How can I accurately test my dog for food allergies at home?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

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  Answered By Lindsey Edwards MVB, BSc, IVCA

  Veterinarian

  Published on

  Food allergy blood tests are currently quite poor and do not accurately predict clinical responses. I would recommend an 8 week trial on royal canin anallergenic - in this diet the protein and other nutrients have been specially prepared and 'pre-digested' into such small molecules that they no longer trigger allergy responses and are highly digestible and absorbable. It is important to give no treats, table scraps, stolen garbage or flavored tablets during the 8 weeks in order to fully investigate the role of food triggers in her symptoms - it can take up to 6 weeks for any ingested allergen to completely leave the skin and so the extended period is vital to fully assess responses. A complete or partial response allows you to assess how much of her condition is affected by diet

  

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  Answered By Jenny, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on July 18th, 2017

  The only at home allergy test yiu can do is a food trial to test for a food allergy. this involves chooses a strict diet that contain a single meat source and a single starch (duck and potato, rabbit and potato, kangaroo and oats) are some examples. There is not clinic testing that is accurate for food so make sure that is it included if you have him tested. The most accurate test is intradermak which is expensive but there is a blood test option that is a little less but can still add up. Those results can take months for the max effect. If that option is not good for you, talk to your vet about other immunosuppressive options such as antihistamine or a new drug called Apoquek, although it can get expensive for your size dog

  

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  Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on December 5th, 2018

  You are correct. A diet trial is the only reliable method to determine if a food allergy is present (you can read more about diet trials at https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952600 ). There has not been consistent links between detection of antibodies on bloodwork (IgG) and clinical signs of allergies in dogs. You can see a study on this issue at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090023317300230

  

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  Answered By Emily, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on June 18th, 2017

  Food allergies are usually best diagnosed through food trials. While there are blood tests that look for food allergies they are somewhat unreliable and results can be controversial. A food trial involves putting your pet on a novel protein or hydrolyzed protein diet (and no other food at all) for at least 8-12 weeks. At that time the results are assessed. It can take 1-2 food trials to determine a true food allergy. These trials can be frustrating for owners. Another option to consider is a drug called Atopica. It can be expensive initially but it is an effective medication for allergies.

  

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