The effect of Pyoderma on Household Pets.

One of the reasons why people love to have a pet around the house is for them to have something to hold onto, for the sake of companionship amongst other reasons, Most pet owners would normally hug, kiss, and even share a bed with their adorable pets. All these things are however convenient, If the pet has no case of skin infection, it becomes difficult to practice the usual routine of hugging, kissing, and sharing a bed with your pet when there is a presence of skin infection.

I will be sharing on PYODERMA with you today my friends, and as usual, I really hope you enjoy the time spent reading. Pyoderma is a bacterial skin infection, with another name known as Impetigo, This other name is commonly used for younger puppies.

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Literally, pyoderma translates to mean, "pus in the skin", It is usually caused by an inflammation, an infection, or caused by cancer, and it is more common in dogs. Dogs are more prone to pyoderma as a result of certain features on their skin.
There are different types of pyoderma in dogs, We have surface pyoderma which affects the epidermis, (outer skin layer), which could turn out to give a pink and irritated skin reaction, and also lead to loss of hair.

Bacterial overgrowth syndrome (BOGS): In this case, the dog develops greasy, itchy, and smelly skin, which is mostly seen on the underside of the body.
Pyotraumatic dermatitis, which develops very rapidly and is highly itchy.
Intertrigo, is a type of skin fold infection that is common amongst short-muzzled breeds, like the English Bulldogs.

The superficial pyoderma, on the other hand, affects part of the hair follicles and the epidermis. There will be noticeable bumps, redness, circular crusts, and hair loss. The types are;

Mucocutaneous pyoderma: This results in the overproduction of mucus in the skin, places such as the: nose, vulva, skin around the eyes, area around the anus, and vulva are mostly affected.
Impetigo: This infection happens as a result of the puppy's developing immune system, areas with little hair like the belly region are affected.
Superficial bacterial folliculitis (SBF) and superficial spreading pyoderma: As a result of widespread hairloss, a dog's coat may have a moth-eaten appearance, all breeds can be affected, but this is more common with breeds like; Border Collies, Shetland sheepdogs, Collies creating severe redness and irritation in them.

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The third class of pyoderma is the Deep pyoderma which affects the lower skin layers. Deep pyoderma happens when superficial pyoderma remains untreated or there is a rupture of skin follicles. With this type of pyoderma comes symptoms like; purple-looking areas, swelling, draining tracts of infection, crusting, hair loss, and redness.

Acne: More common amongst young dogs, and inflammation of hair follicles, could become infected with bacteria.
Callus pyoderma: This condition is dark, thick skin over pressure points that are infected.
Furunculosis: This condition is often noticed between the dog's toes, this is not to say it cannot affect any other place. In a rare instance, the condition that we call, post-grooming furunculosis can happen 24-48 hours after bathing or intense brushing, creating fever and pain.
Lick granuloma: In this case, there is a possibility that your dog develops a skin lesion from licking the top surface of its lower legs, which could stem from a bacterial infection or another issue.

Diagnosing pyoderma is dependent on the medical history and clinical signs displayed by your pet. Additional tests like blood tests would be carried out in order to determine if your pet has an endocrine disease. The most common reason behind a recurrent bacterial pyoderma is the failure to treat an underlying case, there is a strong case of recurrence if you fail to treat your dog appropriately.

Medications are prescribed to aid treatment, antibiotics, and anti-itch medications are usually prescribed. Medicated shampoos, sprays, and ointment. Long-time treatment is required for your pet to get a complete cure.

In the case of superficial pyoderma, antibiotic therapy will be advised and the treatment will last for 7-10 days after which the infection would disappear. For deep pyoderma, 14-20 days of antibiotic treatment will be advised. During the phase of recovery, it is best to have your pet in a quiet space with lots of access to water and food.