Canine Interleukin-1 Alpha (IL-1α) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine belonging to the IL-1 family, which includes IL-1α, IL-1β, and the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), and plays a key role in initiating and amplifying innate immune responses in dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). IL-1α is constitutively expressed in epithelial and barrier tissues and functions as an intracellular alarmin that is rapidly released upon cell injury or necrosis, triggering early inflammatory signaling. It binds to the IL-1 receptor type 1 (IL-1R1), activating NF-κB and MAPK pathways that promote leukocyte recruitment, endothelial activation, fever, and production of additional pro-inflammatory mediators. In canine health, IL-1α is particularly relevant in inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, wound healing responses, osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and certain neoplastic conditions where tumor-associated inflammation contributes to disease progression. While essential for pathogen defense and tissue repair, excessive or chronic IL-1α signaling can exacerbate tissue damage and perpetuate inflammation. As an early mediator of sterile and infectious inflammation, canine IL-1α serves as a biomarker of tissue injury and innate immune activation. In translational research, dogs are valuable spontaneous models for human dermatologic disease, osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer, and characterization of canine IL-1α supports comparative studies of cytokine-driven inflammation and development of targeted anti-inflammatory therapies relevant to both veterinary and human medicine.