Atopic Dermatitis in Dogs

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 It is an inflammatory chronic skin disease associated with allergies.

An allergic reaction occurs when an animal inhales pollen, house dust and ingestion of food which are allergic to animal.

Age of occurance

                    Normally it occurs between the age of 1-6 years and symptoms are mild at first year and prolonged for several years.

Causative factors :

           Pollen, house dust, mold spores and ingestion of allergic food

Clinical signs :

        Pruritis and secondary skin lesions with characteristics distribution around face, vental abdomen, flexor aspect of carpal, elbow and tarsal joints, interdigital skin and perineal areas.
      
        

Pathogenesis :

                  Exposure to allergic agents (mites, pollen, dust, mold) and other allergens through food leads to skin infiltration by inflammatory cells, activation of resident cells and local production of inflammatory mediators.

Diagnosis :

             Based on clinical symptoms, positive intradermal test or serum test for igE immunoglobulins
Clinical symptoms associated with atopic dermatitis include 
 Affected ear pinnae
 Age of onset <3years
 Corticosteroid responsive Pruritis 
 Redening of affected area with itching sensation. 

Differential diagnosis :

 Fleas, scabies, demodicosis, cheyletiellosis, peduculosis, otocariosis. 
Microbial infections of staphylococcus pyoderma and malassezia dermatits
Othet allergic skin diseases like insect bite hypersensitivity, food allergy etc. 

Treatment :

Atopic dermatitis due to food reaction can be cured by avoiding those foods with sensitivity to animal, while due to air borne substances cannot but can be controlled with medication like glucocorticoids can be used for treatment. They are very effective anti inflammatory, anti - itch medications but long-term use of steroids leads to severe side effects but unfortunately this is the only way to control atopic dermatitis. 
Some other alternatives like antihistamines with essential fatty acids with control in some of the cases due to airborne allergens. 

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