So it has been another 5 weeks since I started the amended elimination diet with Maddie.

Today the vet and I had our call to evaluate the progress.

Note that I called her today for a few very specific reasons:

1. Venison roast at $10.99 a pound is not sustainable for this family’s budget
2. I have boiled and chopped enough potatoes to feed the National Army of Kazakhstan (pretty flag, no?)
3. Last night, for the 5th (or was it 50th) night in a row Maddie has awakened me licking and scratching her vulva and accompanying regions

The conversation went something like this:

Doc: How’s the scratching?

Me: On the margins somewhat better but she still wakes me up scratching.

Doc: Next step would be an allergy test.

Now at this point I am waiting for her to describe the scratch test. You know the one where they inject small amounts of the allergen and monitor the bumps that form.

But noooooooo……

Me: So the scratch test right?

Doc: No, they now have a blood test that looks at 40 different allergens and it is specific to Southern California (grasses, plants, etc.)

Me: How long have they had that test?

Doc: About 15 years.

What? Wait. WAIT! I have been doing the whole elimination diet thing as a way to try to figure out what is causing Maddie (and me) to be miserable and to save the $1800 plus dollars for allergy testing.

Me: So how much is the blood test?

Doc: $231.00

Me: WHAT? WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME THIS $231 TEST WAS AVAILABLE BEFORE I FED THE ENTIRE ARMY OF KAZAKSTAN POTATOES AND VENISON???!!!

Maddie went for her $231 allergy blood test today.

The results are back in two weeks.

My money on still on the fact she is allergic to the cat.