Allergies are common in dogs and extremely annoying for both you and the dog. The best way to treat your dog is to identify the allergen that is triggering the immune response. What does that mean? Your dog may benefit from an allergy test.
Allergy testing is a common practice for humans and is widely available for dogs as well. Environmental allergies are responsible for most cases in dogs. Food allergies only account for 10% of allergy cases.
- Itchy skin
- Rashes
- Hair loss
- Gastrointestinal upset
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Licking
- Ear infections
What Does an Allergy Test for Dogs Involve?
Allergy testing is available for dogs, both through your veterinarian and at-home dog-allergy kits, however, it is important to understand the limitations of each.
The three broad categories of allergy testing for dogs are:
- Testing through your veterinarian
- At-home kits
- Diet-trial method to identify food allergens
Veterinary testing offers higher reliability, but at a higher cost.
At-home kits are less expensive and more convenient, but they are less clinically validated and, especially for food allergies, they cannot replace a proper veterinary approach, such as an elimination diet. Ultimately, if your dog is showing allergy symptoms, starting with a vet evaluation to rule out another illness is the wisest first step.
Cost of Veterinary Dog Allergy Tests
For veterinary in-office testing, the options typically include intradermal skin testing and serum (blood) allergy testing.
Intradermal allergy testing (IDAT) is used for identifying environmental allergens. This involves injecting small amounts of potential allergens under the skin to observe the subsequent reaction. Most dermatologists consider IDAT the most accurate method of identifying environmental allergens in dogs.
“The intradermal skin testing is the gold standard for allergy testing,” says Dr. Deb Eldredge, DVM, contributor to Whole Dog Journal and technical editor for Cornell DogWatch. “While it is more expensive, it provides very definitive answers, which help you to modify environment and plan treatment.”
The cost of these tests varies by the number of allergens tested, geographic location, and whether sedation is required, but typically it is in the $200 to $300 range.
Serum allergy testing is done by collecting blood to look for allergen-specific antibodies. The blood test is slightly more expensive, running between $200 and $400 (again, varies by geographic location). This test is useful, especially when skin testing is not feasible, however, it may result in more false positives or negatives compared to skin testing and it therefore not as reliable.
Cost of At-Home Dog Allergy Test Kits
A variety of at-home dog allergy test kits are available online. They typically ask for a sample of hair, saliva, or stool, to be sent to a laboratory for analysis. These tests run between $70 to $200 and claim to cover several allergens.
While these tests are tempting for their convenience and cost, we do not recommend them for a diagnosis. Most veterinarians find at-home allergy test kits for dogs limited in accuracy and clinical usefulness. The at-home tests are significantly limited due to a lack of validation.
So, while at-home kits may provide a starting point for you to identify a potential allergen, they should not replace consultation with a veterinarian, especially for significant or chronic allergy issues.
Your veterinarian can prescribe medication for a dog battling allergies, and many meds can be used when the exact allergen cannot be pinpointed for whatever reason. Your veterinarian will make her best guess as to offending allergens and choose a medication.
“Allergy medications are aimed at dealing with symptoms, not treating the actual cause of the allergy. The only thing that can treat causes directly is desensitization, which should be based on intradermal skin testing if possible. Remember that environmental management can also be a huge help, such as getting rid of any feather pillows if your dog has a feather allergy or upping your housekeeping if dust mites are a big problem,” says Dr. Eldredge.
You will note that some of the medications listed here are human medications and available over the counter (OTC). It is never a good idea to just grab one and try it. Discuss all medications and dosages for your dog with your veterinarian before administering any medication.
Medications and injections for dogs with allergies include:
- Apoquel (oclacitinib)
- Cytopoint (lokivetmab)
- Corticosteroids
- Atopica (cyclosporine)
- Hydroxyzine
- Zyrtec (cetirizine)
- Claritin (loratadine)
- Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
Cornell DogWatch recommends starting treatment for severe allergies with allergy testing and allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT). While it may cost a few hundred dollars, allergy testing can pinpoint which allergens are problematic, helping form a targeted treatment plan.
ASIT involves a cocktail of allergens custom-made for each dog to desensitize them to specific triggers. Injections are given under the skin at regular intervals. This treatment is usually effective, but can be cost prohibitive, and some dogs do not respond well. If you’re interested, the first step is to talk with your veterinarian about the potential usefulness of this test.
Food Allergies in Dogs
For suspected food allergies, the gold standard is not a simple blood test, but rather a dietary elimination trial followed by a “challenge,” or feeding your dog the suspected allergen and monitoring them for a reaction. To date, there are no reliable blood, saliva, or hair tests available that have been validated to accurately identify food allergies in dogs.
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