What are the most common methods used to test dogs for allergies?
What are the most common methods used to test dogs for allergies?
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If your dog has itchy, inflamed skin, he may be suffering from an allergy to dust, pollen, or mold. Two types of allergy tests can be used to figure out what’s bothering him. The most reliable is called intradermal skin testing. A veterinarian using this method injects different antigens into an animal’s skin in a specific pattern. After a few hours, he’ll examine the test site to see if any of these substances has caused a reaction.
In cases where skin testing is not an option, a blood test can be done, in which blood is screened for a reaction to various allergens. However, blood tests can produce a false positive, indicating an allergy when there is none. That’s why veterinarians prefer to use the skin testing method whenever possible.
– Dr. Andrea Looney, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series