Canine or feline pyoderma is one of the most common skin diseases, but its treatment can be difficult due to growing bacterial resistance to the antibiotics used.
Find out how to treat pyoderma and, most importantly, how to keep your pet's skin healthy at all times.
Pyoderma: what it is
Skin infection caused by exacerbated bacterial multiplication. It has a much higher incidence in dogs than in cats.
In both canine and cat pyoderma, the main agent involved is the bacterium Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, which is normally part of the microbiota of healthy skin, but in an imbalance is capable of causing infection.
The most common signs of pyoderma in dogs and cats
Reddened and inflamed skin (erythema), moist lesions with pus, scabs, hair loss (alopecia), brittle coat and itching (pruritus).
In cats, the face is the most affected region of the body, while in dogs the lesions are usually located on the trunk, belly or inner thighs.
Types of pyoderma
Pyoderma in dogs and cats can be of primary origin, but is usually secondary to some underlying disease, such as an allergic, endocrine or autoimmune disease, which needs to be treated so as not to trigger the bacterial infection on the skin.
According to the characteristics of the lesions and the severity of the condition, pyoderma can be classified as surface, superficial or deep pyoderma.
How to treat pyoderma in dogs and cats
Current guidelines recommend topical therapy whenever possible, as the indiscriminate use of systemic antimicrobials has led to bacterial resistance to the main antibiotics used to treat pyoderma.
- Topical therapy: pros and cons
Pros:
In superficial pyoderma, antiseptic products that act directly on the skin, such as chlorhexidine shampoo and spray for dogs and cats, can be just as effective as systemic antibiotics, without the risk of causing bacterial resistance.
In cases of deep pyoderma, topical therapy can complement the treatment and help reduce the use of antibiotics.
Cons:
Formulations with aggressive cleaning surfactants can dry out the skin and coat.
Prolonged use of antiseptics can cause skin dysbiosis, an alteration in the populations of microorganisms that normally inhabit the skin and help regulate it.
- Systemic Antibiotic Therapy
Generally indicated in cases of deep pyoderma or when topical therapy is not enough.
Complementary tests such as cytology, culture and antibiogram help with diagnosis and the rational choice of antimicrobial.
- Prevention and maintenance: Dermatological support
The aim of treatment for pyoderma goes beyond eliminating bacteria. And animals with recurrent pyoderma need lifelong management.
A daily routine of Skin Care Pet offers support before, during and after treatment.
Care such as intensive moisturizing and preserving the skin microbiome strengthens the epidermal barrier and helps reduce the use of antibiotics.
Get to know the Dermatological support which can be done at home to protect your best friend's skin and coat.
For more health and less bacterial resistance
Topical Therapy, Rational Use of Antibiotic Therapy and Dermatological supportThis completes the management of pyoderma and helps to avoid the risk of bacterial resistance.
Literature consulted:
Borio S, Colombo S, La Rosa G, et al. Effectiveness of a combined (4% chlorhexidine digluconate shampoo and solution) protocol in MRS and non-MRS canine superficial pyoderma: a randomized, blinded, antibiotic-controlled study. Vet Dermatol 2015.
Hillier A, Lloyd DH, Weese JS, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy of canine superficial bacterial folliculitis (Antimicrobial Guidelines Working Group of the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases). Vet Dermatol 2014.
Frosini SM, Loefler A. Treating canine pyoderma with topical antibacterial therapy. In Practice, 2020.
