Pet Skin Doctor

First thing to understand is what Atopic Dermatitis (or AD) is.  Canine AD was recently defined as  ”a genetically-predisposed inflammatory and pruritic (itchy) allergic skin disease with characteristic clinical features that is associated most commonly with IgE antibodies to environmental allergens.”  In other words, Atopic dermatitis in dogs (also refferred to as allergic dermatitis or canine atopy) is often an inherited predisposition to develop allergic symptoms following repeated exposure to some otherwise harmless substance, an “allergen,” such as dust mites or pollen.

Due to the hereditary nature of the disease, several breeds, including golden retrievers, most terriers (especially West Highland white terriers), Irish setters, Lhasa apsos, Dalmatians, bulldogs and Old English sheep dogs are more commonly atopic, but many dogs, including mixed breed dogs can have atopic dermatitis.