All dogs have an immune system which makes antibodies to protect their bodies against foreign substances. There are several types of antibodies, but with atopic dermatitis the antibody that is needed is IgE which protects against parasites. This coats the mast cells in the skin so that the parasite proteins that come into contact with your dog are destroyed. For example, when a dust mite comes into contact with your dog, the IgE antibody then releases chemicals which try to wipe out the invader. When a dog is allergic, because the system is so sensitive, this antibody in the skin is released inappropriately or fails completely. Therefore, the pollens, molds, and dust mites are able to infiltrate the skin causing an allergic reaction or atopic dermatitis.

Signs and symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis

The first signs of atopic dermatitis are usually very apparent in the first one to two years of a dog’s life. At first you may notice your dog paying more attention to grooming that you may mistake for fleas or other substances that cause itching since that is the main symptoms of atopic dermatitis. Dogs may chew on their feet, rub their face on the carpet, and gnaw at their skin. They may even lick or chew their paws excessively. When it first starts, it may be simple itching that dogs normally do, but as it gets worse, you may notice the abdomen or perineum getting raw and red, and their ears may become red and hot to the touch even if they have not been scratched. All of these actions can make the skin condition much worse and can lead to lesions, hair loss, and dry skin. What may look like minor skin conditions can actually be very painful and exasperating for the dog.

Atopic dermatitis may not flare up all of the time, depending on whether your house has recently been thoroughly cleaned, or if the dog is spending a great deal of time outside during the summer months. In fact, between the episodes, the dogs coat will look perfect as if nothing was wrong. Certain symptoms such as ear infections, spots, or the occasional scratching may be all that happens independently. This could deter you from understanding what is really going on with your dog. However, the condition will eventually become more severe and will dominate the dogs life, making it seem as if they are constantly scratching and pulling at their skin. This is when baldness occurs and the redness of the skin becomes overwhelming.

One of the signs that your dog has atopic dermatitis without seeing them itch, is saliva staining. This is a reddish brown staining of light colored hair in the groin area, under the arms, and between the toes. If not taken care of properly the skin itself will change colors, usually from a pinkish color to a dark, almost black color mostly seen on the abdomen.

Treatment for Atopic Dermatitis

Before a treatment is given, your veterinarian will do a few diagnostic tests to see if atopic dermatitis is indeed present. Usually the allergy test is conducted along with a complete list of signs and symptoms to enable diagnosis of the condition. If your dog has a bacterial infection, which is commonly present with a lot of scratching, that infection has to be treated separately along with the actual atopic dermatitis.

Unfortunately there is no cure for atopic dermatitis, but there are treatments that can help your dog live comfortably. Common treatments include steroids, oral medications that control the symptoms, and antihistamines that help control itching. Antihistamines are usually used in conjunction with other topical creams or oral medications. Your dog may also be given a specific type of shampoo, rinse, or other anti-itch solutions that provide short term relief. You may want to consider desensitization that calls for a series of shots to desensitize the dog from the allergens. Finally, you also need to treat the dog with a vigorous flea control to prevent itching to continue for other reasons.

Medstore International lists a generic version of the prescription product Atopica (Cyclosporine) for Atopic Dermatitis in dogs.

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Atopica

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