Allergy Testing

Last week we traveled to Columbia MO to the MU Vet Teaching Hospital to have Annie seen by a dermatologist...yes, we took the dog to see a dermatologist! It is our last effort at getting some control over her allergies, we have tried everything so we thought we should give this a try even though Pat so graciously offered his pet hospice program to us!! So, off we went at 7:30 in the morning, two kids and one itchy dog in tow! Annie had to be off all of her steroids and medicines for the past month so it has been pretty torturous for all of us! She has spent most of her time in her kennel wearing a cone and some times wearing a t-shirt to keep her from chewing and scratching herself to a bloody mess! Anyway, we arrived and after seeing the doctor he felt that her only option was to get the skin testing so after we decided what heroic measures would be taken to save her if she tried to die during the procedure (sedation was used and yes I was WAY more willing to do everything to save her than Jason, but we did come to a reasonable compromise!) she was whisked away to get her side shaved and 67 allergens injected into her skin to see what she is allergic to. Jason and the kids and I spent the day shopping in Columbia and eating at an ice cream place called Sparky's downtown (which I would highly highly recommend if you're ever in Columbia, all of their ice cream is homemade and FABULOUS!!!) We picked Annie up at 4 and were told that she is generally a pretty allergic dog, but that she is very allergic to basically any type of insect or bug. This has confirmed our suspicious that she would not survive in the wild for any length of time!! So, now we are waiting for her specially formulated allergy shots to arrive so we can begin to desensitize her to bugs! I know it seems crazy, and it seems even more crazy now that I am actually typing this out, but oh well...what is done is done and now hopefully Annie can enjoy her time here a little bit more fully!