Nonsteroidal management of canine pruritus with amitriptyline.

Thirty-one dogs with nonlesional pruritus were treated with amitriptyline (1 mg/kg orally q12h) to determine its efficacy in the management of canine allergic pruritus. Seventeen dogs were known to be atopic, 8 were presumed to be atopic, and 6 had pruritus of undetermined etiology. Pruritus was virtually eliminated in 5 (16.1%) dogs, reduced by approximately 50% in another 5 (16.1%) dogs, and not changed in the remaining 21 dogs. Side effects were uncommon.