What do I do my dog has developed allergies, How can I figure out what she is allergic to?

[Katprsn0037]

My dog has suddenly developed allergies, shaking her head a lot, the vet has presrcibed her Prednisone, and it seemed to be helping at first, and now that he has dropped the dosage, she has started shaking her head more but he also put drops in her ears so that may explain the head shaking how can I determine what she is allergic to?? My vet has said not to change her diet, but I want to find out what she is allergic too, so we can eliminate it from her diet. I am assuming it is not enviromental. Any help is very much appreciated by me and my dog Kallie!!catluvr2 she has seen a vet every week for the last 5 weeks and she goes again on Tuesday! I recentley started feeding her Iams Healthy Naturals, she is on her second bag of this kind of dog food. She is not a big fan of dry dog food, and I am contemplating a raw food diet for her anything for some relief from the discomfort she must be feeling. We live 2 hours from the city and 5 hours from a Veterinary University but I am starting to contemplate the journey for her sake.

[kiu]

They offer alergy test at vets but it's expensive. If it is diet related you should change the diet. First eliminate the protien source. If she is eating chicken, change it to beef, and so forth. If it's not the protien, look into changing the grains, corn, wheat in the diet.

[RH]

Yes, the vet has a test where they take things that cause allergies and inject them in your dogs skin. (small amount doesn't hurt, Just like they do for people) This test will definitely help you and your dog out. My aunt had it done to her dog and it was allergic to pecan and oak pollen. Helped her out!

[ChristineM0071]

Usually head and tail problems(dry skin itching) are a food allergy, good luck we've had the same problem with our gsd for 2 years now.

[xoxaliciaxox]

oh my gosh that is like EXACTLY what happened with my dog - - i mean where the vet prescribed something and it worked at first, then stopped working. But instead, my dog was scratching herself and making herself bloody. and then one day, she literally MIRACULUSLY got better! sorry i dont have an answer to yourr question...but i hope it gave you some reassurance of some sort.! hope Kallie gets well soon!

[Joh7762]

It is more likely an intolerance than an true allergy. This means that the dog's immune system is not functioning at its peak so certain triggers are causing problems. This may not happen straight away but can be from a gradual decline in immune function. A healthy immune system can tolerate the triggers ,whether they are food based or environmental, better than an unhealthy one. I'm a bit surprised that your vet did not suggest a diet change as many auto immune issues can be cleared up by removing unsuitable foods. For example - cooked proteins are altered to the point where they may cause allergic reactions whereas raw proteins do not. If an animal has an "allergy" to chicken or beef, it may very often be cooked chicken or beef and not the raw form. I would suggest that you do some research into raw feeding (meat, bones and offal) as many people with 'allergy' dogs have found that this change brings about vast improvements in their dogs health and well being.** try to stay away from 'prescription' diets - they are just expensive crap in a bag.

[TKS9925]

Allergies can be food or contact/pollen. Testing can help. Otherwise switching to a unique protein or food for allergic dogs can help. d/d and z/d

[Me5545]

Head shaking is most often from airborn/environmental allergies. I recommend having her allergy tested by an Animal Dermatologist to determine what it is she is in fact allergic to. Get off the Prednisone, and ask about an antihistamine - NOT Benadryl, something like Hydroxyzine.

[pnjcarroll2002]

There is a good chance that it is environmental. Have you noticed it worsen in the spring and the fall? If so it probably is pollen and ragweed and things like that. My 6 year old Staffordshire Terrier has terrible allergies in the spring and fall. If the symptoms developed suddenly it's probably not the food. Usually if it is the food is the culprit the allergy would have started the minute she started eating it. It's fairly uncommon for food to cause it anyways. Most allergies are just like humans they are from the junk in the air. We've had my dog on prednisone for about 3 years. Our vet adjusts her dose according to what we tell her. If we think it's not working she would change it. So I would say express your concerns to the vet. Most cases they won't make you bring her back in. They will simply tell you to give her a whole pill instead of half or something like that. At least that's what our vet does.

[catluvr2011]

take it to a vet before she has more reactions