Canine Atopic Dermatitis
 
Description of the disease and clinical picture:
Canine atopic dermatitis is a genetically predisposed, inflammatory, and pruritic allergic skin disorder with characteristic clinical symptoms. It is associated with the production of IgE antibodies, most often directed against external allergens. The primary clinical manifestation of canine atopic dermatitis is itching (pruritus). If primary skin lesions are present, they appear as erythema. Secondary skin lesions result from scratching, chronic skin inflammation, concurrent secondary pyoderma, and Malassezia dermatitis. Observations on the skin include alopecia, excoriation, papules, pustules, dry and brittle hair, hyperpigmentation, scaling, and lichenification. These lesions are mainly found in scratching areas such as the face (muzzle, area around the eyes), the concave side of the ear pinna, the dorsal and ventral side of the paws, the palmar side of the carpal and tarsal joints, the axillary region, the abdomen, the groin, and the medial part of the thighs. The first symptoms of the disease usually appear by the age of three. Canine atopic dermatitis can affect the skin of the eyelids and thereby cause qualitative or quantitative changes in the tear film. Atopic dermatitis is often accompanied by atopic conjunctivitis.
 
Therapy:
The diagnosis is made based on clinical symptoms and by ruling out other pruritic dermatoses, and it's confirmed through allergy testing. Treatment involves reducing itching, and for this purpose, corticosteroids, cyclosporines, oclacitinib, monoclonal antibodies, and allergen-specific immunotherapy are most commonly used. Additionally, treatment of secondary bacterial and fungal skin infections, as well as external ear canal infections, is essential. Eye therapy includes lacrimomimetics (tacrolimus, cyclosporine drops) and lubricants.

Please contact our specialty veterinary ophthalmology hospital Animal Eye Consultants
of Iowa (animaleyeiowa@gmail.com) in USA or Oculus Veterinary Specialty Hospital
(oculusklinika@gmail.com) in Serbia, Europe to schedule an appointment so your pet
can be seen.