An unusually unpleasant odor accompanied by the presence of pustules and itchy and painful skin lesions may be indicative of an annoying skin infection in dogs. Thankfully such skin conditions can be managed and successfully treated with the help of antibiotics.
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Identification
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Skin infections in dogs may be caused by bacteria that are normally present in the skin such as Staphylococcus intermedius. The most common skin infections in dogs are superficial and deep pyoderma.
Treatment
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Not all antibiotics work for skin infections. Superficial pyoderma requires specific antibiotics that have proven effective against Staphyloccus intermedius. Antibiotics such as penicillin, amoxicillin, ampicillin or tetracycline are often not potent enough against this type of bacteria according to Petplace.com.
Types
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Infections caused by Staphyloccocus Intermedians therefore require potent antibiotics . Some of the most commonly used antibiotics include cephalexin, enrofloxacin, clindamycin, clavulinc acid and sulfa-based drugs.
Time Frame
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Dogs affected by superficial pyoderma require antibiotic therapy for a minimum of three to four weeks. Dogs affected by deep pyoderma, on the other hand, require at least eight weeks of antibiotic treatment.
Benefits
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Special antibiotic shampoos can be used to treat topically. In some case, veterinarians will also prescribe special shampoos to treat the dog topically. Shampoos containing Benzoyl Peroxide such as Oxydex or Pyoben are effective products with antibacterial and therefore, antibiotic qualities.
Considerations
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In order to be effective, antibiotics must be given as prescribed and never stopped early, even if there are signs of improvement. In some cases, recurrent skin infections despite antibiotic therapy may be indicative of an underlying cause that needs investigation.
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