Bacterial skin infections are among the most common conditions in dogs, often secondary to underlying causes that must be identified and managed for long-term welfare.
Pyoderma causes significant discomfort from the pruritus, pain and heat of infected skin lesions. Hot spots - areas of acute moist dermatitis - can develop from small lesions to large raw weeping wounds within hours as dogs lick and chew at the intensely itchy skin. Deep pyoderma causes severe pain and systemic illness from bacterial toxin absorption. The recurring nature of pyoderma in dogs with underlying allergic disease means cycles of infection, treatment and partial resolution that create chronic welfare burden. Identifying and managing the primary cause rather than simply treating each infection is the welfare-positive approach.