Dermatite atopique canine

Canine atopic dermatitis is a chronic steroid responsive dermatitis, characterised by face and feet lesions, a genetic basis and a predisposition in developing allergy to aeroallergens (house dust mites, pollens). The clinical diagnosis is based on the elimination of any pruritus parasitic cause, and on the observation of 5 major criteria: age of onset between 6 months and 3 years, steroid responsive pruritus, bilateral external otitis, bilateral erythematous anterior pododermatitis and cheilitis. The diagnosis of secondary bacterial (staphylococcal) and fungal (Malassezia) infections is essential. Allergy diagnosis is based on food eviction trial and intradermal testing with aeroallergen extracts or plasma aeroallergen IgE-specific assessment. The treatment of an atopic dermatitis episode is generally based on the control of superficial infection and short steroid therapy. Long-term control is variable and individually adapted depending on the severity of the disease and the principal pruritus aetiological factors such as specific immunotherapy, ciclosporin, essential fatty acids, Chinese herbs, topic treatments (shampoo, steroids, tacrolimus), and always on a strict antiparasitic control.