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Step 1
To start the process of intradermal testing your horse will first need to be off of steroid medications, antihistamines, and fatty acid supplements for 3-8 weeks (please contact us if you have questions regarding specific medication recommendations). There should be no hives, skin infection, or other rashes on the right side of the neck.
Step 2
Your horse is dropped off by 9am to spend the day at our comfortable, clean, light-filled clinic. For your convenience you may also drop off the night before. We will monitor your horse for 24 hours following intradermal testing to allow us to formulate the best possible treatment plan.
Step 3
Fifty unique allergens as well as two control injections are drawn up into sterile syringes, and are carefully handled to minimize contamination from particles in the air. The allergens that are included are separated into five groups - trees, weeds, grasses, dusts & molds, and insects. Each allergen in the panel has been carefully selected based on local botany, testing reliability, and discussion with experts. Examples include everything from Live Oak trees to Bahia grass to fire ants.
Step 4
The horse is prepared once the injections are ready. They are brought into the stocks for safety and stability (should sedation be required). An area approximately 10 inches by 18 inches on one side of the neck is gently clipped with a fine blade after being gently cleaned with a soft towel and water. Any soap residues, fly sprays, or other sprays and wipes must be removed to prevent interference with the testing procedure.
Step 5
A black marker is used to create a grid pattern, to guide the injection of each of the five groups, as well as the positive and negative control. This way each allergen can be specifically identified and graded at each of the timed observations. Each row of black dots represents a different group of allergens, so we can easily see if your horse is primarily irritated by weeds vs. grasses, for example.
Step 6
Next an extremely small (27 gauge - the smallest size we typically use is 25 gauge) needle is used to inject a very small volume (0.05cc) of carefully diluted allergen extract at each of the black dots of the grid. If the horse is allergic to the contents of the extract, a hive begins to form immediately. Some extracts are considered more chemically irritating than other (eg, alfalfa), so this is taken into consideration when evaluating.
Step 7
Evaluation of the skin test is performed at specific times post-injection - 30 minutes, 4 hours, and 24 hours. This is not only to help standardize the evaluation, but also to different types of allergies. Weeds and other pollens are usually very quickly reactive, while insects generally take up to 24 hours to create a respons. Each response is graded from 0 (negative control) to 4+ (positive control).
Step 8
A list of all allergens causing a response greater than 2+ is made. This list is used to formulate your horse's custom immunotherapy program.
To start the process of intradermal testing your horse will first need to be off of steroid medications, antihistamines, and fatty acid supplements for 3-8 weeks (please contact us if you have questions regarding specific medication recommendations). There should be no hives, skin infection, or other rashes on the right side of the neck.
Step 2
Your horse is dropped off by 9am to spend the day at our comfortable, clean, light-filled clinic. For your convenience you may also drop off the night before. We will monitor your horse for 24 hours following intradermal testing to allow us to formulate the best possible treatment plan.
Step 3
Fifty unique allergens as well as two control injections are drawn up into sterile syringes, and are carefully handled to minimize contamination from particles in the air. The allergens that are included are separated into five groups - trees, weeds, grasses, dusts & molds, and insects. Each allergen in the panel has been carefully selected based on local botany, testing reliability, and discussion with experts. Examples include everything from Live Oak trees to Bahia grass to fire ants.
Step 4
The horse is prepared once the injections are ready. They are brought into the stocks for safety and stability (should sedation be required). An area approximately 10 inches by 18 inches on one side of the neck is gently clipped with a fine blade after being gently cleaned with a soft towel and water. Any soap residues, fly sprays, or other sprays and wipes must be removed to prevent interference with the testing procedure.
Step 5
A black marker is used to create a grid pattern, to guide the injection of each of the five groups, as well as the positive and negative control. This way each allergen can be specifically identified and graded at each of the timed observations. Each row of black dots represents a different group of allergens, so we can easily see if your horse is primarily irritated by weeds vs. grasses, for example.
Step 6
Next an extremely small (27 gauge - the smallest size we typically use is 25 gauge) needle is used to inject a very small volume (0.05cc) of carefully diluted allergen extract at each of the black dots of the grid. If the horse is allergic to the contents of the extract, a hive begins to form immediately. Some extracts are considered more chemically irritating than other (eg, alfalfa), so this is taken into consideration when evaluating.
Step 7
Evaluation of the skin test is performed at specific times post-injection - 30 minutes, 4 hours, and 24 hours. This is not only to help standardize the evaluation, but also to different types of allergies. Weeds and other pollens are usually very quickly reactive, while insects generally take up to 24 hours to create a respons. Each response is graded from 0 (negative control) to 4+ (positive control).
Step 8
A list of all allergens causing a response greater than 2+ is made. This list is used to formulate your horse's custom immunotherapy program.
The Testing Process
All testing is completed at Springhill Equine's haul-in facility. The Testing Process begins with making sure your horse is off steroid medications, antihistamines and fatty acid supplements and ends with a custom immunotherapy program.
The step by step process is listed below.
All testing is completed at Springhill Equine's haul-in facility. The Testing Process begins with making sure your horse is off steroid medications, antihistamines and fatty acid supplements and ends with a custom immunotherapy program.
The step by step process is listed below.
Our service area includes: Alachua, Archer, Bell, Bland, Bronson, Chiefland, Fanning Springs, Fort White, Gainesville,
Gilchrist, Ginny Springs, High Springs, Lacrosse, Newberry, O'Leno, Payne's Prairie, Raleigh, Traxler, Trenton, Anyone
outside of our call zone (Lake City, Ocala, etc.) is welcome to haul-in to our clinic facility!
Equine Allergy Clinic
Springhill Equine is the area's leading all-inclusive Equine Hospital, coupling unparalleled
convenience with the latest technology. Springhill Equine provides the professional care
your horse deserves with the convenience you need!
Serving Gainesville and surrounding areas
Serving Gainesville and surrounding areas