Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is a chronic skin disease that causes inflammation or hypersensitivity due to an allergy.Affected dogs bite and rub constantly trying to relieve their discomfort.
It mainly affects young dogs, although it can also appear in adults.The origin is unknown, but it is believed that there may be a genetic factor that predisposes it.
- In this Animal Expert article we will explain the typical symptoms of atopic dermatitis in dogs and some advice on the treatment that can be applied.
- In addition there are natural remedies that may be helpful in the treatment of this uncomfortable disease.
Genetic inheritance seems to be the predominant factor in the development of atopic dermatitis, since in related dogs its incidence is notoriously higher; however, the presence of allergens is necessary to develop the disease, among these allergens, the most common are:
However, it is estimated that some breeds are more likely to develop atopic dermatitis, such as the West Highland White Terrier, Boxer, Labrador Retriever, Dalmatian, Shar Pei, German Shepherd or French Bulldog.
In most cases, the symptoms of this disease appear between 3 and 6 months, but usually go unnoticed in the first year, since during this period the signs are weak and unclear, as the disease progresses become more visible and may include:
If you notice any of these symptoms, it is important that you consult the veterinarian to make a diagnosis and see if the dog actually has this disease, here are the tests to diagnose CAD.
Diagnosis can be difficult because atopic dermatitis has symptoms similar to many other skin diseases, however, depending on the dog’s history, the veterinarian may request an allergy study.
Sometimes this study is performed from a small sample of the dog’s blood, but these serological tests are not very effective, the most appropriate study is an intradermal analysis, in which small amounts of different allergens are injected under the dog’s skin.the disease will produce an immediate response.
Atopic dermatitis has no cure, but appropriate treatment can be followed that allows the dog to have a good quality of life. The treatment of each dog will depend on the severity of the disease, the specific causes, the existence of secondary infections and other specific aspects of each case.
However, in general, the goal is to eliminate or reduce the presence of allergens that cause dermatitis, if these allergens cannot be identified (which is quite common), the presence of environmental factors that can cause the aforementioned disease is generally eliminated.the dog’s living conditions must be changed, sometimes even from home or even their diet.
In the most complicated cases the use of corticosteroids can be prescribed, these medications help reduce problems of atopic dermatitis, however, they have side effects when administered for a long time, so the veterinarian must decide how to use them, since the dog will do so.be medicated for life.
As mentioned above, there is no effective treatment for atopic dermatitis in dogs and many people reject the use of corticosteroids because of their long-term effects, so in Animal Expert we offer some tips that you can use if your dog suffers from this disease:
Here are some simple tips you can do to help your dog not suffer this disease seriously, but remember that the vet will give you tips tailored to your particular case, so it is highly recommended to make an appointment.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis, we suggest taking your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Other Health Problems section.