Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Lymph food may help improve skin allergy symptoms in dogs with atopic
By Frizzo-Ramos, Carolina et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2025·Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Lymph food to improve canine atopic dermatitis: a randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial in dogs with standard-care treatment.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 38 dogs with atopic dermatitis (a skin condition causing itching and inflammation) was given either a special lymph food enriched with nutrients or a placebo for 112 days. The dogs that received the lymph food showed significant improvements in their skin condition and itching compared to those on the placebo. Owners reported less itching, and veterinarians noted fewer skin lesions. Additionally, the dogs on the lymph food had better blood parameters, including increased iron levels. This suggests that adding specific nutrients to their diet can help manage atopic dermatitis more effectively.
People also search for: dog atopic dermatitis treatment · itchy skin in dogs · lymph food for dogs with allergies
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Micronutritional deficits are linked to increased morbidity and mortality. Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) often presents with iron depletion and subclinical inflammation, despite their typical meat-based diets, suggesting widespread micronutritional malabsorption. This study aimed to determine if a complementary lymph food-enriched with whey protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and designed to bypass mucosal malabsorption barriers-could improve CAD clinical signs and blood parameters. ANIMALS: Thirty-eight dogs diagnosed with canine atopic dermatitis were included in the study. METHODS: In a 112-day, double-blinded, randomized study, 38 CAD dogs daily received 10 g of either the active lymph food (= 19) or a hydrolyzed food placebo (= 19). Owners weekly recorded pruritus using the Pruritus Visual Analog Scale (PVAS) and logged medication use (Janus kinase inhibitors, corticosteroids, antihistamines, cyclosporine, and Lokivetmab). Veterinarians monthly assessed skin lesions via the Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (CADESI-4). Blood samples were collected at baseline and at the study's end. Treatment success was defined as a decrease of ≥2 on the PVAS and a ≥50% reduction in CADESI-4. RESULTS: The complementary lymph food was well-accepted by the dogs. The active feed group showed significantly greater reductions in both CADESI-4 scores (-55%) and PVAS scores (-1.8) compared to the placebo group (+26%,< 0.0003 and -0.05%,= 0.0074, respectively), indicating an added benefit to standard care treatment. Medication use significantly declined in the active group. Furthermore, red blood cell counts, packed cell volume (PCV), and serum iron increased in the active group but not in the placebo group. A threefold significantly greater proportion of dogs in the active group achieved treatment success compared to the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Lymphatic nutrient feeding significantly improved CAD symptoms, suggesting a causative role of nutritional deficiencies in driving skin inflammation. This study strongly suggests a beneficial role for targeted lymphatic nutrient delivery in CAD management.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41487474/