A Novel Topical Emollient Plus for Canine Atopic Dermatitis: A Clinical Trial Assessing Efficacy and User Acceptance.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) is a common, chronic skin condition characterised by epidermal barrier dysfunction, immune dysregulation and cutaneous dysbiosis. While 'emollient plus' formulations are widely used in human atopic dermatitis (hAD), their role in cAD remains underexplored. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and owner-perceived value of a novel emollient plus formulation as a co-adjuvant treatment for cAD. ANIMALS: Twenty-one client-owned dogs with controlled, nonseasonal cAD completed the study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A proof-of-concept, bench-to-bedside study was conducted over 30 days. Dogs received a once-daily application of a novel emollient plus formulation developed in-house. Clinical outcomes were assessed using pruritus Visual Analog Scale (pVAS)10 and Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI)-04 scores, alongside skin barrier function parameters (trans epidermal water loss [TEWL] and pH) at the pinnae and inguinal areas. Owners evaluated therapeutic efficacy via the Owner Global Assessment of Treatment Efficacy (OGATE) questionnaire and sensorial acceptability through a survey. RESULTS: Significant reductions were observed in pVAS10 (4.25 ± 1.85 to 3.38 ± 1.79; p = 0.016) and CADESI-04 (24.62 ± 18.48 to 13.43 ± 7.44; p = 0.02) scores. TEWL (18.63 ± 17.33 to 9.56 ± 10.75; p = 0.049) and pH (6.07 ± 0.97 to 5.41 ± 0.71; p = 0.01) only had significant reductions at the pinnae. Owner satisfaction was exceptionally high, with 90.47% rating treatment efficacy as 'good to excellent'. The sensorial properties of the formulation also received consistently positive ratings. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This cAD-targeted emollient product demonstrated promising efficacy in reducing pruritus and skin lesions while possibly improving skin barrier function. Its favourable safety profile and high owner satisfaction suggest strong potential for routine clinical use in the management of cAD. Further controlled studies are warranted to confirm efficacy and optimised treatment protocols.