Pet's have allergies. In fact, pets can be allergic to many of the same things that people are. While we sneeze, get watery eyes, or get stuffy; pets are more likely to itch, get hives, or have GI issues. This presentation goes over what an allergy actually is, different ways to test for allergy, and our approach to allergy treatment or long term allergy management.

1. AAlllleerrggyy BBaassiiccss

2. WHAT IS AN ALLERGY?
Body’s Misidentification:
− Pollens
− Molds
− Food Proteins

3. TThhrreesshhoolldd
Itchy!! Not
itchy…
WHAT IS THRESHOLD?

4. TYPES OF ALLERGIC REACTIONS
 5 different types of Allergic Reactions, 1 – 4.

6. Serum/Blood
TYPES OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTING
Intradermal/Skin

7. INTRADERMAL TESTING

8. SERUM BASED TESTING
 Benefits:
– No steroid/antihistamine withdrawal for testing
– Simple blood draw
– Non-invasive
– Numeric values rather than visual confirmation

9. MANAGEMENT OF ALLERGY CASES
 Workup to Rule out Other Issues
 Allergy Testing Methodology & Preparation
 Change Diet based on Allergy Results
 Hyposensitization
 Reasons for Poor Response

10. WORK UP TO RULE OUT OTHER ISSUES
 Complete dermatological work-up such as:
– Scabies / Parasite Infections.
– Malassezia / Yeast Infections.
– Bacterial Infections.
– Endocrinology disease (Cortisol test).
– Thyroid disease (T4/T5 test).

11. DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR TESTING
by T. Willemse
 Primary Features:
− Pruritus
− Facial and/or digital involvement
− Hardening/crusting of sores
− Chronically-relapsing dermatitis
− Individual or family history
− Breed predisposition

12. DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR TESTING
by T. Willemse
 Secondary Features:
− Onset of signs before 3 years of age.
− Generalized dry skin.
− Superficial staphylococcal infection.
− Cutaneous Malassezia infection.
− Bilateral external otitis.
− Facial erythema.

13. MANAGEMENT OF ALLERGY CASES
 Workup to Rule out Other Issues
 Allergy Testing Methodology & Prep
 Change Diet based on Allergy Results
 Hyposensitization
 Reasons for Poor Response

14. SERUM BASED TESTING

15. REGION SPECIFIC PANELS
− Alaska
− California
− Great Plains
− Hawaii
− Mid Atlantic
− Midwest
− North East
− North West
− Rocky Mountain
− South East
− South Florida
− South West

16. CALIFORNIA PANEL SPECIFICS

17. SUBMITTING A SAMPLE
 3 – 5 ml of serum
 Absolute minimum - 1.5 ml.
 Order & History Form
 Pre-paid FedEx mailers provided
 Within 48 hours of the samples receipt, the results are e-mailed/
faxed to the ordering Veterinarian

18. INTERPRETING RESULTS

19. INTERPRETING RESULTS
 SSEERRUUMM -- mmeeaassuurreess tthhee ssttrreennggtthh ooff tthhee rreeaaccttiioonn bbeettwweeeenn tthhee
ssppeecciiffiicc IIggEE aannttiibbooddyy aanndd tthhee aalllleerrggeenn..
 SSKKIINN -- mmeeaassuurreess tthhee iimmmmeeddiiaattee rreeaaccttiioonn ccaauusseedd bbyy tthhee
ddeeggrraannuullaattiioonn ooff tthhee MMaasstt CCeellllss..

20. SERUM VS SKIN TESTING
Update on Atopic Dermatitis
& Secondary Infections - 2006
Stephen D. White, DVM Professor,
University of California at Davis:
“There is a great deal of controversy over which is more accurate, intradermal
skin testing or serological tests. In 3 studies, at University of California at Davis,
Colorado State University and Gifu University (Japan), involving a
combination of over 250 dogs, the number of positive responses to
hyposensitization were similar regardless of whether the hyposensitization
solutions were based on Intradermal Skin Testing results or ELISA tests”.

21. TYPES OF ALLERGY TREATMENT
 AAVVOOIIDDAANNCCEE –– iiddeeaall bbuutt nnoott aallwwaayyss ppoossssiibbllee..
 HHYYPPOOSSEENNSSIITTIIZZAATTIIOONN –– iinnccrreeaasseess ttoolleerraannccee ttoo aannttiiggeennss,,

22. MANAGEMENT OF ALLERGY CASES
 Workup to Rule out Other Issues
 Allergy Testing Methodology & Preparation
 Change Diet based on Allergy Results
 Hyposensitization
 Reasons for Poor Response

23. WHY FOOD ALLERGY TESTING?

24. IDENTIFYING ADVERSE FOOD REACTIONS
 EELLIIMMIINNAATTIIOONN DDIIEETTSS –– 66--88 wweeeekkss,, rreessuullttss vvaarryy,, ddiiffffiiccuulltt ttoo
ccoorrrreellaattee cclliinniiccaall ssyymmppttoommss && ddiieett..
 BBLLOOOODD TTEESSTTIINNGG –– iiddeennttiiffiieess pprreesseennccee ooff pprrootteeiinn ssppeecciiffiicc IIggEE,,
uussee aass aa bbaassiiss ttoo ssttaarrtt ddiieett mmooddiiffiiccaattiioonn.. OOvveerr 220000 ddiiffffeerreenntt
ffoooodd aanndd ttrreeaatt mmaannuuffaaccttuurreerrss iinncclluuddeedd..

25. HOW PREVALENT ARE FOOD ALLERGIES?
 Up to 10% of allergic disease is food protein based (Scott,
1978).
 Up to 23% in non-seasonal allergic skin disease is food protein
based (Reedy and Miller, 1989).
 True prevalence is not known (Hall, 1994) but it is much
greater than dermatological signs.
 Clinical signs of an allergic response may only become
apparent when some arbitrary threshold of
immunological activity is exceed (Brostoff and Hall, 1996).

26. PROBLEMATIC FOODS
 Most protein based foods are potentially allergenic
 Base molecule must be:
– 18,000 – 30,000 Daltons
– Heat resistant
– Stable to hydrolysis

27. PROBLEMATIC FOODS

28. MANAGEMENT OF ALLERGY CASES
 Workup to Rule out Other Issues
 Allergy Testing Methodology & Preparation
 Change Diet based on Allergy Results
 Hyposensitization
 Reasons for Poor Response

29. HYPOSENSITIZATION TREATMENT
Time/Dosage
Concentration
IgG
IgE
Threshold

30. TREATMENT SETS
 Patient Specific – No Stock Formulas
 Treat all Positive reactions – Except foods/Staph
 3 vials – increasing concentration
 Green – Vial A
 Blue – Vial B
 Red – Vial C
 Up to 20 allergens in a single set*

31. HYPOSENSITIZATION PROTCOL

32. EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT
 What is Success?
 Volume of Testing to Date
 Results - 2,463 patients
 Diet change alone: 48% improvement.
 Hyposensitization only: 67% improvement.
 Diet change & Hyposensitization: 85% improvement

33. WHY A 91 ANTIGEN PANEL?
30 Allergens 45%
50 Allergens 55%
70 Allergens 70%
91 Allergens 85%

34. TECHNICAL SUPPORT DURING
TREATMENT
 Worsening of symptoms returns.
 Why? Hyposensitization too aggressive for the particular
animal’s immune system.
 Successfully handled by an adjustment to the
hyposensitization schedule.

35. MANAGEMENT OF ALLERGY CASES
 Workup to Rule out Other Issues
 Allergy Testing Methodology & Preparation
 Change Diet based on Allergy Results
 Hyposensitization
 Reasons for Poor Response

36. REASONS FOR POOR RESPONSE
1. Poor owner compliance
2. Age of animal
3. Failure to treat other illnesses prior to testing
4. Suppressed immune system

37. HOW TO ORDER
TREATMENTS/REFILLS
• Contact Spectrum
– Order online
– Fax back reminder card
– Call toll-free number
• Delivery within 7-10 days
• Statement at E.O.M.

38. THE SPECTRUM ADVANTAGE
1. Increased services/care to existing client base.
2. Test for more-including foods; lower price.
3. No need to wean of steroids.
4. No need to sedate/shave animal.
5. Blood draw isn’t painful.
6. List of approved foods provided.
7. More comforting to the pet and owner.
8. Same technology used by Veterinary Dermatologist.
9. Competitor Retest provided at no charge.

39. Questions?

40. THANK YOU!!
Lyndee Kelver
lkelver@vetallergy.com
800.553.1391, ext. 116
www.VetAllergy.com
www.VacciCheck.com