High humidity and exposure to water can often provide the perfect environment for skin infections to develop. Pyoderma refers to an infection of the skin and can be caused by bacteria, fungus, or parasites such as fleas or skin mites or lice. Pyoderma is one of the most frequent reasons people bring their pet to the veterinarian. Redness, itchiness and, in some cases, partial hair loss are often seen with skin infections. Our compassionate and knowledgeable veterinarians see skin infections on a daily basis and the great news is that in most cases the prognosis is excellent.
Overgrowth of the normal bacteria on the skin is one of the most common cause for dogs to develop skin infections. In most situations skin infections caused by bacteria are not contagious from dog to dog or dog to person. It is most likely due an overgrowth of undesirable bacteria and a lack of the normal or “good” bacteria on the skin. Just as we don’t worry about catching pimples or acne from other people, we generally don’t need to be concerned about the spread of these common skin infections from dogs.
Yeast infections are also a common contributing factor for the itching and scratching dog. Yeast is an opportunistic organism – it typically does not cause infection on the skin unless the body’s normal protective barriers are compromised. Yeast tends to thrive in warm, moist environments and so our veterinarians will often see it between the toes, the ears and on skin that is already red and irritated from scratching.
Canine skin infections can also be caused by ringworm which is a type of fungus. Ringworm is most likely to occur in young puppies, kittens, or immunocompromised animals. Ringworm is a type of skin infection that is zoonotic – meaning that it can be transferred from animals to humans. It generally presents as red, crusting sores on the body and is often-times itchy. While it can be a nuisance and is potentially contagious to people, the prognosis is very good with appropriate treatment. Our experienced veterinarians have seen many cases of ringworm and can recommend an appropriate treatment to be started for your pet while awaiting results of a fungal culture that can be performed at Idexx Reference Laboratories.
Parasites, such as fleas and mites, can also cause skin infections. Fleas need to bite the dog’s skin to obtain their blood meal. The combination of the flea bite along with the irritation caused by the flea’s saliva can result in excessive itching and scratching that can then result in a more severe skin issue.
At Town & Country Animal Hospital, our compassionate and trusted veterinarians offer a variety of options to care for and treat dog skin infections, as well as provide for the care and management of many other conditions such as dog ear infections and dog flea and tick infestation. We are able to accommodate same day appointments to help your pet receive the instant relief they deserve. We are able to dispense medication from our inhouse pharmacy or through our online pharmacy at https://mynaplesvet.covetruspharmacy.com
