PSI-3 - An Assessment of the Barrier Function of Canine Skin After Repeated Decontamination

Working canines are often deployed to environments with unknown chemical and biological contaminants. Deployed canines may operate in highly contaminated disaster sites for lengthy periods of time requiring daily decontamination efforts. The skin provides a barrier by retaining moisture and preventing entry by contaminants and pathogens. However, few data exist on the impact of repeated decontamination to the canine skin. The objective of this study was to identify changes in dermal health during and after a 14-day serial decontamination program. Labrador retrievers (n = 8) were decontaminated daily using a dish detergent solution (1:8, detergent:water). Skin measurements were collected weekly for pH, trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), sebum, and moisture. Additionally, visual assessments were recorded for skin health, coat condition, and dander scores (back and body). Statistical tests were conducted with SAS (version 9.4) with measurements analyzed using a PROC GLM Two Way ANOVA and visual assessments analyzed using PROC FREQ Chi Square test. Significance was set at 5% for all tests. Repeated decontamination significantly increased TEWL (P < 0.0001) through day 16. Sebum content was also impacted by repeated daily decontamination efforts (P = 0.0387). Sebum decreased initially before steadily rising. In contrast, moisture content (P = 0.3842) and pH (P = 0.7462), were unaffected by repeated decontamination. Interestingly, dander scores assessed on the back were worsened by repeated decontamination (P = 0.0222) but dander scores assessed across the whole body were unaffected (P = 0.1804). Coat shine was unaffected by decontamination (P = 0.1156) similar to coat softness (P = 0.3418). Overall coat condition remained unchanged as a result of repeated decontamination efforts (P = 0.9466). These data reveal that daily decontamination impacts dermal function, potentially risks for canines working in contaminated areas. Future work should include investigations into methods for decontamination to mitigate these risks.