Pioderma

Pioderma is defined as the infection of the skin by some bacteria producing pus, which may affect the epidermis, ending in a superficial pioderma, or may affect the inner layers of skin and all the structures there, causing a deep pioderma.

The common bacteria found in this kind of disorders are staphylococcus intermedius, sometimes they appear together with some others such as the proteus spp or pseudomomonas spp.

This disease is very common in dogs and rare in cats, and more usual in summer and spring. Above all, it is usually found in short hair races, skin folds or those animals which have calluses subjected to pressure.

In fact, pioderma is always a secondary process following the chronic loss and softening of the skin, due to several facts like the exposure to humidity, alterations of the micro bacteria, disorders of the blood flow or deficit in the immune-competence. Also, it may be simultaneous to some allergy process, parasite diseases such as the mange, certain endocrine diseases such as hypothyroidism, etc.

It may arise in a slow way, although the common thing is an acute and very active process that usually goes together to an intense itching that makes the animal scratch and lick itself all the time and getting the problem more serious.

Clinically speaking, besides stitching, several lesions in the skin can be observed. It is common for the owner to realise a wet zone of the skin with an intense and disgusting smell, as well as a feeling of pain and itching around the injured area.

When we have these animals at the clinic, we have to remove the hair, clean and disinfect the area, so many of these animals must be sedated. This is when the owner is aware of the seriousness of the lesions. It is prescribed an Elizabethan collar or even a bandage or some socks to avoid scratching or licking in the affected zone.

The treatment consists of antibiotics until 10-14 days after the lesion disappears, that means going on with the treatment for at least one month. Corticoids are very useful to avoid skin inflammation and itching, however they are not recommended in some cases such as in the demodecical mange or hyperadrenocorticism. We also bath the animal with benzoile peroxide or clorexidine shampoos, and cure with antiseptic or antibiotic creams removing all the rests of dried pus and scabs.

When the pioderma is deep and lesions affect large zones of the skin, hospitalisation is necessary for the animal as well as an intensive treatment that will include painkillers since this process causes a great pain for the animal.

Of course, it is necessary to figure out the primary process causing the pioderma, because if it is not diagnosed and solved, it may arise again.