Veterinary Archives, Vol. 77 No. 5, 2007.
Original scientific paper
Retrospective study of presumably allergic dogs examined over a one-year period at the Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Tina Kotnik
orcid.org/0000-0001-8133-2856
; Small Animal Clinic, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract
Two hundred and twelve animals examined over a one-year period at the Dermatology Department of Small Animal Clinic, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, were included in a retrospective study. For further evaluation dogs with flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), Canine atopic disease (CAD) and Food hypersensitivity as the first differential diagnosis (n = 126) were considered. Among the clinical features in these dogs, erythema
was most frequently found (83.4%). Owners (23.9%) were able to provide us with the familial history of their dog and 13.6% described allergic skin disease symptoms in one or more of their dogs’ relatives. After initial diagnostic procedures, i.e. skin scrabs, cytology and bacteriology, accurate initial therapy was constituted when a relevant elimination diet was prescribed for 3 months. Evaluation of the diet trial was done by recording clinical improvement and by estimation of the pruritus intensity. In 37 (29.4%) dogs’ skin problem symptoms were effectively suppressed by elimination diet. The condition of 34 dogs improved with initial therapy or they were lost for further evaluation. Dogs that did not completely improve by elimination diet and initial therapy (n = 50) were submitted for intradermal (ID) allergic testing (46 dogs) or IgE measurement (4 dogs). Tested dogs were sensitised against multiple antigens in the majority of cases (47 of 50). A group of storage and house dust mites represented the most common antigens. The most frequent mite was Acarus siro against which 71.7% of our ID tested dogs were sensitised
Keywords
allergies; skin; intradermal allergy tests; dogs
Hrčak ID:
24766
URI
Publication date:
19.10.2007.
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