A single-blind randomised study comparing the efficacy of fluconazole and itraconazole for the treatment of Malassezia dermatitis in client-owned dogs.

Background: No reports have compared the clinical therapeutic efficacy of fluconazole and itraconazole in canine Malassezia dermatitis.

Objectives: The study aimed to compare the clinical therapeutic efficacy of fluconazole and itraconazole and to evaluate the adverse effects of fluconazole in canine Malassezia dermatitis.

Animals: Sixty-one client-owned dogs with Malassezia dermatitis.

Materials and methods: The enrolled animals were randomly divided into groups receiving 5 mg/kg fluconazole (5FZ), 10 mg/kg fluconazole (10FZ) or 5 mg/kg itraconazole (5IZ). The drugs were orally administered once daily for 28 days. Cytological examination, clinical index score (CIS), pruritus Visual Analog Scale (PVAS) evaluation and blood analysis (for 5FZ only) were performed on Day (D)0, D14 and D28.

Results: On D14, significant reductions in mean yeast count (MYC), CIS and PVAS were observed in the 5FZ (n = 20, p < 0.01), 10FZ (n = 17, p < 0.01) and 5IZ (n = 16, p < 0.05) groups. In all three groups, a significant reduction (p < 0.001) in MYC, CIS and PVAS expression was observed on D28. There was no significant difference in the percentage reduction of MYC, CIS and PVAS among the groups. Moreover, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in each group between D14 and D28, except for the percentage reduction in MYC in the 10FZ and 5IZ groups. No adverse effects of fluconazole were observed in the 5FZ or 10FZ groups.

Conclusions and clinical relevance: This study indicates that 5FZ and 10FZ are as effective as itraconazole in canine Malassezia dermatitis.