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by Nicola Parry, DVM<\/p>\n

Pyoderma refers to a bacterial infection of the skin, and is a very common canine condition. It can produce a lot of discomfort for your dog due to the intense itching that it causes. As a result, he may further traumatize the affected skin ultimately leading to a snowball effect with worsening of the original skin condition.<\/p>\n

Although pyoderma represents an extremely common reason for dogs visiting their veterinarian, it must be remembered that it is usually not actually a disease entity in its own right \u2013 it typically arises secondary to some other underlying medical issue. Therefore, if you suspect this condition in your dog, it is important to have him examined by a veterinarian \u2013 not just for relief of the skin disease, but so he can additionally be evaluated for some underlying (and potentially more serious) problem that may be a predisposing factor:<\/p>\n

Some Underlying Conditions That Can Predispose To Pyoderma<\/strong><\/p>\n

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• Skin allergy (flea allergy)<\/li>\n
• Endocrine disease (hypothyroidism)<\/li>\n
• Parasitic skin infection (mange mites)<\/li>\n
• Fungal skin infection (malasseziasis)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  How Does Infection Start?<\/strong><\/p>\n

  The most common bacterial organism involved in pyoderma is Staphylococcus intermedius<\/em> \u2013 a bug that is actually found normally on the skin of healthy dogs. It tends to \u201cturn rogue\u201d, however, in some circumstances \u2013 such as when skin is traumatized due to scratching associated with allergic or parasitic conditions, or in association with endocrine diseases. <\/span>Due to bacterial involvement, these are typically purulent (pus-forming) conditions, and can be either superficial (restricted to the outermost layers of the skin) or deep (extending to involve deeper layers of the skin).<\/p>\n

  5 Signs Of Pyoderma<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Papules (red bumps)<\/li>\n
  2. Pustules (pimples)<\/li>\n
  3. Crusts (scabs)<\/li>\n
  4. Hair loss<\/li>\n
  5. Draining wounds<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     Treating Pyoderma<\/strong><\/p>\n

     The treatment of pyoderma involves a two-pronged attack:<\/p>\n

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