ATCH test?

Question

My 4 month old rottie puppy has to get a test called ATCH. The doctor is doing this test because he has diareahea after eating unless he is on medication.
Does anyone know the prcoedure for this test, what disease it is looking for and how much the test costs.
Any information about the ATCH test would be really appreciated
Thank you

He has been checked for Parasites. Originally I had him on eukanabua large breed puppy formula and he was fine at first, and then he started developing loose stools so the dotor prescribed Prescription diet I/D food wet and dry which helped out for about a week or so and then same thing as before happened, so now he is on prescription diet W/D which is a high fiber food wet and dry mixed with tylan powder, this has helped a lot but the doctor still wants to do this test beause he says it is a common rottweiler disease. I don't believe food alergies have been checked for.

Answer 1

It tests for the two adrenal diseases Addisons (underactive adrenal) and Cushings (overactive adrenal). They pull a blood sample than inject the dog with artifical adrenal stimulating hormone (ACTH) and take blood a hour or so (depends of the brand of homone for time) and take more blood. The response (amount of cortisol produced) tells if its an adreanal problem. Both are treatable (though addisons more so) and dogs can live a normal life. the test is expensive for a blood test though less that the radiography and exploritory surgery that some dogs are put through before a diagnosis Usully between $100-$200 in my area.

Diareahea is a common first symptom of addisons and Rotties are a high incidence breed - but THE highest incidence breed (Stand poodle) has about a 2% rate so the chance of AD are not THAT high

Answer 2

This sounds rather strange to me though - doing an ACTH stimulation test for a puppy with diarrhoea. To me, it's kinda jumping the gun, but that's just my opinion.

Has the vet ruled out other causes of diarrhoea yet, e.g. food intolerance/allergy, parasites, liver deficiencies?

Good luck and do provide more info/update on your rottie puppy.