Hair Analysis...anyone else had this done?

[LillyNBruin]

I know [MENTION=2242]karenben[/MENTION] has had this done and I was reading the other posts. Has anyone had this done since those posts in May? I'm really considering it.

 

[Lily122511]

I just sent Lily's hair samples out today!
Over the weekend she had a bad reaction and had to go to the er vet. That was the last straw for me.
I am in the mist of switching her food and I did the hair analysis.
I want to do the allergy test but I know I have to wait till she's a year old.
I will let you know how it turns out when I get the results back!

 

[Meggs19]

I recently went to a specialist (dermatologist) for Tonka's allergies. I asked him about these hair tests and he told me these are not accurate tests. He said when we have an allergic reaction, the antibodys or what causes the reaction is in the SKIN. He said blood tests are not even fully accurate as we have some antibodys that can show reactions but that for the most part it's what's in the skin. Hair is even less than blood tests in the way of accuracy. I hate to say that as I know people have had the hair tests done and I myself had the blood test done through my regular vet but I just want to pass on what I was told. It really does make sense when you think of where you see the symptoms in your dog and even in ourselves when we have allergies...in the skin.

Also, you can get a SKIN allergy test done at any age. My dermatologist told us this as well...you do not have to wait until the dog is one year old for that. In fact, if you are going to get the test in order to try the allergy shots, the younger the better to get them started on desensitizing them and preventing further allergy issues when they are older. Our derm told us that thinking you have to wait til they are one year old is a misconception. We went to see Dr. Mckeever of McKeever Dermatology clinics. He has years of experience and is based out of MN but travels here to WI and other states to help out and see patients.

[MENTION=4450]Lily122511[/MENTION] I am so sorry to hear about Lily's bad reaction!! I hope she's OK. I know you already got the hair test done but please be cautious with interpreting those results as reactions don't occur in the hair and allergies don't present themselves accurately there. Have you thought about getting a skin panel done? It told us a lot about Tonka that the blood test didn't (I will have a post on it when I have a chance).

 

[Lily122511]

I recently went to a specialist (dermatologist) for Tonka's allergies. I asked him about these hair tests and he told me these are not accurate tests. He said when we have an allergic reaction, the antibodys or what causes the reaction is in the SKIN. He said blood tests are not even fully accurate as we have some antibodys that can show reactions but that for the most part it's what's in the skin. Hair is even less than blood tests in the way of accuracy. I hate to say that as I know people have had the hair tests done and I myself had the blood test done through my regular vet but I just want to pass on what I was told. It really does make sense when you think of where you see the symptoms in your dog and even in ourselves when we have allergies...in the skin.

Also, you can get a SKIN allergy test done at any age. My dermatologist told us this as well...you do not have to wait until the dog is one year old for that. In fact, if you are going to get the test in order to try the allergy shots, the younger the better to get them started on desensitizing them and preventing further allergy issues when they are older. Our derm told us that thinking you have to wait til they are one year old is a misconception. We went to see Dr. Mckeever of McKeever Dermatology clinics. He has years of experience and is based out of MN but travels here to WI and other states to help out and see patients.

@Lily122511 I am so sorry to hear about Lily's bad reaction!! I hope she's OK. I know you already got the hair test done but please be cautious with interpreting those results as reactions don't occur in the hair and allergies don't present themselves accurately there. Have you thought about getting a skin panel done? It told us a lot about Tonka that the blood test didn't (I will have a post on it when I have a chance).

Oh wow really? See I have no idea what I'm doing here with Lily's allergies.
I am just so desperate to find out what's causing her allergies.
it's such a guessing game at this point.
I going to look in to the skin panel.
All I am giving her right now is just her kibble..nothing else.

 

[bullmama]

I recently went to a specialist (dermatologist) for Tonka's allergies. I asked him about these hair tests and he told me these are not accurate tests. He said when we have an allergic reaction, the antibodys or what causes the reaction is in the SKIN. He said blood tests are not even fully accurate as we have some antibodys that can show reactions but that for the most part it's what's in the skin. Hair is even less than blood tests in the way of accuracy. I hate to say that as I know people have had the hair tests done and I myself had the blood test done through my regular vet but I just want to pass on what I was told. It really does make sense when you think of where you see the symptoms in your dog and even in ourselves when we have allergies...in the skin.

Also, you can get a SKIN allergy test done at any age. My dermatologist told us this as well...you do not have to wait until the dog is one year old for that. In fact, if you are going to get the test in order to try the allergy shots, the younger the better to get them started on desensitizing them and preventing further allergy issues when they are older. Our derm told us that thinking you have to wait til they are one year old is a misconception. We went to see Dr. Mckeever of McKeever Dermatology clinics. He has years of experience and is based out of MN but travels here to WI and other states to help out and see patients.

[MENTION=4450]Lily122511[/MENTION] I am so sorry to hear about Lily's bad reaction!! I hope she's OK. I know you already got the hair test done but please be cautious with interpreting those results as reactions don't occur in the hair and allergies don't present themselves accurately there. Have you thought about getting a skin panel done? It told us a lot about Tonka that the blood test didn't (I will have a post on it when I have a chance).

I agree that the hair test may not be 100% as well but I also believe for the price, some answers are better than none at all. But it would be the false positives that don't scare me it is the false negatives. I have heard with any of the tests they usually don't get false negatives, just false positives. With anything else, none of it is perfect science but any of it can help give you answers instead of reaching in the dark.

I disagree with your vet on the waiting to test until the are over a year. If you bulldog is displaying some allergy symptoms but they are controlled with benedryl, I would wait. He is absolutely correct it can be done before a year, but you will certainly need a repeat test done after 1 year. The reason is because it takes a bulldog to go through a full season of allergens and become exposed to them before they develop the allergy or the antibodies. So anyone with a young bulldog who is having allergy symptoms it is fine to do the test now, but don't take it as gold.... use it only for the next few seasons and repeat the test.

Also most allergies do not even surface until they are over a year old. Food allergies can actually crop up anytime.

 

[Lily122511]

[MENTION=2]desertskybulldogs[/MENTION]
Does this mean that her allergies are probably due to food allergies and not environmental allergies?
She is under a year. Almost 6 months.
I am totally in the dark here....

 

[cowsmom]

@desertskybulldogs
Does this mean that her allergies are probably due to food allergies and not environmental allergies?
She is under a year. Almost 6 months.
I am totally in the dark here....

hon thats why its so hard as it can be either. most bullies have both to some degree. i am going to do the hair thing on my boston and see what it says. they also do people

 

[Lily122511]

hon thats why its so hard as it can be either. most bullies have both to some degree. i am going to do the hair thing on my boston and see what it says. they also do people

Oh hun it is so very hard! I'm at my wits end here.
I just sent the sample out today.
And honestly I am praying I get some kind of answers...

 

[cowsmom]

well karen seems to think highly of them but i dunno but for the price cant hurt. if you dont get answers there i would consider doing the blood allergy test now anyway. hopefully food trials will help [MENTION=4450]Lily122511[/MENTION]

 

[bullmama]

[MENTION=2]desertskybulldogs[/MENTION]
Does this mean that her allergies are probably due to food allergies and not environmental allergies?
She is under a year. Almost 6 months.
I am totally in the dark here....

Not necessarily, pollens can cause skin reactions by contact, so it is more of a contact allergy but hopefully your pup will build up antibodies that will fight seasonal allergies. So what your puppy may be having a reaction to now she may not have a reaction to it next year. The best thing is to blog or write down dates that your dog is having issues, then next year you can compare.

Unfortunately with bulldogs the reactions get worse as they get older, but the right food can help make the immune system stronger, thus creating antibodies needed to ease seasonal allergies. I hope I am making sense?

 

[Meggs19]

We are hoping to build an immunity with the allergy shots so that he no longer has reactions to some of the strongest environmental allergens out there. I sure hope they work for Tonka! Our dermatologist told us that most allergies in dogs are environmental and that food allergies are only responsible for a small percentage of allergies in dogs. He said that everyone thinks the food is the primary issues and that's a misconception among dog owners. However, the food can seem like the issue if the dog is allergic to something in the way the food is processed or handled as well. For instance, Tonka is allergic to the "dust" that is from the grains used in dog foods so he is on a grain free food. I never even thought of that, so that was eye opening. The skin test the vet gave us is strictly environmental since for food allergy testing they just do food trials. I think food can seem like the culprit more than it actually is although i'm sure many dogs do have some sensitivity to the ingredients in the foods themselves and not just the processing etc. I really hope the hair test can at least give you some ideas or a place to start, [MENTION=4450]Lily122511[/MENTION]!

 

[kazzy220]

It seems to me that allergy testing is a grey area and different vets have different opinions. For the price of the hair test that [MENTION=2242]karenben[/MENTION] told us all about I would do it. You have nothing to lose from getting these results and trying to take out stuff that shows allergic reactions to. Who knows ..... it might just work, or at least improve the situation!!!

 

[bullmama]

We are hoping to build an immunity with the allergy shots so that he no longer has reactions to some of the strongest environmental allergens out there. I sure hope they work for Tonka! Our dermatologist told us that most allergies in dogs are environmental and that food allergies are only responsible for a small percentage of allergies in dogs. He said that everyone thinks the food is the primary issues and that's a misconception among dog owners. However, the food can seem like the issue if the dog is allergic to something in the way the food is processed or handled as well. For instance, Tonka is allergic to the "dust" that is from the grains used in dog foods so he is on a grain free food. I never even thought of that, so that was eye opening. The skin test the vet gave us is strictly environmental since for food allergy testing they just do food trials. I think food can seem like the culprit more than it actually is although i'm sure many dogs do have some sensitivity to the ingredients in the foods themselves and not just the processing etc. I really hope the hair test can at least give you some ideas or a place to start, [MENTION=4450]Lily122511[/MENTION]!

I agree with your vet BUT.... what causes allergies are a low immune system. If your dog is on a lousy food or eating a protein that does not digest well, then the immune system is compromised causing more issues with allergies. So finding the right food for your dog can make all the difference in the allergy world. Also the right food helps promote healthy SKIN and COAT.... two of the biggest sufferers of allergies. So yes most allergies are environmental (I agree).... but the right food can help your dog battle those allergies. The wrong food, your dog stinks up a storm, itches, gets skin infections and yeast.... ect. I have seen hundreds of bulldogs lives change because of switching from bad food to good food. And most of them never needed allergy shots and many even stopped using benedryl.

Furthermore, your vet may be speaking of dogs in general as a whole. I have not seen one bulldog on EBN get an allergy test who was not allergic to not one, but about 10 foods.

 

[karenben]

When Annie started itching at 12 months old which is usually the age allergies appear she was on a high quality kibble,I thought it was the kibble I never thought about allergies as I had never owned a bulldog with any problems let alone constant itching,I started raw feeding so I knew what she was eating she got a very well balanced diet with all proteins,but still itched,I had the holistic test done as it tested for more allergens than the vet test,it's a very good test,allergy shots do sometimes work but unfortunately once a dog gets an allergy it usually goes on to develope different allergies,they cannot be cured I'm talking about environmental not food,food at times can be an easy problem to fix by simply trying different foods ,the hair test picked up 37 allergens in my bulldog and the vet said how extensive it was ,I believe that if annies allergies were food and perhaps a couple of environmental then she would still be here but she just had too many for her body and mind to deal with,so yes I would go with the holistic hair testing it's cheap and very accurate,karen

 

[Lily122511]

When Annie started itching at 12 months old which is usually the age allergies appear she was on a high quality kibble,I thought it was the kibble I never thought about allergies as I had never owned a bulldog with any problems let alone constant itching,I started raw feeding so I knew what she was eating she got a very well balanced diet with all proteins,but still itched,I had the holistic test done as it tested for more allergens than the vet test,it's a very good test,allergy shots do sometimes work but unfortunately once a dog gets an allergy it usually goes on to develope different allergies,they cannot be cured I'm talking about environmental not food,food at times can be an easy problem to fix by simply trying different foods ,the hair test picked up 37 allergens in my bulldog and the vet said how extensive it was ,I believe that if annies allergies were food and perhaps a couple of environmental then she would still be here but she just had too many for her body and mind to deal with,so yes I would go with the holistic hair testing it's cheap and very accurate,karen

I'm really looking forward to getting the results back. Waiting is the worse part. I just sent the hair out yesterday.
So the food allergies usually start at around 12 months? She was on Fromms beef but she still has been licking & biting her paws and rubbing her chin & face the whole time on the Fromms.
I always wipe her down and clean her paws when she came back in from outside but still she would lick & bite.
That's why I was thinking it was food issues but I just don't know.
I am switching her over to Earthborn meadow feast. And I don't give her anything but her kibble.