Canine atopic dermatitis is a chronic allergic skin disease causing intense itch, skin lesions, and secondary infections, significantly impacting quality of life and requiring long-term management to maintain welfare in affected dogs.
Chronic intense itch is one of the most welfare-compromising experiences a dog can endure. Constant licking, scratching, and rubbing causes sleep disruption, behavioural changes, and skin damage that perpetuates the inflammatory cycle. Secondary infections add pain to discomfort. Modern targeted therapies including JAK inhibitors and IL-31 antibodies provide dramatically better itch control than older corticosteroids, with better safety profiles for long-term use. Early diagnosis and initiation of effective therapy prevents the chronic skin damage and habituation to itch that make later-stage atopic dermatitis more difficult to manage. Owners who recognise early signs and seek prompt diagnosis significantly improve the welfare trajectory of their affected dogs.