Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Tacrolimus lotion helps reduce itching and redness in dogs
By Marsella, Rosanna & Nicklin, Constance F·Published in Veterinary dermatology·2002·College of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Investigation on the use of 0.3% tacrolimus lotion for canine atopic dermatitis: a pilot study.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Eight dogs with itchy skin due to atopic dermatitis (a common allergy-related skin condition) were treated with a lotion containing 0.3% tacrolimus. After four weeks, the dogs showed a significant reduction in skin redness and itching as evaluated by the veterinarian, although the owners did not notice a difference in their dogs' itching. The treatment was safe, with no harmful effects on blood tests. This suggests that tacrolimus lotion can be an effective option for managing atopic dermatitis in dogs.
People also search for: dog itchy skin treatment · tacrolimus for dog dermatitis · atopic dermatitis in dogs remedies
Abstract
The efficacy of 0.3% tacrolimus lotion (maximum dosage: 0.3 mg kg-1 per day) for treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) was evaluated. Systemic absorption and effects on complete blood cell counts (CBC) and chemistry panels were also investigated. Eight dogs were assigned randomly to either a tacrolimus or a vehicle lotion treatment group. Both owners and investigator were blinded to the treatment. After 4 weeks, there was a 2-week wash-out period and treatments were reversed. Owners scored pruritus weekly while the investigator scored pruritus and erythema at the beginning and end of each treatment period. Investigator scores for pruritus in the tacrolimus group significantly decreased by the end of the study (P = 0.03). Investigator scores for erythema in the tacrolimus group were significantly lower than those in the placebo group at the end of the study (P = 0.005). There was no difference between groups with respect to owner scores for pruritus. No changes in the CBC and chemistry panels were noted. Mean blood concentrations of tacrolimus were below toxic levels.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12174182/