A randomized, double-blinded trial to evaluate two therapeutic foods as adjunctive therapies in dogs with environmental and/or food induced atopic dermatitis

Lay Summary

Canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) typically requires lifelong management using a combination of medications, topical therapies, and allergen-specific treatments. To determine if targeted nutrition can help manage this condition, researchers evaluated the effects of two therapeutic veterinary foods on 39 dogs with cAD over an eight-week period. Dogs were fed either a positive Control food or a Test food, while veterinarians and owners closely monitored their skin lesions, itching, gastrointestinal signs, and overall quality of life. The results showed that both therapeutic foods led to notable improvements in skin lesion severity over time. While overall itching scores did not significantly decrease over time for either group, the dogs maintained healthy stool scores, coat quality, eating enthusiasm, and quality of life throughout the study. Ultimately, these findings suggest that specialized dietary modifications can play a beneficial role in the broader treatment plan for dogs with environmental and/or food-induced skin allergies.