Caring for animals is vital and that of your best friend and companion, your dog, covers many different aspects. In addition to the usual — appropriate food for its size and needs, regular baths, vet visits… — there are also other more specific care measures if your dog suffers from an ailment such as atopic dermatitis in dogs.
Atopic dermatitis: what is happening to your dog?
Atopic dermatitis (CAD) is a complicated disease, since its symptoms are very varied and it can present in different ways. It is normally diagnosed by ruling out the rest of the pathologies. It tends to occur in dogs under three years old and its development is slow and progressive. Fortunately, this disease responds pleasingly to treatment with corticosteroids.
The itching is its main sign and the lesions that this itch produces can be found in different areas: abdomen, eyes, lips, etc. Another series of ailments associated with CAD can appear, such as those caused by ear infections.
When you suspect that your dog suffers from this ailment, you will have to go to the vet so that they carry out tests and examinations that determine that it is atopic dermatitis and not another disease. That way, the appropriate treatment can be started.
Treatments for atopic dermatitis in dogs
To treat this troublesome pathology that affects 15% of dogs, there are three different types of treatment. It will be the vet who assesses the treatment that best suits each case and each dog. For this reason it is always necessary to consult an expert.
Topical treatment
It is one of the most common and convenient treatments to apply. It is based on the use of gels, shampoos and lotions or creams that help to reduce the itching, the inflammation and, ultimately, to keep atopic dermatitis under control so that its symptoms do not harm our dog.
Nowadays, these treatments have advanced a great deal and there are spot-on applications that help to restore the epidermal barrier of the dog’s skin. This, combined with the hydration provided by baths and the application of creams and so on, will help our dog to be its old self again without the annoying symptoms of dermatitis.
Immunotherapy treatment
There are two types of immunotherapy treatment: allergen-specific and non-allergen-specific.
The first of these is the well-known anti-allergy vaccine. The allergen is supplied in small dilutions so that the animal develops tolerance to it.
In the second case, we have a method based on the use of interferons. This has no side effects; however, you will have to consult the vet as to whether it is the most suitable.
Anti-itch treatment
In this case, the treatment is focused on controlling the signs of the disease, not on resolving it completely. There is different medication depending on what is needed, from antihistamines to ciclosporin —for inflammation—. Although the disease is not cured, it does allow the dog to live with it in the best possible way.
Nothing is too much for our dog’s health, which is why, if it suffers from atopic dermatitis, the best thing is to go to the vet so that they recommend one of the treatments above.
