Prediction of future development of canine atopic dermatitis based on examination of clinical history

The aim of this study was to identify clinical features that could be used to identify individual dogs within the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association canine population at risk of being diagnosed as atopic in the future before they had fully developed the condition.

Clinical histories of atopic and non-atopic dogs from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association population were analysed and statistically significant differences identified between the two groups.

Atopic dogs were consistently affected by skin disease at a younger age than non-atopic dogs and that there was a significant difference in event curves between atopic and non-atopic dogs at 10 months of age. From a predictive point of view, dogs that suffered from four or more episodes of atopic-type skin disease by the age of 15 months were at an increased risk of developing atopic dermatitis.

It is suggested that the clinical history of all dogs from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association about to undergo training should be examined for these factors to assess whether or not they should undergo training.