A Single Dietary Therapy for Canine Atopic Dermatitis & Canine Adverse Food Reaction

Sponsored by Hill's Pet Nutrition

Whether dealing with canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) or canine adverse food reactions (CAFR), allergic skin disease is a lifelong condition that can severely impact a dog’s quality of life. It can also harm the bond between an owner and their dog and frustrate the clinician treating this disease.

Although it can be difficult to determine the prevalence of CAD and CAFR in the general dog population, CAD is the second most common cause of canine pruritus after flea allergy dermatitis, as shown by the results of surveys of skin diseases and intradermal testing practices.¹ Although the specific percentage of dogs that have both CAD and CAFR is unclear, 13% to 30% of dogs diagnosed with CARF have been reported to exhibit concurrent CAD.² This complicates both the diagnosis and management of allergic skin disease.

Allergic Skin Disease

Allergic skin disease can present in various ways, depending on chronicity, genetic factors, extent of lesions, and presence of secondary infections.⁵

A systematic approach should be taken to diagnose pruritic skin disease, being sure to identify bacterial or fungal infections and rule out parasitic disease. Once these have been addressed, a food elimination trial with a novel or hydrolyzed protein diet is typically performed to rule out CAFR, as dogs with CAFR can be clinically indistinguishable from those with CAD.

However, there are limitations to food elimination trials. No single diet is effective in all cases of CAFR, so multiple diet trials may be needed. In addition, starting a strict diet trial with a hydrolyzed or novel protein diet means that a dog with CAD cannot benefit from a specific diet formulated to improve the signs of CAD until the diet trial is complete, which is concerning, as CAD is more common than CAFR.¹

Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Complete

Hill’s Derm Complete can now help manage dogs with both CAD and CAFR and drastically improve the quality of life of dogs with allergic skin disease.^3,4

A recent multicenter, blinded, controlled, longitudinal study demonstrated that dogs with CAD fed Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Complete had significantly lower scratching scores and improved sleep scores than those fed a control diet.³

Another recent blinded, controlled, longitudinal study revealed that the diet maintained control of clinical signs of food allergy in dogs that were previously well controlled on a novel or hydrolyzed protein food.⁴ Hill’s Derm Complete was equally effective at maintaining control of signs as a leading competitor’s highly hydrolyzed food.⁴

Hill’s Derm Complete is a complete and balanced diet for maintenance of adult dogs that manages allergy signs by promoting skin health, supporting a healthy skin barrier against allergens, and normalizing the immune response.⁴ Key ingredients include omega-3 and -6 fatty acids and bioactives and phytonutrients from herb and plant extracts, which help quell inflammation and lower proinflammatory cytokines.^3,6

Hill’s Derm Complete is not a hydrolyzed diet and utilizes egg as the intact animal protein source. A recent review and analysis of common food allergens in dogs found egg was a very uncommon cause of adverse food reactions, with only 4% of food-allergic dogs exhibiting an allergy to egg.⁷ To the author's knowledge, there are no studies evaluating cross-reactivity of proven chicken-allergic dogs to egg. Most humans allergic to egg are allergic to ovomucoid or ovalbumin, very different proteins than those seen in chicken allergies. In addition, of the 2 common egg allergens, ovalbumin is highly heat labile, and most humans allergic to this protein do not have an allergic reaction after consuming heat-denatured forms of egg.⁸ Thus, this diet should be effective for most food-allergic dogs, as well as those with atopic dermatitis. Because many food-allergic dogs also have CAD, dogs with both conditions can also benefit from this diet.

Conclusion

Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Complete is an ideal first-line dietary therapy for allergic dogs with suspected CAFR or CAD as part of multifaceted treatment of allergic skin disease. Derm Complete is appropriate for most dogs with CAD and CAFR; thus, veterinary teams can feel confident in choosing this innovative nutritional approach. Dogs can immediately benefit from the nutrients that support healthy skin function in dogs with CAD and are unlikely to experience an adverse food reaction.

Hill’s Derm Complete can significantly improve the quality of life of dogs with allergic skin disease and may help minimize the need for systemic medications in managing allergic skin disease.