A proposed medication score for long-term trials of treatment of canine atopic dermatitis sensu lato

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 scrutinized to find those that were consistent in terms of specific medication, administration route and dosage regimen. A MS was constructed in five steps, starting from assigning a score of 1 for each day on oral prednisone, prednisolone or methylprednisolone at 0.5–1.0 mg/kg. The MS score was validated using the clinical records of 35 dogs with atopic dermatitis that had been treated for a period of 12 ± 2 weeks with six of these medications and compared with a previously published non-validated MS. Results: A MS could be assigned to eight treatments, six of which had been administered to the 35 dogs. A positive correlation was seen with the previously published MS and a negative correlation with changes in lesional and pruritus scores. Conclusion: This MS may be a useful tool in new studies evaluating the efficacy of treatments in canine atopic dermatitis. © 2021 British Veterinary Associatio