New Therapies for Canine Atopic Dermatitis

Do you have an itchy dog?
Please continue reading for an article by Dr. Kim Hsu about an exciting new treatment available for treating atopic dermatitis. We have also included some great tips for traveling with your pets. We hope you are enjoying our beautiful Northwest summer!

New Therapies for Canine Atopic Dermatitis
By Dr. Kim Hsu

Dealing with an itchy pet can be one of the most frustrating experiences as an owner. There are many reasons for a pet to itch, including parasites, food allergies, flea allergy, and secondary a bacterial or fungal infection. (See Dr. Keiper’s article from a year ago, June 2016). As any owner of an itchy pet will tell you, it can be very frustrating to diagnose and treat, especially when involving allergies. Atopic dermatitis, or atopy, is the term used for a common allergic skin disease that affects dogs and cats. Like human allergies, airborne pollens, molds, dust particles and other allergens in the environment, can trigger it. However, rather than causing sneezing and sniffling, the pet gets itchy skin. Although both dogs and cats are affected, atopy is more common in dogs, affecting almost 10% of dogs worldwide.

Over time, atopic dermatitis can worsen and become a serious health issue. It may start as seasonal itchiness early in life, typically between 1 to 3 years, and progress to become year-round. The dog’s skin can become extremely itchy, red, and inflamed. The typical irritation pattern involves areas around the eyes and mouth, the armpits, paws, abdomen, and around the anus. Dogs may develop chronic or recurring yeast infections, commonly including ear infections. Atopy is typically a clinical diagnosis, meaning the diagnosis is made based on history and examination findings.

Historically, atopy has been treated symptomatically, with medications for secondary infections and itch relief. Corticosteroids can relieve the itching but can cause many other side effects and are not ideal for long-term use. Hyposensitization, more commonly referred to as “allergy shots”, is the treatment of choice and the only treatment that actually changes the immune system. However, it can be time-consuming and cost-prohibitive for many owners, and may not work for all dogs.

Recently a new oral medication called Apoquel (oclacitinib) has been very successful in bringing relief to atopic dogs and their owners. It is not a steroid, an antihistamine, or other immunosuppressive. It is in a different category of medications, which blocks allergic itch at the source via enzymes and other mediators, with fewer side effects compared with some other therapies. It works quickly and can be used for flare-ups or long-term. Anecdotally, we are also seeing less inflammation and infections in dogs that are taking Apoquel.

We are excited to introduce a new treatment for atopy that is different from traditional drugs and uses vaccine technology to eliminate one of the main mediators of itch. Cytopoint is a biological therapy—a type of non-pharmaceutical treatment that works like the dog’s immune system. Cytopoint contains engineered antibodies that are similar to a dog’s natural antibodies and specifically target one of the main proteins that cause the itch sensation. Cytopoint is an injection given by our veterinarians once every 4 to 8 weeks, as needed. In studies, after one injection, Cytopoint started controlling itch within one day and kept itch controlled for a month or longer. It can also be used in conjunction with Apoquel for flare-ups.

Atopic dermatitis is a life-long condition, but with a greater understanding of immunology and improved medications, we are now able to control allergy symptoms to get dogs back to doing the things they love. We can help guide you to find the regimen that works best for your dog.

If you would like to read past medical blogs click here!