This educational chart walks you through the steps required to definitively diagnose atopic dermatitis. It’s tempting to tell your veterinarian, “My dog is miserable and I can’t wait for you to work this out,” but this can lead to incorrect diagnosis and further misery for your dog. A little patience during diagnosis can lead to a lot of comfort for the rest of your dog’s life.
 

Important Note:
Only your veterinarian can diagnose atopic dermatitis. The features described here can appear in many types of allergic skin diseases. Diagnosis is based upon a combination of the patient’s history and physical examination. Use the veterinarian locator to find a clinic in your area that can diagnose your dog’s condition. Use the AD Checklist to help your veterinarian.
 

As with all drugs, side effects may occur. In a field study, the most common side effects were gastrointestinal signs. Gingival hyperplasia and papillomas may also occur during the initial dosing phase. ATOPICA is not for use in reproducing dogs or dogs with a history of malignant neoplasia.