Experiences in the diagnosis and treatment of atopy in dogs

The importance of aeroallergens is now becoming more and more significant b oth in the human medicine and in the veterinary practice. Intradermal skin test (IDST) was used in 92 dogs suspected of atopy to esta blish the diagnosis and to determine further therapy. Analysis was performed on 50 patients found positive in the IDST, from the view of familiar-, breed-, sex-, and age predisposition, clinical signs, in cidence of different allergens, and efficacy of previous treatments. No sig nificant sex or familiar predisposition was found, however, the incidence r ate of certain breeds was different from that in the literature. The prurit us was predominantly facial (77%) and on the ventral body surface (68%). Th e onset of the clinical signs was relatively early (under 3 years of age) ( 53%) and they were also characteristic. In the IDST the major non seasonal allergens D.farinae (82%) and human dander (51%) were most frequently diagn osed, and to a lesser degree (11%) grass pollens proved to be positive amon g the seasonal allergens. The results of hyposensitisation in 15 dogs, the causative therapy of atopy , were very encouraging. Signs dramatically improved or disappeared in the majority of cases (80%) treated with immunotherapy. It is concluded that the intradermal skin test and immunotherapy are quick and reliable methods for diagnosis and treatment of dogs with atopy.