title: Multiple-center study of reduced-concentration triamcinolone topical solution for the treatment of dogs with known or suspected allergic pruritus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy of triamcinolone acetonide topical solution (TTS) in dogs for use in reduction of clinical signs of pruritic inflammatory skin diseases of a known or suspected allergic basis and to evaluate adverse effects associated with TTS administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  103 pruritic adult dogs with known or suspected allergic skin disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs were treated for 4 weeks with TTS or with vehicle solution (control dogs) in a multiple-center study. Clinical signs were scored by owners and by examining veterinarians before and after treatment. Blood samples obtained before and after treatment were subjected to routine hematologic and serum biochemical analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment success, as defined by an improvement of at least 2 of 6 grades in overall clinical score, was evident in 35 of 52 (67%) TTS-treated dogs (mean improvement, 1.98) and 12 of 51 (24%) control dogs (mean improvement, 0.29). For several criteria, TTS was significantly more effective than vehicle in reducing clinical signs. Minor alterations in hematologic determinations in TTS-treated dogs were limited to slightly lower total leukocyte, lymphocyte, and eosinophil counts after treatment. Minor adverse effects were reported by owners in 6 of 52 (12%) TTS-treated and 9 of 51 (18%) control dogs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Triamcinolone used as a spray solution at a concentration approximately one-sixth the concentration of triamcinolone topical preparations currently available for veterinary use is effective for short-term alleviation of allergic pruritus in dogs. Adverse effects are few and mild and, thus, do not preclude prolonged treatment with the solution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 53706, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Deboer
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Schafer
authors.forename: Charles S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Salsbury
authors.forename: Jenifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.forename: Karin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Beale
authors.forename: Carlo B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muse
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Moriello
authors.forename: Reid A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Garfield
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Keefe
authors.forename: T Reid
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: McArthur
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004285:Dogs; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide