Just like other pets, it’s quite normal for dogs to scratch themselves occasionally. However, whenever your dog scratches itself intensively, the chances are that it might be ailing from a skin condition.
Pimples, red skin, and hair loss are all clinical signs of pyoderma in dogs. But what is pyoderma? What causes this skin condition in dogs? Pyoderma is a skin condition that affects not only particular skin follicles but surrounding skin as well.
While determining whether your dog suffers from pyoderma can be utterly difficult, a veterinarian can help you identify the signs and administer the desired treatment. Clavamox tablets for dogs are a common and effective treatment for pyoderma and bacterial infections. It is designed to ensure that no bacteria infection can develop resistance to it. Clavamox is also effective against pneumonia, bone, bladder, and mouth infection.
Even so, there are telltale signs on whether your dog has been affected by pyoderma. This article will shed light on common symptoms of pyoderma in dogs. Additionally, this article will go into detail on how to treat pyoderma in dogs. Read on to find out.
Causes of Pyoderma in Dogs
Just like humans, dogs roam around with bacteria and yeast on their skin surface. While the normal flora might be important, pyoderma occurs when the skin’s integrity is damaged, and the bacteria and yeast gain access to your dog’s body. Always remember that pyoderma is acquired and develops slowly from something else.
Signs of Pyoderma in Dogs
A mentioned above, pyoderma is a bacterial infestation that affects the skin of a dog. While this is pretty much straight forward, it’s worth noting that pyoderma can manifest itself in your dog’s skin in many different ways. On one hand, pyoderma in dogs can affect only one part of the skin and, in more severe cases, cover your dog’s entire skin.
In a nutshell, pyoderma in dogs is mainly caused by bacteria in the skin. Although it’s quite difficult to avoid any bacteria in your skin, you can always minimize the number of bacteria in your dog’s skin.
To do this, you need first to identify areas such as nail beds, neck folds, moist skin, and lips, which are perfect environments for bacterial and yeast overgrowth. Always ensure to thoroughly clean these areas to minimize the growth of yeast and bacteria.
Some of the body’s most affected areas include chins, lips, space between the toes, and vulva folds. Generally, any skin fold in your dog’s body is highly susceptible to pyoderma. In some cases, pyoderma in dogs can be severely itchy. This is often the case when your dog suffers from flea itchy dermatitis. However, pyoderma does not always make your dog itch. That said, here are common signs of pyoderma in dogs that you should be on the lookout for.
• Redness
• Flaking skin
• Hair loss
• Pustules
• Red bumps
• Excessive shedding
• Skin discoloration
In the case of puppies, they often suffer from a special kind of pyoderma called puppy pyoderma. Unlike the normal pyoderma, puppy pyoderma always manifests in puppies as red bumps in the groin, armpits, and abdominal region.
Although the red bumps are easily visible, they often scab over and heal with ease due to the delicate nature of your puppy’s skin. It’s worth noting that although puppy pyoderma can make your puppy slightly itchy, the condition cannot drastically affect them.
How to Treat Pyoderma in Dogs
Knowing that your dog has pyoderma can be scary. After all, you cannot stand seeing your dog uncomfortable with a fiery red rash and itchy skin. The good news is that pyoderma in dogs is treatable with the right medication.
Generally, treatment of pyoderma in dogs involves eliminating the bacterial infestation through medication and proper veterinary care. As earlier stated, Clavamox is effective in treating pyoderma in dogs. Your vet may also prescribe other antibiotics based on your dog’s condition. Apart from administering antibiotics, the following elements will go a long way in getting rid of pyoderma in your dog’s skin.
• Mousses
• Medical shampoos
• Medical sprays
• Antibacterial pads
Although these methods can help manage pyoderma in dogs, it’s of utmost importance to treat underlying causes. These symptoms are always evident in dogs that are highly susceptible to pyoderma and dogs with severe pyoderma infections on their skin.
For instance, if your dog has skin allergies, he can greatly benefit from medications such as corticosteroid prednisone to relieve any short term itching. Once your dog has been treated, it’s important to properly groom the infected area to ease the healing process. If your dog has a long and thick coat, you can go ahead to trim the infected area while grooming for ease of treatment.
