Pet Forum

Let's discuss canine atopy, also known as dog atopy. We'll define canine atopy as well as going over the causes, symptoms, and treatments of dog atopy.

What is canine atopy? Atopy is a disorder by which dogs have a predisposition for developing antibodies to environmental allergens. Atopy is the most common disorder causing hypersensitive skin reaction in non-flea allergic patients presenting with dermatitis and accounts for up to 70% to 90% of all hypersensitive conditions. As such, atopy is significantly more prevalent than food allergy in the canine, which accounts for up to only 10% to 30% of hypersensitive conditions. Furthermore, although it has been found that up to 10% of dogs with atopy may also have food allergy, up to 80% of the dogs diagnosed with food allergy will also have atopy, thus accounting for the high rate of failure to treat food-allergy patients through manipulation of diet alone.

What causes dog atopy? Canine atopic dermatitis (allergic dermatitis, canine atopy) is an inherited predisposition to develop allergic symptoms following repeated exposure to some otherwise harmless substance, an "allergen," such as dust mites or pollen. Most dogs begin to show their allergic signs between 1 and 3 years of age. Due to the hereditary nature of the disease, several breeds, including golden retrievers, most terriers, Irish setters, Lhasa apsos, Dalmatians, bulldogs and Old English sheep dogs are more commonly atopic, but many dogs, including mixed breed dogs can have atopic dermatitis. The incidence is increasing both in man and animals.

What are the symptoms of canine atopy? Common symptoms include an often intense itching, which results in the animal's constant scratching and biting of the irritated skin. Areas most comonly affected include the feet, the muzzle or face, armpits, groin, and ears. Symptoms are initially seasonal in 70% of animals and usually worsen with age. Recurrent skin and ear infections are commonly noted. Secondary skin abnormalities will result from the trauma caused by scratching the itch. These include redness, hair loss, crusts and scaling, ear problems, fur that is stained brown from saliva, and skin infections. Cats may vary widely in their symptoms, which can include facial itchiness, hair loss in equal patterns, raised and open sores, and bumps with bloody scabs.

How is dog atopy treated? It is next to impossible to avoid all the environmental allergens that plague allergy-prone dogs and cats. The exceptions are pets that are chiefly bothered by fleas. I enforce strict flea control – even if I am uncertain that fleas are present. Many dogs and cats are cured by this simple task alone. Approximately one in twenty of my clients elect to undergo skin testing and desensitization of their pets. This figure differs from practice to practice. The procedure takes a bit over a year to show results. Dermatologists argue for the procedure pointing out, correctly so, that even if desensitization does not cure the pets, it may lower the dose of corticosteroids they require later in the disease. Skin testing also identifies the allergens and perhaps some of them can be avoided or eliminated from the pet’s environment. The procedure is extensive, expensive, and requires a life-long commitment to frequent injections. Most owners learn to give these injections themselves. Medicines of the cortisone class are effective and dramatic in controlling the symptoms of allergic skin disease. The problem is that this class of drugs has substantial and serious side effects when given in high doses or over extended periods of time.

Canine Atopy Pictures:

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