Our second Golden was extremely allergic. While apoquel would relieve symptoms, you aren't supposed to keep dogs on it permanently. At age 7, his chest looked like he had measles, there were so many hot spots. Antibiotics, cytopoint shots, apoquel, you name it--the symptoms always returned. He was miserable, and we were at our wits' end. Finally, at our vet's suggestion we took him to a derm vet in Maitland (itchypetvet.com--I can't remember the exact name, and it split off from the parent company).
They tested him, and out of 50 trees, weeds, grasses, etc., he was allergic to 47. They took a dozen of those he reacted most severely to and made up a vaccine, which we gave him though a shot in loose fur (he never felt it) once a week. It wasn't cheap. The testing and first vial of vaccine came to $1K. Subsequent vials of vaccine were a couple hundred dollars. They lasted six months. A yearly checkup was required.
For the next 7-1/2 years till he passed away, he never had another allergic reaction. It was well worth the expense, and we never regretted it. He loved the derm vet, Dr. Schwassmann. He happily would have abandoned us and gone home with her.
__________________
It's harder to hate close up.
|