What You Should Know About Atopic Dermatitis and Atopic dermatitis treatment ? What Is Atopic Dermatitis in Dogs? Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammation of the skin due to an allergic reaction. This reaction can trigger any substance in the environment like pollen or dust, etc. Moreover, many dog breeds like labs, retrievers and terriers are predisposed to such allergies from a very young age of 1-3 years. But, it is not necessary that other breeds cannot contract the disease. So, here are the symptoms that you must look out for in order to find out if your dog is suffering from this ailment.
Symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis Atopic dermatitis is an agitating disease and can consume the pet for the whole time. When the disease is left untreated for long, it may cause more severe health issues. Rashes Rashes are the physical manifestations of an allergic reaction in the body. Whenever there is an allergic reaction in the body, it leads to the emergence of rashes. These rashes are usually red in color and cause inflammation, which gives an itchy and burning sensation. Itching A dog afflicted with atopic dermatitis experiences constant itching when an allergen rubs or comes in contact with the dog’s body. To relieve that irritation, dogs scratch which in turn lead to grazes and cuts which may fester due to bacterial infestation. Licking Allergic reactions in the body cause inflammation and because of that dogs may lick themselves constantly. Though licking may seem normal to you, when you see your dog licking himself excessively, he may inflict his skin persistently which may further lead to hotspots and sores. Hair Loss If you see bald patches on your dog skin, it may be a result of constant chewing and biting their own skin. At times, when the itching is severe and the dog feels too annoyed, they may try to relieve the area by biting which results in hair loss. This itching can either be a result of flea infestation or an allergic reaction to the environmental allergen. These symptoms usually start developing on the face and then they expand to the other areas of the body like – Ankles Underarms Wrists Eye area Ear Mouth Groin Between the toes
What are the Causes of Atopic Dermatitis? Atopic Dermatitis is triggered by certain allergens in our surroundings which can lead to triggering of the immune response if the body considers it a foreign material. Pollen Dust Mites Mold Flea Bites Food Season Contact Drugs All of these allergens can cause itching and extreme irritation if the body treats them as a foreign object. Thus, the only way to prevent atopic dermatitis in dogs is to avoid contact with these substances. However, in certain cases, this is not at all possible therefore it is important to treat your dog with antihistamines like Apoquel. It is a powerful formula to treat pruritis in dogs caused by allergies, therefore it is recommended to resort to this treatment. Other than that, there are some natural ways you can try to prevent or relieve the symptoms. • • • •
Coconut Oil Cannabidiol oil Supplements to improve immunity Probiotic for gut health
Atopic Dermatitis is a very annoying disease and can take a toll on your dog’s health if not treated on time. Therefore, make sure as soon as your pet shows any signs of skin irritation, contact the vet and get him examined thoroughly. And a tip for all parents, do not bath your pet quite often as it dries up the skin which can initiate itching and scratching. Also, use good quality skin products to avoid any skin related issues in dogs.