Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common skin diseases in dogs. Chronic, uncomfortable, and sometimes debilitating, it affects far more than just the skin: it impacts the animal's sleep, behavior, and overall quality of life.

The purpose of this article is to understand what it is, how it is treated, and what it implies for the daily comfort of the dog.

What is canine atopic dermatitis?

Canine Atopic Dermatitis (CAD) is a chronic, inflammatory, and generally pruritic skin disease with a hereditary component.

It results from a complex interaction between skin barrier abnormalities, allergen sensitization, immune dysregulation, and imbalances in the skin microbiome.

The disease usually begins between 6 months and 3 years of age.

It is chronic: it can be controlled but not cured.

The most affected areas are the paws, belly, ears, around the eyes and mouth, and skin folds.

The dog scratches, licks, rubs itself...

Secondary lesions (crusts, skin thickening, bacterial or Malassezia infections) develop over time.

Which breeds are affected?

Breed predisposition is one of the most well-documented aspects of veterinary dermatology.

Several epidemiological studies have identified overrepresented breeds depending on the populations studied:

• Golden Retriever,
• Labrador Retriever,
• German Shepherd,
• West Highland White Terrier,
• Boxer,
• Cocker Spaniel,
• Bichon Frisé
• Shar-Pei

These breeds are regularly among those cited in the literature.

However, these results should be interpreted with caution: predispositions vary depending on the country, lineage, and reference populations.

Beyond the skin: what chronic pruritus really does to dogs

This is often where the disease is underestimated.

Chronic pruritus is not just a physical "discomfort": it is a continuous, aversive experience that wears the animal down over time.

A study published in 2019 evaluated the behavior of 343 dogs with CAD compared to 552 healthy dogs, using a validated behavioral questionnaire completed by their owners.

Atopic dogs showed significantly more problematic behaviors that could indicate a state of chronic stress associated with pruritus.

The more severe the pruritus, the more pronounced the behavioral problems.

The overall quality of life of atopic dogs is documented as reduced: disturbed sleep, hypervigilance, irritability, decreased social interactions.

Unfortunately, the impact does not always stop with the animal.

For humans, the disease can also become a burden: interrupted nights due to scratching, "licking" noises, anxiety during flare-ups, daily management of care, treatments to remember, repeated veterinary appointments, sometimes significant budget.

Eventually, atopic dermatitis can create real emotional fatigue and mental load for owners.

It is therefore not "just a skin problem," but a chronic disease that can change the daily life of the entire household.

Available treatments today

The management of CAD is multimodal: there is no single treatment.

Approaches are combined according to the severity, stage of the disease, and the dog's profile.

Oclacitinib (Apoquel, Zoetis)

This is a selective JAK1 inhibitor, approved in the United States in 2013.

It works by blocking the signal transduction of cytokines involved in pruritus and inflammation.

Its onset of action is rapid, within a few hours.

The standard protocol is twice daily administration for 14 days, then once daily for maintenance.

Pharmacovigilance data over more than 10 years of use show a positive benefit-risk profile in long-term use, with the most frequently reported side effects being diarrhea, anorexia, and lethargy.

For prolonged use, regular veterinary follow-up is recommended, especially depending on the dog's age, general condition, and associated treatments.

Lokivetmab (Cytopoint, Zoetis)

This is a canine monoclonal antibody that directly neutralizes IL-31, a central cytokine in atopic pruritus.

Administered by subcutaneous injection every 4 to 8 weeks, it offers a rapid and lasting reduction in pruritus with a favorable safety profile.

A 12-month follow-up study showed that 87% of dogs maintained a pruritus score lower than their initial score.

To date, it is the only veterinary medicine that directly targets a cytokine.

Cyclosporine remains a reference option for long-term management.

A calcineurin inhibitor, it acts on the immunological component of the disease. It does not only block itching: it acts more deeply on the immune response that maintains skin inflammation.

Its onset of action is longer (4 to 6 weeks), but it is well suited for stabilized chronic forms.

Topical tacrolimus is useful for localized lesions, applied directly to the skin.

Applied directly to the affected area, it acts locally on the cutaneous immune response and helps reduce inflammation without exposing the entire organism to the same level of treatment as an orally administered molecule.

It can therefore be interesting for certain targeted conditions, always under veterinary prescription and supervision.

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (desensitization) is the only potentially long-term disease-modifying approach.

It requires prior allergological assessment (intradermal tests or IgE serology) to identify the causative allergens, followed by progressive administration of allergen extracts over several months to years.

It is not suitable for all profiles but should be considered for young dogs with well-characterized CAD.

Corticosteroids, oral or topical, remain useful in managing acute flare-ups, but their long-term use is limited by their systemic side effects.

Corticosteroids, whether oral, injectable, or topical, remain useful for calming certain acute flare-ups.

Their anti-inflammatory action is rapid and can greatly relieve the dog when pruritus becomes intense.

However, their prolonged use, especially systemically, is limited by the risk of side effects: increased thirst and appetite, weight gain, skin fragility, increased susceptibility to infections, or metabolic imbalances.

They are therefore generally used in a targeted manner, for short periods, or under protocols supervised by the veterinarian.

What this implies for thermal comfort: a clear limit

In the active inflammatory phase, with redness, lesions, oozing, crusts, secondary infections, or intense licking, wearing a thermal garment is contraindicated unless explicitly advised by a veterinarian.

Local heat aggravates vasodilation, intensifies pruritus, and prolonged contact of fabric on damaged skin promotes maceration and the risk of infection.

The Canithermo garment is not designed for this context, and using it in this situation would worsen the dog's discomfort.

However, for an atopic dog in a stable remission phase (whose Atopic Dermatitis is medically controlled) and who presents with an articular or muscular condition, the garment is entirely relevant. Its use must, however, remain validated by the veterinarian, gradual and monitored, with immediate cessation in case of redness, scratching, licking, or discomfort.

These are two distinct problems that require distinct responses.

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Sources

1. Favrot C / Jaeger K et al. Breed and site predispositions of dogs with atopic dermatitis: a comparison of five locations in three continents. Vet Dermatol. 2010. PMID 20187918
2. Mazrier H et al. Canine atopic dermatitis: breed risk in Australia and evidence for a susceptible clade. Vet Dermatol. 2016. PMID 27188769
3. Harvey ND et al. Behavioural differences in dogs with atopic dermatitis suggest stress could be a significant problem associated with chronic pruritus. Animals. 2019. PMID 31623070
4. Nederveld SM et al. Safety of the selective JAK1 inhibitor oclacitinib in dogs. J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2025. PMID 40018984
5. Cosgrove SB et al. Long-term compassionate use of oclacitinib in dogs with atopic and allergic skin disease. Vet Dermatol. 2015. PMID 25688708
6. Wichtowska A, Olejnik M. Anti-cytokine drugs in the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis. Int J Mol Sci. 2025. PMC12652870
7. Gober M et al. Long term use of lokivetmab (Cytopoint®) in atopic dogs. BMC Vet Res. 2025. PMID 40133889