How Skin Allergy Testing In Dogs Is Performed

There are several types of allergy testing that is performed in dogs and one of these is skin allergy testing. The procedure is more invasive compared to blood allergy testing. The dog needs to be sedated because there is a need to keep the patient still during the test. Once the dog is sedated, it is placed on its side and a small area on its side is shaved. Next several test allergens are injected in tiny amounts via individual small needles. The allergens are injected in a specific pattern and order just under the skin of the patient so the allergen can be identified if there is a small raised reaction on the dog’s skin. The skin is usually examined after a few hours to determine if there is a reaction and which allergens elicited a response. Based on the results, your vet Scottsdale, AZ can prescribe an appropriate treatment protocol.