Allergic dermatitis

Allergic dermatitis is an itchy, inflammatory skin disease in dogs triggered by an exaggerated immune reaction to environmental allergens, flea saliva or ingredients in food.

The most common form, canine atopic dermatitis, typically appears in young adult dogs and shows up as persistent scratching, licking of the paws, red or darkened skin, recurrent ear infections and hair loss in the armpits, groin and face. Certain breeds carry a higher genetic risk, and signs are often seasonal at first before becoming year-round. Secondary bacterial and yeast infections frequently complicate the picture and add to the itch.

Veterinarians reach a diagnosis by ruling out parasites and infections, conducting elimination diet trials and sometimes performing allergy testing to guide immunotherapy. Management is lifelong and usually combines several approaches under veterinary direction. Cannabidiol has been evaluated in a small number of studies of dogs with atopic dermatitis, and the evidence remains limited and specific to that condition.