title: Pilot evaluation of the efficacy of shampoo treatment with ultrapure soft water for canine pruritus.
abstract: Ultrapure soft water (UPSW) is water in which calcium and magnesium ions have been replaced with sodium ions using a cation-exchange resin. We recently demonstrated that washing with soap and UPSW reduced the clinical severity of dermatitis and improved the skin barrier function in NC/NgaTnd mice, a murine model for human atopic dermatitis. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy of shampoo treatment with UPSW for dogs with pruritus. Eleven dogs with pruritus were randomly assigned to two groups depending on whether they received weekly shampoo treatment with UPSW or tap water for 4 weeks. After a washout period, the treatment protocol was switched such that each dog received both treatments. The pre-treatment and post-treatment values of the following were compared: pruritus scores assessed by the owners; dermatitis scores recorded by an investigator; and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Shampoo treatment with UPSW significantly decreased pruritus and dermatitis scores in the dogs, whereas shampoo treatment with tap water did not. In addition, shampoo treatment with UPSW, but not with tap water, significantly reduced TEWL in the dogs. Adverse events due to the treatment were not observed in the dogs. Furthermore, we found that topical application of UPSW for barrier-disrupted skin caused by tape stripping in healthy dogs decreased TEWL more rapidly than topical application of tap water. Our findings suggest that shampoo treatment with UPSW promotes skin barrier recovery and thus could be considered as a possible therapeutic option in the management of pruritus and dermatitis in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Molecular Pathology and Therapeutics, Division of Animal Life Science, Graduate School, Institute of Symbiotic Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
authors.forename: Keitaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohmori
authors.forename: Akane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Makita
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takai
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshinari
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsuda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006203:Hair Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006203:Hair Preparations; D014867:Water