World Atopic Dermatitis Day was celebrated on September 14. In dogs, canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is highly relevant. Between 10 percent and 15 percent of domestic canines present it to a greater or lesser degree. DAC has detrimental effects on the quality of life of the dog, due to resulting pain and discomfort, leading to behavioural and sleep problems.
This disease is closely linked to allergy, but also an important genetic component; there are some breeds that are more predisposed than others. Some of these breeds include the Shar-Pei, the Golden and the Labrador Retriever, the Dalmatian, the Boxer, the, the Lhasa Apso, the Shih Tzu, and a number of terrier varieties. These include the Scottish terrier, the West Highland white terrier, the Boston terrier, and the wire-haired fox terrier.
Regarding allergies, it must be remembered that 80 percent of animals with atopic dermatitis are allergic to dust mites (Dermatophagoides sp.) and/or warehouse mites (Tyrophagus sp., Acarus sp. And Lepidoglyphus sp.).
Not all allergies are caused by mites, they can also be food-borne, and end up affecting the skin of pets. Even though they are not the most common cause, it is important to keep a close eye on food allergies for this reason.
Hill’s Pet Nutrition recalls that, to deal with food allergies, it is best to consult with the veterinarian to, among other things, design elimination diets with hydrolysed protein or that contain egg as a single source of intact animal protein, a novel protein which prevents 96 percent of food allergies in dogs.
In addition, it is committed to a new line, which combines the prevention of both food and environmental allergies, which allows to alleviate the itchiness of the dog regardless of the cause.
For its part, Royal Canin, in addition to recommending elimination diets with hydrolysed protein, advocates providing pets with a series of nutrients to strengthen the natural defences and healing of the skin to face the effects of dermatitis atopic, which should be always be supervised by a veterinarian.
Immunotherapy against canine atopic dermatitis
To combat the origin of allergy and atopic dermatitis in dogs, there is the option of immunotherapy. In fact, this type of treatment is already recommended by the World Health Organisation in people, since it is specifically aimed at the cause of the problem and can alleviate or cure the symptoms. The bio-pharmaceutical company LETIPharma has incorporated a range of immunotherapies for dogs, and has addressed this problem in its Chester colloquia, in which it has brought together veterinary and human health experts to learn how allergy and allergies affect them.
Furthermore, in recent years there have also been advances in treatment. One of these treatments is the monoclonal antibody from Zoetis (Cytopoint), which has also been indicated as a treatment for pruritus associated with allergic cases, including canine atopic dermatitis.
Zoetis has oclacitinib (Apoquel), one of the recommended treatments against this problem. However, there are also other options, with which it can be combined, such as glucocorticoids. Precisely in this area, a recent study highlighted that hydrocortisone aceponate (Cortavance by Virbac) in spray format is effective in improving the reduction of itching, especially when the dose of oclacitinib is reduced.
Skin health to treat and prevent canine atopic dermatitis
It should not be forgotten that although the main cause of canine atopic dermatitis is allergy to mites, it is still a dermal disease, so proper skin care is also very important to deal with it. The idea is to promote balance in the bacteria that live on the skin in order to have an adequate skin barrier and treat possible pyodermas. In this area, you can find different therapeutic options in shampoo format, such as Douxo by Ceva, which allows the balance of the microbial flora to be re-established.
Likewise, there are other products to directly treat bacterial infections on the skin, such as Malaseb, from Dechra, which treats Malassezia dermatitis; a skin disease that sometimes occurs underlying allergic processes such as atopic dermatitis.
In 2021, another novelty in treatments arrived on the Spanish market; Phovia, from Vetoquinol. With its FLE light energy, it accelerates dermal regeneration in different dermatological disorders, such as pyoderma, which is usually closely related to the processes of atopic dermatitis.
For more information visit Animal Health’s website, HERE.
