Has your dog got an irritating itch? Our vet might have the answer...

Allergic diseases result when the body’s immune system, which is usually responsible for defence against foreign organisms like viruses and bacteria, reacts to harmless substances that the majority of the population tolerate without problems.

In the case of atopic dermatitis, an inappropriate immune response is produced to environmental substances and the resulting inflammation causes skin disease.

The equivalent disease in humans is called atopic eczema, and this is a relatively common disease in the western world.

Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common allergic skin diseases in dogs and cats.

Atopic dermatitis is hereditary, and there are certain breeds of dog such as West Highland White Terriers, Labradors, Chinese Shar Peis and Springer Spaniels that are more prone to develop the disease.

Skin disease usually presents with itching, and very commonly affects the face, ears, feet, armpits and tummy.

Recurrent ear infections are also very common, and some dogs with atopic dermatitis only have ear disease.

The inflammation within the skin causes redness, rashes, increased pigmentation (darkening of the skin) and recurrent infections.

Skin disease usually develops between the ages of 6 months and 3 years.

Unfortunately, there is no single diagnostic test that definitively diagnoses the condition.

The most common substances (allergens) triggering allergic reactions in northern European countries are the microscopic house dust and storage mites.

Much like the human allergic diseases of hay fever, eczema and asthma, atopic dermatitis in animals cannot be cured.

Patients with this disease have it for the duration of their lives and skin disease has to be managed in the long term.

Skin disease can however be managed very effectively in the vast majority of patients.

There are many different treatments and combinations of treatments for this, all with their own advantages and disadvantages, and their use can be discussed in detail with the Vet.

Some dogs and cats with atopic dermatitis can also benefit from a treatment called immunotherapy, which is otherwise known as a desensitising vaccine.

This is a long-term treatment option usually given by injection over a period of 9 months to 1 year, with the aim of reducing the over-active immune response.