Study Reveals Dog Owners and Veterinarians See Challenges in Treating Allergic Skin Disease, Highlighting a Need for a Targeted Rapid Onset Treatment for Dogs of All Ages

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Efficacy and safety are top preferences when selecting antipruritic treatments, but dog owners and veterinarians want options that are easier to administer, more affordable and improve compliance RAHWAY, N.J., June 17, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), today announced results from a new global survey of dog owners and veterinarians revealing challenges and pain points associated with diagnosing the underlying cause of allergic skin disease in dogs and its treatment. According to Pet Owner and Vet Perspectives on Canine Pruritus: A Global Survey, about one-third of canine patients seen by U.S. veterinarians have itchy skin or allergic skin disease (27% of global canine patients) and about two in five dogs with skin conditions are newly diagnosed (U.S. and global). Both dog owners and veterinarians feel fatigued and burdened by canine allergic skin disease, with 34% of U.S. dog owners reporting a notable negative impact on their own quality of life (31% globally). Additionally, 43% of dog owners who have dogs with itchy skin in the U.S. (39% globally) indicated a significant negative impact on the dog's quality of life. In fact, 86% of U.S. dog owners (90% globally) who have taken their dog with scratchy/itchy skin to the vet have discussed their dog’s itch with their vet with 61% of those dog owners specifically making the appointments with their veterinarian to discuss their pet’s itchy skin (60% globally). The survey also revealed that both dog owners and veterinarians have difficulty finding an effective treatment, with 28% of U.S. dog owners and 36% of U.S. veterinarians having switched therapies used to treat allergic skin disease in the last year (compared to globally 29% and 41%, respectively). To access vet and pet owner resources, click here. "Allergic skin disease is one of the most common clinical signs among dogs of all ages. Knowing that many dog owners and veterinarians are managing dogs with allergic skin disease, we wanted to understand the challenges they are facing when it comes to diagnosis, treatment, and compliance," said Linda Horspool, BVMS, PhD, DipECVPT, FRCVS, Director Scientific Marketing Affairs, Global Marketing Companion Animals, Merck Animal Health. "We found that ...

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