Itching to get out of the skin

Boxer dog Timmy can not stop scratching, his whole body itches obviously hellish. Through the bright coat glow bloody scratched, inflamed skin. The inside of the ears are crimson, and when someone touches his ears while caressing, Timmy cries out painfully. Pug Hugo can barely occur. His paws are chronically inflamed in the Zwischenzehen- and ball area. Bulldog Jenny suffers from itchy skin inflammation around the eyes, in the armpits and groin area. All three mentioned dogs suffer from Atopic Dermatitis - the Latin term is Canine Atopic Dermatitis (CAD).

Genetic predisposition

Atopy is understood to mean the already genetically determined readiness for excessive reactions of the immune system to environmental substances that are inhaled or absorbed through the skin. A weakening of the skin barrier caused by keratinization disorders makes it easier for allergens to penetrate the skin in atopic dogs than in a healthy animal. The main allergens for affected dogs are pollen and dust mites. But even animal or human dander, molds and cleaning agents can be triggers. In contrast to humans and cats, atopic dogs themselves react to allergens that are inhaled, not with the respiratory tract in the form of asthma or hay fever, but with violently itchy skin inflammations. Since genetic factors are involved in the onset of the disease, atopy can be inherited. Therefore affected dogs should not be used for breeding.

Preferred body sites

Atopic dermatitis is best seen on the paws, eyes, snout, underarm, abdomen, perineal and groin areas. Similarly, chronic itchy ear canal inflammation with highly inflamed pinnae is often due to atopy.

Main symptom itching

Most prominent is the high grade itching, which manifests as scratching, licking, biting, rubbing, increased irritability, and occasionally behavioral changes such as loss of appetite and aggressiveness. The itching can be limited to individual sites or occur all over the body. Due to the constant scratching, the skin becomes inflamed, the hair falls out, and there are painful sores.

Dysregulation of the immune system as a cause of itching

In the case of atopic dermatitis, the allergens taken up in most cases via the skin initiate an overactive immune system reaction, namely a specific allergic reaction of the immediate type. This involves different cells of the immune system, which communicate with each other by means of so-called cytokines, which are messenger substances between the cells. These messengers dock at various cell receptors, which then activate special enzymes, the so-called Janus kinases inside the cell. These cause the formation of important for the immune reaction protein bodies and messengers. Janus kinases therefore play a central role in the function of the immune system by helping to convert the signals of the various messengers into specific actions.

Not without side effects: Janus kinase inhibitor for itching treatment

The inhibition of Janus kinases results in the suppression of many immune processes. Thus, the therapy of canine atopic dermatitis with unselective Janus kinase inhibitors is not harmless. It can be turned off more than 100 different immune reactions and thus the immune system of the dog massively suppressed. However, such a decommissioning of the immune system brings serious disadvantages for the four-legged patients (greater susceptibility to infections with bacteria, viruses and fungi as well as tumorigenesis) and is therefore not recommended for prolonged use.

Gentle long-term therapy with interferon omega

Fortunately, itching in Atopic dermatitis is also possible through the targeted stimulation of Janus kinase1 using Interferon Omega. By acting on only a single Janus kinase, a large proportion of the itch-causing immune reactions are apparently suppressed. Interferon Omega is a messenger substance of the immune system, has an immunomodulating effect and is available as an approved veterinary medicinal product. It is therefore highly gratifying that research has shown that long-term therapy with interferon omega

As good results in the treatment of atopy brings as immunosuppressive drugs, but without their side effects. Through the targeted immunomodulation using interferon, the disadvantages of immunosuppressive itching therapies can not only be avoided, but it is even a welcome side effect, the immune system even stimulated and lowered the susceptibility to infection. Interferon Omega gets under the skin of the vet espritzt. Treatment is started with a series of six injections on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 35. Subsequently, only one injection per month is needed. Since interferon is also effective in the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis in very low doses, the costs are limited - the therapy is quite affordable. And another advantage: no more daily tablet input!