Allergy Testing

Milo is still suffering terribly with his allergys and after last night coughing and gagging which was now apparent was due to a reaction against something I think it is best to go down the allergy testing route that the vet has spoken about to me.
I don't want him to have a severe reaction where he can.t breathe properly which I think last night was heading if I hadn't quickly given him the piriton.
I don't know anything about allergy testing, I know my vet did say there were some tests they could do or send him to a specialist (which I don't want to have to do unless I really have to).
Can you tell me whats involved in allergy testing please and why he may need a specialist rather than the vet test themselves?

There are different types of testing. One is a blood test and the other is a skin test which allergens are put on the skin to see if there is a reaction. We got the blood test done on Finn as it was less invasive. The skin test means the dog has to be sedated I think

Hopefully others will have some experience of that one as I only got the blood test done on Finn.

Can you tell me if the blood test will show clearly everything they are allergic too and how badly?
Also roughly how long it takes to get the results.
Thanks.

The blood test does tell you how bad the allergy is. Not sure what the exact measurement is but anything over 150 was a positive reaction. One of Finn's was over 3000.

The lab that did the blood test does not test for food allergies as they not conclusive and can throw false positives they said to us

Our first results came back within a week as indoor allergens then a second lot of tests came back a few days later to narrow down the allergy even more.

I have heard that the skin testing is more accurate but then again you are actually injecting small amounts of allergens into the skin. I did find the blood test to be accurate though but maybe that is because Finn really only has two main allergies and a few just over the 150 mark.

Thanks, its mainly indoor and outdoor allergens I am interested in as I know he has food allergies and he is on a very hypo allergenic food. I sussed out at 10 weeks of age he was allergic to wheat gluten but he has developed a lot more food allergies as he got older so many hypo allergenic foods he cannot also tolerate now so I am hoping this one he is now on will help otherwise I am not sure what we will do.
I am certain he is allergic to house dust mites and I am beginning to think he is allergic to dog hair as since he and Shady have been mouting he has been much worse.
I just need a clearer picture as to some definates so we can try if possible to eliminate them and see if that makes a good difference.
Hopefully the blood test will do enough for us.

Good luck with whatever test you decide One thing for sure is that when you know what the problem its much easier to control

Our vet was convinced Finn was allergic to house dust mites but his came back negative for that