Validity of skin testing for diagnosis of food allergy in dogs.
One hundred suspected allergic dogs were skin-tested with 9 food extracts, in addition to other inhalant and insect allergens. Forty-eight of the dogs had +2 or greater intradermal reactions to 1 or more food extracts at concentration of 1,000 protein nitrogen units/ml. Thirty of the food extract-positive dogs were fed a restrictive hypoallergenic diet. Of these 30 dogs, 3 improved, then allergy signs worsened when they were challenge-exposed with the original diet. Fifty-two dogs did not have skin test reactivity to any of the 9 food extracts. Of these 52 dogs, 35 were fed a restrictive diet. Six improved, then allergy signs worsened when dogs were challenge-exposed with the original diet. Skin-testing with selected allergenic food extracts was not useful in identifying food-sensitive dogs.
Kunkle
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G
Blanche Saunders Dermatology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610-0126.
Horner
S
S
D000821:Animal Feed / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D007428:Intradermal Tests / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results