Diagnosing atopic dermatitis in dogs is based on exclusion of other disorders. Symptoms such as itching, scratching and hair loss can have other causes, including:
 

• Flea Allergic Dermatitis (see fleafree.co.uk)
• Scabies
• Food allergy
• Bacterial or fungal skin infection

For this reason, a visit to your veterinary surgeon is essential if your pet is showing some of the symptoms described on this site. Even if they suspect atopic dermatitis, they'll need to rule out other causes of itching with a detailed patient history, physical examination and some simple diagnostic testing:
 

How your vet will find out what's troubling your dog
 

Nearly all dogs will suffer a flea infestation at some point in their lives, and many dogs with atopic dermatitis are also allergic to fleas. So whether they're the cause of the problem, or contributing to it, fleas need to be dealt with first.
 

If canine atopic dermatitis is confirmed, there are a number of different treatments your vet may recommend, many of which are explained in the treatments section of this site.