Research Note: Probiotic for Canine Atopic Dermatitis

In this study,* the safety and efficacy of an orally administered, heat-killed probiotic, Enterococcus faecalis FK‐23 (FK-23p), was evaluated in a multicenter, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD). Dogs with nonseasonal CAD received oral FK-23p or placebo. Response was measured using an owner-assessed pruritus scale, a clinician-assessed skin lesion severity index, daily medication score, and posttreatment interviews of both owners and clinicians about overall response to treatment. By day 84, clinicians reported significantly lower severity of skin lesions. Overall response-to-treatment scores from owners and clinicians were significantly higher than placebo group scores. FK-23p was well-tolerated. The study concluded that FK-23p, as used in this study, provided safe and slight but clinically significant benefit to dogs with CAD when used as adjunctive treatment for control of clinical signs.

*This research was funded by NichiNichi Pharmaceutical.