There are thousands of strains of bacteria that can live on your dog's skin at any given time, but any type of bacteria can cause problems when there is an overgrowth. Bacterial overgrowth results in excess itching and possible lesions. If your dog is continually scratching, he my break the skin and this can lead to infection.
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Staphylococcus
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Staphylococcus is a common bacteria found on a dog's skin. This bacteria usually doesn't cause any problems, but if staph gets into a deep wound, this can be a major problem resulting in a staph infection. This can happen if your dog's incision is not properly cared for after surgery. Any wound or surgical incision should be cleaned on a daily basis with antiseptic ointment. Staph is not likely to cause any problems unless the bacteria travels deep into the wound. Washing the area often and using medications are preventative measures.
Candida Albicans
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Candida albicans is a bacteria that is normally found in your dog's intestinal tract. However, this bacteria can also live on your dog's skin. Candida albicans does not cause any problems unless there is an overgrowth. This bacteria can overgrow in the body and on the skin. Symptoms include itchy skin, rashes and flaky areas.
Actinmycosis
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Actinmycosis is a type of bacteria that is found in dirt. This bacteria is often transferred to your dog from spending time outdoors. Actinmycosis is harmless for most dogs. The bacteria can live on your dog's skin quite happily. However, as with other bacteria, if the actinmycosis enters a cut, then infection can occur. If the infection spreads into the blood stream, this can lead to swelling and pus at the site of the infection. Your dog may need antibiotics to cure any type of bacterial infection.
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