Ralf Mueller

• Professor, Dr.med.vet., DipACVD, FANZCVSc, DIpACVD
• Chief, Dermatology and Allergy Service, Small Animal Medicine Clinic at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich

Different types of feline papillomaviruses (PVs) are associated with a variety of skin lesions and neoplasia, such as papillomas and cell carcinomas, but the virus can also be found in healthy skin. In this review, the European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases (ABCD), a scientifically independent board of veterinary experts on feline infectious disea...

Background In humans, food allergies (FAs) are divided into those with immunoglobulin (Ig) E‐mediated (immediate FA), cell‐mediated (delayed FA) or both mechanisms (mixed FA). In dogs, lymphocyte stimulation tests have the highest concordance with oral food challenges (OFCs). Objectives To report the evaluation of a lymphocyte proliferation test (...

Cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs) are complex N-glycans shared among allergens of plant, insect venom, and nematode origin. In allergic humans, IgE anti-CCD often develop and cause discrepancies between serological and skin tests. Overall, CCD-IgE are believed to be of low pathogenic relevance. IgE-targeting CCDs are also detected in...

Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is an IgE-mediated allergic dermatitis of horses caused by bites of Culicoides spp, sharing some common features with human atopic dermatitis. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) using Culicoides whole body extracts has limited efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate AIT with a pool of major Culicoides recombinant allerge...

Background Lokivetmab, a caninised monoclonal antibody against interleukin (IL)‐31, is an effective treatment for the pruritus associated with canine atopic dermatitis (cAD). Objectives To investigate the efficacy and safety of lokivetmab during long‐term treatment defined as at least three consecutive lokivetmab injections in atopic dogs under fi...

Background Canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) is a hereditary, generally pruritic and predominantly T‐cell‐driven inflammatory skin disease, involving an interplay between skin barrier abnormalities, allergen sensitisation and microbial dysbiosis. The individual immunological response is predominantly against environmental allergens, including mite ant...

Background Diascopy is a point‐of‐care diagnostic test used to differentiate skin erythema due to vascular dilation from haemorrhage. In the veterinary literature, only a handful of diseases have been described to be associated with a negative (nonblanching) diascopy result, and histological investigation of haemorrhage has been inconsistent. Obje...

Objectives Aeroallergens have been discussed as potential triggers for feline asthma (FA), which can be induced experimentally by allergen sensitization. To date, only few studies have investigated reactions to environmental allergens in cats with naturally occurring feline lower airway disease (FLAD). The aim of the study was to compare results of...

Objectives While feline asthma (FA) is considered to be of allergic origin, the etiology of feline chronic bronchitis (CB) to date is unknown. Aim of the study was to compare the results of intradermal testing (IDT) and serum testing for allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (SAT) in cats diagnosed with FA and CB. Material and methods Twenty-seven cli...

Simple Summary To date, the etiology of feline chronic inflammatory bronchial disease, including feline asthma, chronic bronchitis, and mixed inflammatory forms, has not extensively been investigated. By measuring allergen-specific immunoglobulin E from the serum of cats with different types of inflammatory bronchial disease and healthy cats, we ai...

Background: The selection of allergens for immunotherapy in atopic dogs is often based on serum allergy testing. Cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs) are common structures in plant and insect allergens that reportedly induce polysensitisation, reduce agreement between intradermal and serum tests and complicate allergen selection. Metho...

Background Allergic skin diseases are common in horses worldwide. The most common causes are insect bites and environmental allergens. Objectives To review the current literature and provide consensus on pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Materials and Methods The authors reviewed the literature up to November 2022. Results were p...

Background The duration of the induction phase of allergen‐specific immunotherapy conventionally is a period of several weeks, during which the volume of an allergen solution, administered by injection, is gradually increased until the maintenance dose is reached. In rush immunotherapy (RIT), the induction period is abbreviated to achieve a faster...

Canine atopic dermatitis and feline atopic skin syndrome are common presentations in small animal practice. Numerous drugs are used for symptomatic therapy. The only definitive treatment based on the cause of the disease is allergen immunotherapy. Classical allergen immunotherapy (AIT) consists of subcutaneous injections of an extract containing of...

Objectives Canine eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy (EBP) is a poorly understood disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the lower airways. To date, factors affecting the course of the disease are largely unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of clinical, laboratory, and environmental factors on therapeutic ou...

Background Chronic otitis externa (OE) in dogs frequently requires anaesthetised ear flushing. Objectives To evaluate hypochlorous acid as an ear flushing and antimicrobial agent in dogs with chronic OE. Animals Twenty dogs with chronic OE caused by the same organisms bilaterally. Materials and Methods One ear was flushed under anaesthesia with...

Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common skin diseases in small animal practice. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is the only curative treatment for the disease, and oral, subcutaneous and intralymphatic administration of allergens are commonly employed. Objectives To compare the efficacy of AIT following an induction phase with int...

Background – Equine pastern dermatitis (EPD) is a common multifactorial clinical syndrome in horses. Treatment can be difficult; pathogenesis and triggering factors cannot always be determined. Objectives – To assess risk factors for developing EPD in a large group of horses kept under the same conditions and to analyse whether or not a spot‐on con...

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is the only treatment for atopic dermatitis that is directed at the cause of the disease. AIT provokes an immune response that decreases the activity of effector cells such as mast cells, basophils, and eosinophils, activates regulatory T lymphocytes, and leads to the production of immunosuppressive cytokines. AIT might...

Topic and aims: Canine atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory and pruritic skin disease and in most cases associated with IgE antibodies against environmental allergens. To date, the only causative therapeutic option is allergen immunotherapy (AIT). Offending allergens for AIT can be identified by intradermal testing (IDT) or serum allergen-spe...

Background Pituitary dwarfism (PD) in German Shepherd dogs (GSD) is a rare endocrinopathy. Cause and inheritance of the disease are well characterized, but the overall survival time, presence of concurrent diseases, quality of life (QoL) and influence of different treatment options on those parameters is still not well investigated. The aim of this...

Objective Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is a common skin disease in dogs. Prior studies were able to determine beneficial effects of essential fatty acids (EFA) on the clinical signs of CAD. The aim of this study was set to evaluate the effects of a newly designed, EFA-enriched diet on the clinical signs of CAD compared to another EFA-enriched die...

Background Canine demodicosis is a common disease in small animal practice. Although a number of studies evaluating treatment efficacy for canine demodicosis have used clinical scoring systems, none have been validated. Objectives This study evaluated the validity, reliability, reproducibility and sensitivity to change of a clinical scoring system...

A 30-year-old, intact female Indian rhinoceros (Rhinocerus unicornis) was presented with ongoing erosive, ulcerative skin lesions over a 4-year-period. The lesions appeared to be non-pruritic and non-seasonal. A systemic antibiotic therapy had been unsuccessful. The dermatological examination showed 8 diffusely demarcated areas of erosion, focal ul...

Background MicroRNAs (miRNA) are short, single‐stranded RNA molecules that regulate gene expression in a post‐transcriptional manner. Their expression is proposed to be tissue‐specific and alterations in miRNA expression have been detected in many diseases. Objective To compare miRNA expression in the skin of healthy Labrador and golden retrievers...

Interferons (IFNs) are cytokines that play an important role in the immune response of animals and humans. A number of studies reviewed here have evaluated the use of human, canine and feline IFNs as treatments for infectious, inflammatory and neoplastic disease in dogs and cats. Recombinant canine IFN-γ is deemed an efficacious therapy for canine...

Background This article describes a case of multiple, recurrent, cutaneous inverted papillomas (CIPs) in a German shepherd dog, combined with a retrospective follow‐up assessment of eight cases. Methods A 3‐year‐old, black, female German shepherd dog presented with four rapidly growing, alopecic, domed, hyperpigmented, shiny nodules, compatible wi...

Background Serum testing for allergen‐specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E is commonly employed to identify allergens used for allergen‐specific immunotherapy in dogs, yet the reliability of results has been a matter of debate. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of serum tests for environmental allergen‐specific IgE in th...

Introduction Potential triggers for equine asthma are allergens from hay and straw dusts, mold spores and storage mites. The contribution of these environmental trigger factors to equine asthma is still largely uncertain. The aim of this study was to compare results of four allergy tests from healthy and asthma-affected horses, and to evaluate the...

Background: The use of concurrent medications is necessary in trials of treatment of canine atopic dermatitis. Our aim was to use the best available evidence to construct and then to validate a medication score (MS) formula that will estimate the impact of concurrent medications on trial outcomes. Methods: Trials of 15 interventions were scrutin...

Background Feline atopic syndrome (FAS) describes a spectrum of hypersensitivity disorders characterised by highly diverse clinical presentations including skin, gastrointestinal and respiratory systems. Among these disorders is feline atopic skin syndrome (FASS), in which hypersensitivity is typically associated with environmental allergens, altho...

Background Feline allergic skin disease and asthma occur regularly in small animal practice. Objectives To provide evidence‐based recommendations for small animal practitioners on the treatment of feline atopic syndrome (FAS). Methods and materials The authors reviewed the literature available before February 2020, prepared a detailed evidence‐ba...

Background A new congenital hair‐shaft abnormality resembling the lanceolate hair phenotype of rodents is described in a litter of four domestic short hair (DSH) cats. Data relating to hair shaft and follicle disorders remain scarce in veterinary medicine. Objectives To describe and compare structural abnormalities in these cats with other hair dy...

Background Feline diseases of possible allergic origin with similar clinical phenotypes can have a varied underlying pathogenesis. Clinical phenotype, precise aetiology and underlying immunopathogenesis all need to be considered if advances in this neglected area of dermatology are to be made. Objectives To document the status of research into the...

Background Feline allergic diseases present as challenging problems for clinicians, not least because of the number of reaction patterns of the feline skin, none of which are specific for allergy. Furthermore, there is some controversy over the nomenclature that should be used in their description. Objectives To review the literature, assess the s...

A 1.5‐year‐old male castrated dog was presented in anaphylactic shock after suffering an apparent bee sting. Immunotherapy with bee venom was initiated based upon history, skin testing and serological testing for allergen‐specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E. The dog was maintained on venom immunotherapy for five years and showed no signs of adverse effec...

Objective Knowledge of cross-reactions in food-sensitive dogs will influence the choice of elimination diets and the long-term management of those patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate food allergen-specific IgE tests of suspected allergic dogs for concurrent positive reactions as possible evidence for cross reactions between allerg...

Zusammenfassung Fallbericht einer wiederkehrenden Otitis externa, media und interna durch Candida tropicalis bei einem Hund mit einem Ohrpolypen. Ein 9-jähriger Irischer Setter wies im Abstand von 7 Monaten jeweils linksseitig eine Otitis, ein Vestibulärsyndrom sowie ein Horner-Syndrom auf. Bei der ersten Episode wurde ein gutartiger Ohrpolyp extra...

Background The aim of this study was to compare serum interleukin (IL)‐31 concentrations in dogs with lymphoma and mast cell tumours (MCT) without pruritus to those of healthy dogs. Hypothesis/Objectives To determine if IL‐31 plays a role in tumour pathogenesis and if IL‐31 could be a biological marker for disease progression. Animals Forty‐eight...

Allergen immunotherapy is currently the only causal treatment for allergic diseases in human beings and animals. It aims to re-direct the immune system into a tolerogenic or desensitized state. Requirements include clinical efficacy, safety, and schedules optimizing patient or owner compliance. To achieve these goals, specific allergens can be form...

Zusammenfassung Gegenstand und Ziel Ein kommerziell erhältliches Arzneimittel mit homöopathischen Inhaltsstoffen zeigte erste Erfolge bei Hunden mit atopischer Dermatitis. Ziel dieser Fallserie war, die Wirkung des Arzneimittels bei einer größeren Anzahl von Hunden mit dieser Erkrankung zu bewerten. Material und Methoden Zehn Hunde mit atopischer D...

Feline atopic syndrome is an aetiological diagnosis of a disease caused by environmental or dietary allergens. As such there is currently no single test reliably differentiating feline atopic syndrome from its differential diagnoses. This syndrome is associated with a number of clinical reaction patterns such as miliary dermatitis, eosinophilic gra...

Background: At this time, elimination diets followed by oral food challenges (OFCs) represent the "gold standard" for diagnosing skin-manifesting food allergies (FA) in dogs and cats. Regrettably, there is no clear consensus on how long one should wait for clinical signs to flare after an OFC before diagnosing or ruling-out a FA in a dog or a cat....

This chapter deals with cutaneous adverse food reactions in dogs and cats. It discusses the etiology/pathophysiology, history and clinical signs, diagnosis, and therapy of the food reactions. Cutaneous adverse food reactions include any skin reactions that are reproducible. Most commonly seen is pruritus, but recurrent pyoderma or edema have also b...

Background Demodicosis is a common disease in small animal veterinary practice worldwide with a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic options. Objectives To provide consensus recommendations on the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of demodicosis in dogs and cats. Methods and materials The authors served as a Guideline Panel (GP) and reviewed t...

Purpose of Review This review aims to evaluate new insights into allergen immunotherapy (AIT) and review the mechanism, different protocols used, and response rate of this treatment option for canine atopic dermatitis. Recent Findings AIT is the only etiological treatment available for canine atopic dermatitis. Selection of allergens is based on c...

Background: Dogs with year-round atopic dermatitis are often sensitized to Dermatophagoides house dust mites (HDM). Storage mites (SM) are known to grow on cereal-rich foods. Tyrophagus SM can exacerbate clinical signs of allergy in laboratory dogs sensitized to HDM. Consequently, atopic dogs with high-levels of HDM-specific IgE are likely to have...

Zusammenfassung Bei einem 2,5-jährigen, männlich-intakten Foxhound-Beagle-Mischling mit akuter, multifokaler, langsam fortschreitender, erosiv-ulzerierender Dermatitis ohne Juckreiz wurde basierend auf klinischen Symptomen und histologischer Untersuchung von Hautbioptaten ein mukokutanes Pemphigoid diagnostiziert. Betroffen waren Nasenspiegel, Auge...

Mucous membrane pemphigoid was diagnosed in a 2.5-year-old male intact foxhound-beagle cross which was presented with an acute onset of non-pruritic, multifocal, slowly progressive erosive-ulcerative dermatitis predominantly affecting the nasal planum, eyelids and muzzle with multiple vesicles on the inner pinnae, oral mucosa and tongue. The diagno...

Demodicosis is frequently seen in small animal practice. In older dogs, it is often associated with immunosuppression and immunosuppressive diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate a larger number of dogs with adult-onset demodicosis (AOD) at the veterinary teaching hospitals of the University of Sydney/Australia and the University of Munich...

Dermatophytosis is a cutaneous infection, caused by several types of keratophilic fungi (dermatophytes). It represents a serious and common contagious skin disease in dogs and cats. The significance of this disease for pet owners is based on the zoonotic potential. The prevalence varies with climate and local dermatophyte infestation. The most comm...

Background Symmetrical lupoid onychomadesis (SLO) is a disease not infrequently seen in bearded collie dogs in Germany. Objectives The aim of this study was to compare historical and clinical data, as well as the mineral content of the hair and claws of bearded collies with SLO with that of normal control dogs. Animals Twenty‐eight affected beard...

Background Outside of pruritus, there is no clear consensus on the nature and prevalence of cutaneous manifestations of adverse food reactions (AFRs) in dogs and cats. Results We searched two databases on August 7, 2018, for articles reporting detailed data on the signalment and clinical signs of at least one dog or cat with a cutaneous AFR (CAFR)...

Background Tests for allergen‐specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) are used to select allergens for immunotherapy in atopic dogs. Antibodies against cross‐reactive carbohydrate determinants (anti‐CCD IgE) have been identified in serum samples of atopic dogs. Their presence in humans is a known cause of clinically irrelevant polysensitization to plant al...

Adverse reactions to insects occur in both human and veterinary patients. Systematic comparison may lead to improved recommendations for prevention and treatment in all species. In this position paper, we summarize the current knowledge on insect allergy induced via stings, bites, inhalation or ingestion, and compare reactions in companion animals...

Background Topical application of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has shown satisfactory results in dogs and humans with allergic skin diseases. Urea and glycolic acid act as keratolytics and moisturizers. Culicoides hypersensitivity is the most common equine hypersensitivity disorder and only limited treatment options exist. Objectives To eva...

Background Otitis externa is a common presenting complaint in practice. Ear infections by Pseudomonas aeruginosa are particularly problematic due to the organism's high level of resistance and ability to damage the tympanum. Treatment should be based on susceptibility testing although minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) are not available for a...

Ziel dieser Studie war die Untersuchung der Reproduzierbarkeit von Serumtests auf Gesamtthyroxin (T4) in drei deutschen veterinärmedizinischen Laboren. Dafür wurden Serumproben von 53 Hunden mit klinischem Verdacht auf Schilddrüsenunterfunktion untersucht. Die Serumproben wurden in 5 Aliquots aufgeteilt, mit unterschiedlichen Namen versehen und an...

Objectives: Pleural effusion is a common presenting cause for feline patients in small animal practice. The objectives of this study were to identify possible correlations between the aetiology of effusion and clinical and laboratory findings. Methods: In this retrospective study of 306 cats diagnosed with pleural effusion of established aetiolo...

Abstract The purpose of this review article is to give an overview of atopic dermatitis in companion animals and of recent developments including knowledge on immunological background, novel treatment options and difficulties in disease management. The prevalence of hypersensitivities seems to be increasing. The pathogenetic mechanisms are not full...

An elimination diet (ED) followed by re-challenge has been the reference standard to diagnose adverse food reactions (AFR) in dogs, but can be challenging to conduct. This study investigated the accuracy of a saliva-based test for food-specific IgA and IgM and an ELISA serum test for food-specific IgE. Three groups of dogs were tested. Group 1 (n =...

Background Recently, novel pore‐forming toxin genes designated netE and netF were identified in a Clostridium perfringens type A strain isolated from a dog with acute hemorrhagic diarrhea. Objectives Pore‐forming toxins could play an important role in the disease pattern of acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS) in dogs. Thus, we aimed to dete...

Background Many reports describe the cutaneous signs of adverse food reactions (AFR) in the dog and cat. However, various non-cutaneous clinical signs are less well described. Our objective was to systematically evaluate these non-cutaneous signs of AFR in small animals. Results We searched two databases (MEDLINE and Web of Science) for pertinent...

Objective: Edible insects (like mealworms, locusts and crickets) contain energy, protein, fatty acids, minerals and trace elements and have been found to be high quality food sources. They could provide a new food source for patients with adverse food reactions, as well as being of ecological and ethical interest. The aim of this study was to eval...

Allergen immunotherapy has been used for many years in dogs and cats and is the only specific treatment of atopic dermatitis that changes the patho-mechanisms of disease by stimulating allergen tolerance. Subcutaneous administration of allergens is the most commonly used administration route, typically in increasing concentrations (induction period...

Background: For decades, the efficacy of interventions in clinical trials enrolling dogs with atopic dermatitis (AD) relied on heterogeneous evaluations of skin lesions and pruritus using unvalidated tools. Although some instruments for clinical signs were validated later, there was little impact on standardizing outcome measures resulting in diff...

In human patients with seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis sensitized to grass pollen, the first successful allergen immunotherapy (AIT) was reported in 1911. Today, immunotherapy is an accepted treatment for allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis and hypersensitivities to insect venom. AIT is also used for atopic dermatitis and recently for food all...

Background Canine parvovirus (CPV) is the most important viral cause of acute canine enteritis leading to severe damage of the intestinal barrier. It has been speculated that dogs might develop chronic disorders after surviving CPV infection. However, no studies regarding the long-term implications of CPV infection have been published to date. The...

Questionnaire. Questionnaire sent to owners of dogs that had recovered from a clinical manifestation of CPV infection and owners of dogs that had never experienced clinical signs consistent with CPV infection, for comparison. (PDF)

Raw data. Data evaluated from the returned questionnaires including laboratory parameters noted during hospitalization of the dogs of the CPV group. (XLSX)

Bacterial pyoderma is common in small animal practice. Usually there is an associated underlying disease, but little is known about the prevalence of underlying diseases in dogs with recurrent pyoderma. The aim of this study was to analyse the frequency of the different underlying diseases in dogs with recurrent pyoderma. In total, 157 animals with...

Atopic dermatitis (AD) in dogs is among the most common skin diseases in small animal practice. It is an inflammatory disease based on a genetic predisposition to develop hypersensitivity against environmental and food allergens and typical clinical signs up exposure. Treatment sometimes can be difficult and associated with adverse effects. Previou...

Zusammenfassung Ein 4-jähriger Königspython wurde 3 Wochen nach Bissverletzungen durch eine Ratte mit großflächigen Hautläsionen und einer bakteriellen Pyodermie mit Anzeichen einer Sepsis und neurologischen Sym -ptomen vorgestellt. Die betroffene Haut löste sich von der Muskulatur, wodurch Teile des Muskelgewebes frei lagen. Klinische und zytolo -...

Background: Elimination dietary trials for the diagnosis of adverse food reactions (food allergies) in dogs and cats are often conducted with commercial pet foods while relying on their label to select those not containing previously-eaten ingredients. There are concerns that industrial pet foods might contain unlisted food sources that could nega...

Background: Subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy (SCIT) is an established and efficacious therapy for canine atopic dermatitis (AD). In humans, intralymphatic immunotherapy (ILIT) was reported to be associated with fewer and less severe adverse effects than subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy and to be efficacious for several years after three intr...

Background: Generalized demodicosis is a common disease in dogs and doramectin has been reported as a successful treatment. Different treatment protocols using doramectin have not been previously evaluated. Objective: To evaluate whether oral administration of doramectin twice a week is more effective than administration by subcutaneous injectio...

Objective: To evaluate the reproducibility of serum testing for total thyroxine (T4) in three German laboratories. Materials and methods: Serum was taken from 53 dogs with suspected hypothyroidism and divided into five aliquots. Three aliquots of each sample were marked with different names and sent to one laboratory (two aliquots simultaneously...

Introduction: New therapeutic strategies to modulate the immune response of human and equine allergic asthma are still under extensive investigation. Immunomodulating agents stimulating T-regulatory cells offer new treatment options beyond conventional symptomatic treatment or specific immunotherapy for human and equine allergic airway diseases, w...

Zusammenfassung Dieser Übersichtsartikel stellt das komplexe Krankheitsbild Erythema multiforme bei Hund und Katze dar. Es werden Ätiologie, Pathogenese, klinische Symptomatik, Diagnostik und Therapie erläutert. Erythema multiforme ist eine seltene, immunmediierte Hauterkrankung mit einem akut auftretenden spezifischen Reaktionsmuster der Haut und...

A cutaneous infection with Alternaria spp. was diagnosed in a 2-year-old male intact Irish setter dog, presenting with multifocal papules, plaques and ulcerations involving all four distal limbs, shoulder blades, scrotum, pinnae and nasal mucous membranes. The dog had been treated for inflammatory bowel disease and lymphangiectasia with immunosuppr...

Background The gold standard to diagnose adverse food reactions (AFRs) in the dog and cat is currently an elimination diet with subsequent provocation trials. However, those trials are inconvenient and client compliance can be low. Our objective was to systematically review the literature to evaluate in vivo and in vitro tests used to diagnose AFR...

This chapter presents a discussion of the number of Demodex species found in dogs. Historically, determining species in Demodex mites was based on morphological features and on which host harboured the species of mite. In the last few years, PCR techniques have been developed to specifically amplify Demodex DNA, and these have been utilized to dist...

Objective: Otitis externa is normally treated with daily topical medication. Longer application intervals may be useful to facilitate therapy. In this study, the in vivo efficacy of a gel preparation containing marbofloxacin, dexamethasone and enilconazole was compared to that of a commercial otologic agent containing marbofloxacin, dexamethasone...

Background: Adverse food reaction (AFR) is an important differential diagnosis for the pruritic dog. It is usually diagnosed by feeding an elimination diet with a novel protein and carbohydrate source for eight weeks followed by subsequent food provocation. A previous study demonstrated that patch testing dogs with foods had a high sensitivity and...

Cytosine-phosphate-guanine oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN) are a promising new immunotherapeutic treatment option for canine atopic dermatitis (AD). The aim of this uncontrolled pilot study was to evaluate clinical and immunological effects of gelatine nanoparticle (GNP)-bound CpG ODN (CpG GNP) on atopic dogs. Eighteen dogs with AD were treated for...

Otitis externa (OE) is defined as an inflammation of external ear canal and its prevalence is reported to be 5-13%. TI pathogenesis of OE is often multifactorial. The PSPP-System® it tifies and differentiates primary and secondary causes and prec posing and perpetuating factors contributing to OE and helps t clinician to establish a therapeutic pla...

Adverse food reactions occur in human as well as veterinary patients and systematic comparison may lead to improved recommendations for prevention and treatment in both. In this position paper, we summarize the current knowledge on immediate type food allergy versus other food-adverse reactions in companion animals, and compare this to the human si...

Measurement of total thyroxine (T4) is the first testing step in the work-up of thyroid disease in small animals. We evaluated an enzyme-linked fluorescent assay (ELFA) as an in-house method to measure T4 in cats and dogs. We compared the T4 concentration in sera of 122 cats and 176 dogs measured by the ELFA with an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to asse...