MACROSCOPIC LESION HEALING IN DOGS WITH ATOPIC DERMATITIS FOLLOWING COCONUT OIL ADMINISTRATION

Adi Setiawan (Undergraduate Student, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Udayana University, Jl. PB. Sudirman, Sanglah, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, 80234)
Putu Devi Jayanti (Laboratory of Clinical Diagnostics, Clinical Pathology, and Veterinary Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Udayana University, Jl. PB. Sudirman, Sanglah, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, 80234)
Ni Nyoman Werdi Susari (Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Udayana University, Jl. PB. Sudirman, Sanglah, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, 80234)
Luh Made Sudimartini (Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Pharmacology, and Pharmacy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Udayana University, Jl. PB. Sudirman, Sanglah, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, 80234)
I Nyoman Suartha (Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Udayana University, Jl. PB. Sudirman, Sanglah, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, 80234)

Buletin Veteriner Udayana
Bul. Vet. Udayana. February 2026 Vol. 18 No. 1

Atopic dermatitis is a multifactorial disease associated with inflammatory and pruritic allergic conditions, with a genetic predisposition and immunoglobulin E (IgE) production against environmental allergens. To address this disease, the use of coconut oil as a herbal medicine may serve as an alternative therapy. This study aimed to evaluate changes in macroscopic skin lesions in dogs with atopic dermatitis following coconut oil administration. The study used five Balinese local breed dogs with atopic dermatitis aged three months. The dogs received coconut oil massage treatment once every three days for 33 days. The research procedure involved observing the progression of primary and secondary lesion healing, hair growth around the lesion area, and microscopic examination of the hair growth phase. The data were analyzed using nonparametric tests, followed by the Friedman test, Wilcoxon test, and regression analysis. The results of the Friedman, Wilcoxon, and regression tests showed significant healing after coconut oil application, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) in macroscopic observations. Overall, improvements in macroscopic lesions were observed in all sample dogs, characterized by reduced pruritus, erythema, macules, papules, pustules, crusts, scabs, scaling, hyperpigmentation, and lichenification, as well as hair regrowth in areas affected by alopecia. In conclusion, coconut oil application is effective in improving the healing of macroscopic lesions in dogs with atopic dermatitis.