Pyoderma Treatment
A common disorder in dogs and cats, pyoderma, occurs when pus accumulates on the skin's surface. Normally, a bacterial infection causes the condition, but it can also occur from neoplastic etiologies, infections or inflammation of the skin's surface. Pustules appear on the dog's skin with intermediate scaling. The hair follicles in the infected region cause the hair to stand upwards. Hair loss, papules and areas of ulceration appear. As the disease progresses, the infected area bleeds and produces a foul odor with pus accumulation.
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Underlying Condition
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Cats often suffer an underlying condition, which leads to the development of pyoderma. Any cat showing symptoms of pyoderma will need to be checked for feline leukemia virus, atypical mycobacteria and feline immunodeficiency virus. If an underlying condition causes the pyoderma to occur, treating the condition can alleviate the pyoderma.
Common Causes
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Removing the cause of the pyoderma often offers significant steps in treatment. Fleas, skin allergies, hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism all lead to the development of pyoderma. Poor grooming practices on long haired dogs can also cause the disease. Once the condition that causes the pyroderma is treated, the disease often resolves itself.
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Antibiotics
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Antibiotics typically resolve pyoderma. A course of antibiotics will depend on the severity of the pyoderma. Normally, a veterinarian will prescribe a 21 to 31 day course of treatment. Not prescribing antibiotics for the required length of time will often allow the condition to recur. Treatment for deep pyoderma often requires ongoing antibiotic treatment for up to 12 weeks, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. An application of topical antibiotics often helps relieve discomfort quickly when combined with oral antibiotics.
Coat Care
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Clipping the fur away from infected areas helps in the treatment of pyoderma. The dog should also undergo professional grooming to remove all medium to long hair on its entire body, because the hair can trap bacteria, which causes the situation to continue.
Bathing
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Bathing the dog two to three times per week during the first two weeks of treatment, and then reducing the bathing to only one to two times per week helps relieve both the dog's discomfort and the symptoms. Bathing also reduces the bacteria that forms on the skin's surface. Use medicated, prescribed shampoos from the veterinarian to help aid the treatment process. The use of shampoos also greatly reduces the risk of recurrence, according to the UK Vet.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit dog image by Kevin McGrath from Fotolia.com
