Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Antihistamines dimetinden and hydroxyzine help itching in atopic dogs
By Eichenseer, M et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2013·Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Germany·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Efficacy of dimetinden and hydroxyzine/chlorpheniramine in atopic dogs: a randomised, controlled, double-blinded trial.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 19 dogs with itchy skin due to atopic dermatitis (a common skin allergy) were given either dimetinden, a combination of hydroxyzine and chlorpheniramine, or a placebo for two weeks. The results showed that dimetinden helped reduce itching, while the combination of hydroxyzine and chlorpheniramine significantly improved both itching and the overall severity of skin lesions. About 10 out of 17 dogs showed more than 25% improvement in itching with the combination treatment. While antihistamines can provide some relief for itchy dogs, many may still need additional treatments for better results.
People also search for: dog itching treatment · atopic dermatitis in dogs · hydroxyzine for dog allergies
Abstract
Antihistaminic drugs are commonly used as symptomatic therapy of atopic dermatitis in dogs. Unfortunately, their clinical benefit is largely unsubstantiated. In a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial, the influence of dimetinden and of a combination of chlorpheniramine and hydroxyzine on pruritus and lesions was evaluated in 19 dogs. They were treated with either product or a placebo orally for 14 days, each time followed by a 14-day washout period. Before and after each period, the dogs were examined and the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI) determined by a clinician, and the pruritus and general condition by the owner. Dimetinden improved the pruritus significantly (P=0.014) but not the CADESI (P=0.087), the combination of hydroxyzine and chlorpheniramine improved the CADESI (P=0.049) and pruritus (P=0.05) significantly. Ten of 17 dogs improved by more than 25 per cent in pruritus with the combination of hydroxyzine and chlorpheniramine, 12 of 18 with dimetindenmaleate and only 2 of 19 with placebo. Antihistamines can help to reduce pruritus in atopic dogs, but in most cases, the improvement is limited and additional treatment may be needed.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24114734/