Atopic dermatitis is a hypersensitivity reaction to environmental allergens such as house dust mites and pollen. In dogs it does not cause sneezing as it does in people: it causes itching and reddened skin, mainly on the face, ears, paws and belly. It has no cure, but it is well controlled with therapeutic shampoos, the right diet and rigorous flea control.
Key facts:
- What it is: hypersensitivity to environmental allergens, entering by air, through the skin or via the gut.
- Signs: intense itching, redness, licking, chewing and scratching; hair loss and secondary infections.
- Areas affected: the face, ears, paws and the underside of the body.
- When it appears: between the first and third year of life.
- Predisposed breeds: West Highland White Terrier, Beagle, Boston Terrier, Shar-pei, English Bulldog, Golden Retriever, miniature Schnauzer, Dalmatian, English Setter, Lhasa Apso, Cairn and Scottish Terrier.
- No cure — but treatment greatly improves quality of life.
A dog that scratches constantly, licks its paws raw or rubs its face along the carpet is not a “nervous” dog. It is an itchy one. And the commonest cause of chronic itching is atopic dermatitis.
What is atopic dermatitis?
It is a skin disease produced by a hypersensitivity reaction to substances in the environment. It affects a high proportion of pets, dogs and cats alike. It develops after contact with environmental allergens, which can enter the body by inhalation, through the skin, or in the diet.
What are the symptoms?
Unlike people, who tend to sneeze or wheeze, in dogs the signs affect the skin: it itches and it reddens. The areas most affected are the face, the ears, the paws and the underside of the body. Atopic animals lick, chew and scratch at those areas, which causes hair loss and reddened skin. And the constant licking can lead to more serious skin infections, which themselves itch — a vicious circle that has to be broken.
What causes it?
Factors intrinsic to the animal — genetic, immunological and physiological, such as a defective epidermal barrier — combine with external ones: exposure to substances that normally cause no problem (house dust mites, pollen), infections, other allergic diseases (food allergy, flea-bite allergy), and environmental factors such as humidity and high temperatures.
Which dogs are most at risk?
There is a hereditary predisposition: allergic parents produce allergic offspring. Environmental factors also weigh in — pollution, stress and excessive hygiene all appear to raise the risk. Symptoms usually appear between the first and third year of life. Any breed can be affected, but those most predisposed include the Beagle, Boston Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Shar-pei, Dalmatian, English Bulldog, English Setter, Golden Retriever, Lhasa Apso, miniature Schnauzer, Scottish Terrier and West Highland White Terrier.
How is it treated?
Atopic dermatitis has no cure, but it must be treated so that the signs do not worsen and so that the animal’s quality of life improves. Treatment rests on four pillars:
Brushing and washing the coat. Brushing and bathing help remove allergens from the skin. How often depends on the products used; your vet will advise.
Shampoo therapy. There are shampoos for each need: emollient (they prevent water loss and reduce inflammation), anti-pruritic (they reduce itching), antiseptic and antifungal (they prevent bacteria and yeasts overgrowing) and anti-seborrhoeic (they reduce scaling).
Nutrition. Diets prescribed for atopic animals are usually rich in essential fatty acids, which help control the symptoms and improve the skin’s barrier function.
External parasite control. Reducing fleas and mites lowers the load of potential allergens; flea-bite allergy is one of the leading causes of itching. Your vet will recommend the most suitable product.
What can I do to ease the itching?
Avoid exposure to the allergens as far as you can; give frequent baths with therapeutic shampoos; change the diet if necessary; keep up rigorous flea control on the animal and in the home; resolve any bacterial or yeast infection; start the medication your vet prescribes; and give the recommended nutritional supplements.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my dog scratch and lick its paws constantly?
Chronic itching on the face, ears, paws and belly is the classic sign of atopic dermatitis. It should be assessed by a vet.
Can atopic dermatitis be cured?
No, but it is well controlled with shampoo therapy, essential fatty acids, flea control and medication.
At what age does it appear?
Usually between the first and third year of life. It is unusual for a senior dog to become allergic.
Which breeds are most predisposed?
West Highland White Terrier, Beagle, Boston Terrier, Shar-pei, English Bulldog, Golden Retriever and miniature Schnauzer, among others.
Atopic dermatitis is chronic: consultations, allergy testing, shampoos and medication over years. Petplan España (Petplan Ibérica, S.L.) reimburses 100% of the vet bill up to €3,100 a year, with a €45 excess, at any vet you choose, provided it is not a pre-existing condition. See the policy terms.
