Abstract
The clinical records of 61 cases of canine atopic dermatitis treated with allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) were analysed retrospectively. Clinical signs were evaluated before ASIT started and three months after starting ASIT. An "excellent" response was defined as the clinical signs are well controlled with ASIT either alone or with shampooing, a "good response" as the dose of systemic predonisolone was lowered compared with the before ASIT starting, and a "poor response" as the predonisole dosage did not decrease or clinical signs were exacerbated by ASIT. Of the 61 cases, 27 (44.3 per cent) had "excellent" response to ASIT, 20 (32.8 per cent) had "good response", and 14 (23.0 per cent) had "poor" response. Dogs which started ASIT at under 2 years old had a significantly better response rate than those of over 6 years old (P<0.05). No significant differences in response rates were observed with the association of the breed or sex of the dog, or the duration of the disease. Dogs with the early onset of atopy, the early start of ASIT or the short duration of the disease were associated with the good response to ASIT.
