Most common ear and skin disease
Atopy is a hereditary skin disease of dogs, characterised by skin inflammation and itchiness (pruritus).
Infections by bacteria or yeast are a secondary cause, which will need to be treated, but is not the primary cause for the most common skin condition: atopy.
Current understanding is that it is caused by an abnormal reaction of the immune system to tiny particles in the environment called allergens, combined with abnormalities in the surface layer (stratum corneum) of the skin. Allergens enter the body through the skin and lead to the production of certain antibodies in genetically predisposed animals. These antibodies then cause either intermittent or chronic (long-term) symptoms.
Corticosteroids: these usually come in tablet form or can be given by injection. They can be very useful in acute, short-term cases as they can work within hours, but must be used with care in more long-term cases in order to reduce the risk of side effects. Corticosteroids can also be applied directly to affected skin in the form of gels or sprays. This form of treatment can play a very important part in managing Atopy.
Apoquel/ Cytopoint/Cyclosporine: this drug, like corticosteroids is very effective but costs significantly more. Although slightly slower to work, its advantage over corticosteroids is reduced long-term side effects. Adding in other treatments, listed below, can reduce the dosage and frequency of administration of all systemic drugs:
Prescription diets: these are specially formulated to improve skin health and reduce pruritus.
Essential fatty acids: these originate from fish and various plants such as Evening Primrose and Borage. It may take 8-10 weeks to see the effect of these.
Topical treatments: these are applied directly to the skin in the form of shampoos, lotions and moisturisers. They help soothe and repair.
Hyposensitisation: having a vaccine made up, which contains the allergens your dog is allergic to and injecting this under the skin can be effective in 50 to 80% of cases but usually only yields an overall improvement of 50%.
This is called Allergen Specific Immunotherapy (ASIT). It may take 3-12 months to see a positive response, needs to be given life long and is mainly used with young dogs suffering from symptoms throughout the year.
If your pet suffers from atopy, there is unfortunately no quick fix. Flare ups will occur, when allergen exposure is high, despite adequate treatment.
Atopy is a complex condition and is best discussed with your vet, especially if an itch or an infection is not well controlled.
Speak to us if you would like to discuss this further.