Recurrent pyoderma: a retrospective study

Pyoderma is usually caused by bacteria that inhabit the dog’s skin ( (this sounds strange to me). The infection begins when the skin barrier becomes compromised, allowing an abnormal proliferation of these opportunistic agents. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is an organism commonly involved in these infections.

A recent retrospective study looked into the frequency of the several primary diseases that cause recurrent pyoderma in dogs. One hundred and fifty seven cases were analyzed.

Ninety per cent of cases were due to allergies (including environmental allergies, flea bite hypersensitivity and adverse food reactions), endocrinopathies (hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism) and demodicosis. Recurrent pyoderma can be associated with more than one underlying condition and can affect dogs of any age or gender.

Despite having a few limitations, this study suggests valuable diagnostic strategies. Looking for allergies and performing deep skin scrapings are more likely to lead to a diagnosis in dogs manifesting this condition at a young age, while a hormonal work-up and a flea control/treatment plan will probably be more helpful to middle aged or older dogs with pyoderma.

In Seckerdieck, F., Mueller, RS. (2018) Recurrent pyoderma and its underlying primary diseases: a retrospective evaluation of 157 dogs Veterinary Record 182, 434