Canine atopic dermatitis is a genetically predisposed, chronic, itchy skin disease, usually linked to IgE against environmental allergens, with a recognizable pattern of lesions. It is a common cause of chronic itch in dogs, it cannot be cured, and it is diagnosed by excluding everything else that itches. Contact dermatitis is a reaction confined to the skin that actually touched an irritant or allergen; how common it is in dogs is not known.
Key facts
Allergic dermatitis (atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis) at a glance- Species and system: dog; skin and ears.
- Cause: genetic predisposition plus a faulty skin barrier, microbial dysbiosis and an allergic immune response, usually to house dust mites, pollens or other environmental allergens; food allergens can trigger an identical picture.
- Onset: usually between 6 months and 3 years of age.
- Classic presentation: a young dog licking its paws, rubbing its face and scratching its ears, axillae and belly, with recurrent ear or skin infections.
- Key secondary problems: staphylococcal pyoderma, Malassezia dermatitis and otitis externa.
- Contact dermatitis: lesions confined to skin that touched the substance, often where hair is sparse; irritant (non-specific) or allergic (antigen-specific, immune-mediated).
- Zoonotic/reportable: no.
What's inside
13 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Contact dermatitis
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 3 figures, 3 self-test questions and 17 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
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