Pramoxine hydrochloride is a local anesthetic that has ben used in dogs for the topical management of pruritus. To our knowledge, there have been no published clinical studies on its use as an adjunctive drug in the management of pruritus in atopic dogs. We conducted an open clinical trial on the use of two veterinary pramoxine cream rinses in 17 dogs with pruritus due to atopy. After 4 weeks, the owners of these dogs were asked to evaluate their pets for response and adverse effects. They reported that these products were effective in seven dogs and not effective in ten dogs. Six dogs experienced increased pruritis after application of the product. Although this as a small study, pramoxine cream causes may be a useful therapeutic adjunct in the management of pruritus in certain atopic dogs.

Tetracycline and niacinamide were administered in combination to 19 atopic dogs to determine their effectiveness in controlling pruritus. The pruritus was controlled successfully in only one dog. One dog experienced diarrhea that was severe enough to warrant stopping the medication.

A retrospective histopathological study was conducted on skin biopsy specimens from 70 dogs with follicular dysplasia syndromes and 102 dogs with endocrine skin disease. Criteria evaluated included dysplastic hair follicles, dysplastic hair shafts, and irregularities in melanization of the follicular epithelium, pilar canal, hair shaft, and perifollicular areas. Dysplastic hair follicles were found in 76% of the dogs with follicular dysplasia syndromes and 46% of the dogs with endocrine skin disease. There was a significantly higher frequency of dysplastic hair follicles and abnormalities in the melanization of the follicular epithelium, pilar canal, and perifollicular areas in the follicular dysplasia syndromes group. Although dysplastic hair shafts were almost exclusively seen only in specimens from dogs with follicular dysplasia syndromes, unique to the follicular dysplasia syndromes group was the clumping of melanin within hair shafts and the presence of dysplastic hair shafts. Histological criteria other than the mere presence of occasional dysplastic hair follicles must be used to differentiate follicular dysplasia syndromes from endocrine skin disease.

Clindamycin hydrochloride capsules (11 mg/kg body weight, q24h) were administered orally to 20 dogs with deep staphylococcal pyoderma. Response to therapy was excellent in 100% of the dogs. Duration of therapy varied from 21 to 91 d, with an average duration of 45 d. Relapses occurred in 25% of the dogs within a 3-month period. One dog vomited when the clindamycin was given on an empty stomach. Under the conditions of the study, clindamycin was an effective, safe, and convenient antibiotic for the treatment of deep staphylococcal pyoderma in dogs.

Cyproheptadine hydrochloride was administered to 20 presumed or proven allergic cats to determine its efficacy in controlling pruritus. Each cat received 2 mg, orally, every 12 h. The pruritus was satisfactorily controlled in 9 cats. Side effects were seen in 8 cats, and included polyphagia, sedation, vocalization, affectionate behavior, and vomiting.