatitis in dogs
“It is also very important for any dog with atopic dermatitis to be on a year-round, comprehensive flea control program. Atopic dogs tend to be more sensitive to the bites of fleas, so even occasional fleabites should be prevented. Speak with your veterinarian about a safe and effective flea prevention program for all the pets in your home, and learn more about fleas here”.

“Managing this lifelong condition takes some patience. By using various combinations of therapy, and altering the treatment when needed, your veterinarian can help your atopic dog feel and look their best. And for cases that prove difficult to manage, there are board-certified veterinary dermatology specialists that are available to help. You can search for a specialist in your area on the website for the American College of Veterinary Dermatology”.

The only accurate way to do a food elimination trial is with prescription/therapeutic diet food.

Otherwise, it’s a waste of time.

[anonymous]

PS: Are you bathing the dog at least every 3 days with a gentle puppy shampoo? It might help a little.
Again, talk to your vet.

[GSDsForever]

Nadia,

The only guidance I’ve ever received or read from trustworthy experts in diagnosing and treating dog food allergies is a food trial:

*Novel protein diet for up to 12 weeks (or other hypoallergenic test diet, like hydrolyzed) to evaluate for relief
*Followed by challenging testing the dog with one single food at a time, a former/suspected ingredient allergen

I’ve been there, with a very itchy dog with food and other allergies. And the above is the route I’ve followed, with a primary care vet and boarded specialist. We also did things to exclude other diagnoses. That’s what I would recommend.

I’ve heard (and read here) of others referencing blood tests, saliva tests, hair tests, etc. But to the best of my knowledge, there is not medical evidence to support their efficacy and they are not the standard of care in the medical community.

I worry that such tests not only scam well-meaning pet owners out of money (which they could use otherwise to help their pets), but also lead people to come up with long lists of ingredients that their dogs are supposedly allergic to such that diet choices become severely limited. (IMO, it is very unlikely that these dogs are allergic to numerous and very uncommon things, things that the dog has never been exposed to.)

Re fleas, allergy or standard reactions to them are more common than are food allergies. (Inhalant and environmental allergies also are common culprits for itching.)

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. It will eliminate a lot of flea problems. Flea dirt is more likely to be discovered than fleas and fleas spend more of their life cycle off the dog in its environment than on. Vacuuming will also help keep pollen, irritants lower inside (as will removing shoes, etc.)

• This reply was modified 5 years, 4 months ago by GSDsForever.

[GSDsForever]

Hmmm . . . . My reply post to you, Nadia, disappeared or won’t post (I tried to edit a typo.). The site is now saying it’s a duplicate post, but nothing is showing on my end.

If it doesn’t appear in a while, I’ll attempt to post it again below.

[GSDsForever]

I’m receiving an error message that does not correspond with what I see on my screen here. I don’t *think* this is a duplicate post, but a technical malfunction. (Please pardon me if it is.)

Nadia,

The only guidance I’ve ever received or read from trustworthy experts in diagnosing and treating dog food allergies is a food trial:

*Novel protein diet for up to 12 weeks (or other hypoallergenic test diet, like hydrolyzed) to evaluate for relief
*Followed by challenging testing the dog with one single food at a time, a former/suspected ingredient allergen

I’ve been there, with a very itchy dog with food and other allergies. And the above is the route I’ve followed, with a primary care vet and boarded specialist. We also did things to exclude other diagnoses. That’s what I would recommend.

I’ve heard (and read here) of others referencing blood tests, saliva tests, hair tests, etc. But to the best of my knowledge, there is not medical evidence to support their efficacy and they are not the standard of care in the medical community.

I worry that such tests not only scam well-meaning pet owners out of money (which they could use otherwise to help their pets), but also lead people to come up with long lists of ingredients that their dogs are supposedly allergic to such that diet choices become severely limited. (IMO, it is very unlikely that these dogs are allergic to numerous and very uncommon things, things that the dog has never been exposed to.)

Re fleas, allergy or standard reactions to them are more common than are food allergies. (Inhalant and environmental allergies also are common culprits for itching.)

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. It will eliminate a lot of flea problems. Flea dirt is more likely to be discovered than fleas and fleas spend more of their life cycle off the dog in its environment than on. Vacuuming will also help keep pollen, irritants lower inside (as will removing shoes, etc.)

[Donna R]

I know I’m late to the conversation here, but pea allergies are real. BUT in the event anyone comes to this thread I wanted to share my experience.

My dog has SEVERE POULTRY allergies. ALL POULTRY and POULTRY BY PRODUCTS… Chicken fat, Chicken Liver, Eggs, Egg Shells, Turkey, Turkey Broth, liver, fat, etc. Let’s just say, I’ll not be subjecting her to any winged animal protein anymore, ever. She’s suffered enough.
Through that adventure, I discovered she’s also allergic (both itching, and extreme panting, etc) to peas, lentils and potatoes. I’m taking it on what I’ve read and studied about nightshade veggies/plants causing allergic reactions to animals with sensitivities to deduce I’m not going to go through them ALL. I know enough to know I’m not taking chances. So anything with ANY Nightshade Plants/Veggies as ingredients will be a no go for me. Poor little thing has suffered enough and I’ve finally found what works for her and I’m sticking with it until, for some reason, it no longer does. We’ve been on this for almost a year without issue (knock on wood).
First we tried Pork. She did excellent with it, thankfully. But I also use different Novel PROTEINS in rotation. Rabbit and Kangaroo for now. I am using kibble, freeze dried and dehydrated. She’s doing great. No itching, no yeast, no signs of any allergies or adverse reactions. She’s maintained a healthy weight and energy level.
Sadly, this won’t work for everyone, but… NOVEL PROTEINS generally will. Avoiding Nightshade plants and veggies may be a great beginning to helping also. There’s tons of them and no need to torture your baby going thru the list when you know if they’re sensitive to one or two chances are great they will be to a great many so keep them all on LIST TO AVOID.
When all else fails freeze dried and dehydrated. While it’s pricy, there are ways to help keep costs in check by being inventive in how you use it. Find a kibble that’s suitable for your baby and mix in.
I do hope this is helpful to all you pet parents who struggle when they see their baby suffer and feel helpless when trying to help.

[Gloria Askins A]

Peas in large quantities are bad for ALL dogs. Causes heart issues by lowering taurine levels. Don’t feed any food with peas listed as an ingredient – feeding peas every day is asking for trouble.

[Gloria Askins A]

Peas in large quantities are bad for ALL dogs. Causes heart issues by lowering taurine levels. Don’t feed any food with peas listed as an ingredient – feeding peas every day is asking for trouble.

[Caroline Z]

My Golden Retriever has allergies to eggs, salmon, peas and legumes. I don’t know if anyone above mentioned Dr. Harvey’s Specialty Diet – Allergy – Turkey or Fish Recipe. Dehydrated food. Pleased with this and my dog is doing well on this. Expensive if only using this for the amount she needs. She was underweight and would like to add some decent dry kibbles to use as well. Get tired of reading labels, labels. Any suggestions? She does best with beef and turkey. Could handle some fish, but not salmon.

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