Pilot evaluation of the oclacitinib sparing effect of oral or topical ceramide products in the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis

: This study investigated the sparing effect on oclacitinib of several types of ceramide products in dogs with atopic dermatitis (AD). A total of 16 dogs with AD were enrolled. All dogs were treated with systemic oclacitinib (0.4–0.6 mg/kg, orally once daily) for at least three months. The dogs were randomly divided into two groups and treated with either a combination of oral and topical spray of ceramide products or topical spot-on ceramide products for 84 days. Oclacitinib was continuously administered in all cases at addition, there were no intergroup differences in each score at each endpoint (P>0.05). These results suggest that a combination of oral and topical ceramide products or a spot-on ceramide product may be useful for sparing oclacitinib therapy in dogs with AD.