As with all drugs, results may vary with Atopica (cyclosporine). Some dog owners will see little difference in the first month and want to stop treatment before it has a chance to work. Others will get their former itch-free dog back very quickly and want to stop treatment because they think the dog is cured.

You'll need to explain to both these groups of owners the importance of treating and managing their dogs' atopic dermatitis long-term as it is a life-long disease. Click here to download a guide to explaining atopic dermatitis to pet owners.

It may also be useful for you to download and hand out this pet owner fact sheet that covers key information available on itchfreedog.com to help them manage, monitor and avoid relapses. It includes information on:

• Identifying allergens in the home
• Adapting the home to reduce relapses
• Signing up for a treatment journal to monitor their dog’s progress and track seasonal changes

Explaining atopic dermatitis and the need for long-term care to pet owners can be a tricky business. Dr Tim Nuttall of Liverpool University talks through the top 5 areas to cover to ensure pet owners understand the life-long nature of atopic dermatitis, and the importance of monitoring flares and adhering to treatment. A summary of these top tips is also available to download as a fact sheet.
 

1. Introduction
2. Explain the chronic lifelong nature of atopic dermatitis
3. Educate about the role of short-term relief versus lasting comfort
4. Explain that Atopica is an effective, long-term option
5. Use case studies of other dogs and owners
6. Manage the owner’s expectations

The cost of long term care

Long-term care can be considered a costly business by some pet owners but in reality the cost of atopic dermatitis can be more manageable than many other long-term chronic conditions. Hear what Dr Wayne Rosenkrantz has to say about how best to put the cost of long term treatment of atopic dermatitis into perspective for pet owners.

 
And what price do you put on customer satisfaction? Click here to read more about the true cost atopic dermatitis can have on your client satisfaction.

Overcoming common hurdles:

• With Atopica, side effects are generally mild and temporary. Around 1 in 3 dogs briefly experience diarrhoea or vomiting (Steffan J et al. Vet Dermatol 2006;17:13-16). If you need advice on dealing with these side effects, please contact your local NAH Technical team.Cost can be a big hurdle for some pet owners. However, if you show them steroids, antihistamines, immunotherapy and topical symptomatic treatment options, they’ll see that a long-term approach to treatment will cut down on the number of treatments, number of vet visits and number of recurrences – and is of better value.
• The cost will decrease as the dosage frequency decreases
• Remind clients that they can deal with the short-term effects to gain long-term control
• Providing information on potential side effects is one of the best ways to avoid pet owner dissatisfaction with treatment, as they will be prepared if any side effects do occur.