Tsuki's Allergy Testing
What an experience! I went to Dr. Jeffers in Gaithersburg, MD . He was really gentle, kind and very knowledgeable (he literally had a book of his published papers in the waiting room!).
Turns out she was not allergic to indoor allergens as I suspected, nearly all of them were weeds and trees, with the expection of one indoor mold. The vet sent us home with steroids, atopica, steroid cream and the desensitization injections... and a $578 vet bill, which gave my 22 y/o self a heart attack, thankfully my mom is helping me out.
She reacted very badly after getting out of the sedation. While she normally has been pretty itchy since she went off the steroids to make sure the allergy test was valid, she was UNCONTROLLABLY itchy today after the test.
She is never, never, ever vocal. I hadnt heard her whine til today when I put her in her crate as I prepared to return to work. She was just screaming and turning circles in her crate, all I could hear was the thrashing of her plastic e-collar on the bars. She wouldn't even take a treat from my hand.
I knew something had to be pretty wrong when I tried to put one of my old tank tops on her to protect the test site. She pulled so hard on the collar to get away from me I thought she might hurt her neck. Normally if I touch her collar she sits, knowing Im just putting on a leash. She finally settled down for a minute when I went to the bathroom and I came out to find her paws speckled with blood. I rushed her out to the vet, I dont even think I put the soy milk away, haha. She's going to be observed until I can get her after work.
This is so hard, guys ): After all this I hope she gets some relief! I hate watching her suffer.
Turns out she was not allergic to indoor allergens as I suspected, nearly all of them were weeds and trees, with the expection of one indoor mold. The vet sent us home with steroids, atopica, steroid cream and the desensitization injections... and a $578 vet bill, which gave my 22 y/o self a heart attack, thankfully my mom is helping me out.
She reacted very badly after getting out of the sedation. While she normally has been pretty itchy since she went off the steroids to make sure the allergy test was valid, she was UNCONTROLLABLY itchy today after the test.
She is never, never, ever vocal. I hadnt heard her whine til today when I put her in her crate as I prepared to return to work. She was just screaming and turning circles in her crate, all I could hear was the thrashing of her plastic e-collar on the bars. She wouldn't even take a treat from my hand.
I knew something had to be pretty wrong when I tried to put one of my old tank tops on her to protect the test site. She pulled so hard on the collar to get away from me I thought she might hurt her neck. Normally if I touch her collar she sits, knowing Im just putting on a leash. She finally settled down for a minute when I went to the bathroom and I came out to find her paws speckled with blood. I rushed her out to the vet, I dont even think I put the soy milk away, haha. She's going to be observed until I can get her after work.
This is so hard, guys ): After all this I hope she gets some relief! I hate watching her suffer.
Comments
Hopefully after this she will get the relief she deserves.
Also did the vet by chance give her a steroid shot before you took her home? Some Shibas are super sensitive to steroids even at the lowest dose and they behave abnormally after given it orally or in injection. If the dog is panting and shaking or googly eyed and has some head twitching/bobbing it is the side effect of the steroids. ... Basically their focus while on the meds is such that, you won't get her attention very much if at all. The dog may be very grumpy or you may see other behavior changes such as extreme shyness. Sooo be aware, the dose may have to be cut back and keep an eye on her once you get her home giving in pill form ...... talk to your vet about it, if the symptoms are as described.
I would work with one med at a time determine what she can tolerate. Steroids first. Next the Atopica... she will need to adjust to the Atopic and may develop the poops so keep some anti diarrheal caps (Loperamide Hydrochloride) on hand. You can get that over the coutner at CVS. Use only the lope. since it has no other additives. You may have to pre-prep the dog by giving the anti-diarrheal meds ( half of a 2 mg cap twice a day for 18 - 20 lb shiba) for several days before giving Atopica. (this is a tip that many vets don't know about). Trust me it will save you and the dog a lot of grief in the potty department preventing explosive poops. Once you start the Atopic meds you can keep her on the anti-diarrheal meds for about a week or two until her body adjusts to the cyclosporine. After that her stools should start going back to normal and you can cut back and take her off the Lope for the rest of the season.
I am not sure how the Atopica and the allergy shots work together. Usually from what I understand the vets don't do both at the same time you choose allergy shots OR Atopica. I don't know your case but be
sure to monitor it closely.....talk to your vet if you encounter any problems.
Good luck
Snf
PS: roll the tabs into some items like peanut butter, sweet potoatoe, pumpkin or cheese or even butter and most dogs will eat the pills out of your hand. Make it a fun food if you are going to medicate everyday. No point in struggling to get your pup to eat it up.
Hang in there Tsuki and Janaki!
She did have diarrhea coming out of the sedation ): Thanks for all this really specific info (even down to the dosage
Yes the vet did recommend I start all three at once - the allergy shot, steroids (to reduce her agony immediately) as well as the Atopica because it will take some time to take effect. I might give her a few days before starting the Atopica. This has been a stressful day!
Wait until she is over sedation for a couple of days before diarrhea tabs and Atopica. Sedation will sometimes cause bowel problems so ease back into things before starting with new regime.
You probably won't see results from the Atopica for two weeks or more, it takes awhile on the meds for the body to adjust to it.
Again if you have questions or concerns be sure to speak to the vet. Sometimes they get in a rush and forget to mention some of the little things....
Snf
All the best to you and her.
Doc didnt recommend a food trial, the symptoms werent indicative of a food allergy.