Hair cortisol concentration, disease severity and quality of life in dogs with atopic dermatitis during lokivetmab therapy.

Background: There are no studies which evaluate hair cortisol as a biological marker of stress and anxiety in pruritic dogs during atopic dermatitis therapy. Objectives: A longitudinal evaluation of hair cortisol concentrations, the severity of disease and the QoL in dogs with cAD during therapy with lokivetmab. Animals: Ten client‐owned dogs with cAD. Materials and Methods: Dogs were assessed at three time points: at the initial visit at day (D) 0 and at D28, when lokivetmab (2.2–3.2 mg/kg) was administered, and at D56 for one further evaluation. At all time points, pruritus and lesion severity was assessed using the pruritus Visual Analog Scale (PVAS) and Canine Atopic Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index, 4th iteration (CADESI‐04). Dog owners filled out a validated QoL questionnaire and hair cortisol concentrations were measured from samples collected from the same area on each dog. Results: There was a significant reduction in PVAS (p < 0.001) and improvement in QoL of dogs (QoL1) and owners (QoL2) after lokivetmab administration, with a positive correlation of the PVAS with QoL1 and QoL2 (r = 0.71 and 0.52, respectively). There was no difference in CADESI‐04 scores at the different time points (p = 0.515). A significant reduction in hair cortisol levels at D56 was measured compared with D28 (p < 0.001). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Hair cortisol may be a useful marker of stress in dogs with cAD. These results highlight the negative impact of cAD on the QoL of dogs and their owners, and the positive benefit of lokivetmab therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]