Navigating canine allergic dermatitis
The challenges veterinary professionals and clients face when dealing with a patient with allergic dermatitis, and what medications can help.
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For treating canine allergic dermatitis, there are multiple treatment plans and medication options available for clients. After veterinary teams take patient history, review clinical signs the patient presented with, and rule out other common causes of pruritus, veterinary teams can then narrow down the triggers for the reaction and begin to consider the best course of action.
During her lecture Anti-Hero: A variety of anti-inflammatory and antipruritic medications for canine allergic dermatitis at the 2025 WVC Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Brittany Lancellotti, DVM, DACVO, a practicing veterinarian at Skin and Ear in Los Angeles, California, shared some common challenges that veterinary professionals face when treating this lifelong disease, and discussed several medication options in an interview with dvm360.
Challenges
Lancellotti explained to dvm360 during her interview that numerous challenges surround allergic dermatitis in dogs, affecting both pet owners and veterinary teams. For pet owners, the primary issue stems from the disease being lifelong, making managing client expectations crucial. Clients often seek immediate and effective medication solutions upon visiting the veterinary clinic. However, as with other chronic diseases in veterinary medicine, a quick fix is not possible for canine allergic dermatitis, as it is a lifelong condition.
“It is really important that we communicate with them that this is not going away. This is a disease that the animal will have for its lifetime, but here are some tools we can use to help make managing this disease easier for you at home,” Lancellotti explained during her interview.
On the veterinarian side, balancing medication benefits and risks can be a struggle. Lancellotti explained that any therapy implementation carries risks. The most effective approach to mitigate these risks is to ensure the therapy is targeted to the individual patient. This targeted approach helps identify the primary trigger, enhancing medication safety and improving disease control. Along with a targeted approach, Lancellotti shared other strategies that work well for patients.
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“I think utilizing strategies like using a dose range rather than a single specific dose for all patients, determining if an animal tolerates a specific medication form better than another, and discussing multiple options with the owner to find what works best for them is very helpful. This approach prevents client pushback on a rigid treatment plan and is crucial in maintaining the bond and trust we aim to establish with our clients,” said Lancellotti.
Medication options
Understanding these challenges is crucial when considering the various medication options available for managing canine allergic dermatitis. In September 2024, Elanco announced that its ilunocitinib tablets (Zenrelia; Elanco) received FDA approval, becoming the second JAK inhibitor on the market. Zenrelia, a Janus Kinase Inhibitor (JAKI), reduces proinflammatory and pruritogenic cytokines IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-13, and IL-31. These medications effectively reduce pruritus with minimal adverse effects and are safe for patients on other medications. However, Lancellotti informed attendees that these medications are ineffective in treating edema and contraindicated in canine patients under 12 months of age due to the risk of serious infections like bronchopneumonia and demodicosis. Initial safety studies of Zenrelia noted novel skin masses in some patients, but no increased risk of neoplasia was found. JAKI inhibitors like Zenrelia and Apoquel are administered orally daily for long-term symptomatic management of allergic pruritus. For Zenrelia, it is recommended to withhold the medication for 28 days before and after vaccination due to initial vaccine response study results. However, Lancellotti shared a subsequent study that showed no serious adverse effects of decreased response to vaccine boosters.
Another medication Lancellotti discussed is Lokivetmab, a canine monoclonal antibody that binds to IL-31, inhibiting its pruritogenic effects within 1–3 days, with effects lasting an average of 4 weeks. This treatment is safe for canines of any age, has no reported adverse effects, and can be used in patients taking other medications or with comorbidities. However, it has minimal anti-inflammatory effects. Lokivetmab is administered at the veterinary clinic at 2 mg/kg once monthly or as needed and is suitable for long-term management of symptomatic pruritus.
Conclusion
Considering the unique challenges and diverse needs of each patient and client, individualized treatment plans are essential for treating canines with allergic dermatitis. Multiple options exist, each with unique indications and mechanisms. Individualized plans ensure clients receive the most appropriate medication and manageable treatment strategies, maximizing relief for pets living with this lifelong disease.
Reference
Lancellotti B. Anti-Hero: A variety of anti-inflammatory and antipruritic medications for canine allergic dermatitis. Presented at: Western Veterinary Conference; Las Vegas, Nevada; 2025.
