Dog Atopic Dermatitis

What is Dog Atopic Dermatitis? 

Atopic Dermatitis in dogs is a chronic skin disease which is associated with allergies. This is the 2nd most common disease in dogs which are brought upon by harmless substances like house dust, grass, and other environmental allergens. 

 

The signs dog atopic dermatitis start showing in dogs between 3 months and 6 years of age. The disease starts slow and spreads across within 3 years.

Cats are less likely to get prone to atopic dermatitis as compared to dogs. You can learn about cats common health questions here.

What are the symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis seen in dogs?

Even though the symptoms start to show after a few years of your dog having this disease, but they do become more apparent during certain seasons. The most commonly affected areas in dogs include the:

• Ears

• Wrists

• Ankles

• Muzzle

• Underarms

• Groin

• Around the eyes

• In between the toes

The signs associated with atopic dermatitis, meanwhile, consist of itching, scratching, rubbing, and licking, especially around the face, paws, and underarms.

Causes of Atopic Dermatitis in dogs:

Yes, this disease is hereditary i.e it is often associated with a family history of skin allergies which makes the dog more susceptible to allergens such as: 

• Animal danders

• Airborne pollens (grasses, weeds, trees, etc.)

• Mold spores (indoor and outdoor)

• House dust mite

Diagnosis

Take your pet to the best veterinary near you to determine the underlying cause of the skin allergies, including a physical examination of your pet.

Your vet may perform a Serologic allergy testing but it isn't always reliable as it depends on the laboratory which analyzes the results. 

In Intradermal testing is also done where small amounts of test allergens are injected in the skin and wheal (a red bump) is measured to identify pet's allergy.