Recurrent pyoderma and its underlying primary diseases: a retrospective evaluation of 157 dogs

Abstract

Bacterial pyoderma is common in small animal practice. Usually there is an associated underlying disease, but little is known about the prevalence of underlying diseases in dogs with recurrent pyoderma. The aim of this study was to analyse the frequency of the different underlying diseases in dogs with recurrent pyoderma. In total, 157 animals with recurrent pyoderma were identified in hospital records from 2008 to 2013 and the data analysed for primary diseases. The time between recurrences, the type of clinical signs and the age at pyoderma onset were also evaluated. At least one primary disease was found in 107 dogs. Allergies were the primary cause in 63 dogs, environmental allergy was the most frequent (n=45) and was often associated with other allergies, followed by hypothyroidism (n=12) and hyperadrenocorticism (n=6). Sixteen dogs with recurrent pyoderma suffered from demodicosis. In young dogs with recurrent pyoderma an allergy work-up combined with deep skin scrapings should lead to a diagnosis of the underlying disease in most of the cases. In dogs in which pyoderma began in middle or old age, hormonal testing and ruling out a possible flea infestation should be the first steps.

Disorders of Bulldogs under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013

“…Additionally, the most common fine-level disorder was otitis externa (12.7%). With previous research demonstrating that 43% of otitis externa cases result from underlying atopic dermatitis [71], and 59% of recurrent pyoderma cases reported as sequelae to allergic skin disease [72] it is possible that some or many of these otitis and pyoderma cases are associated with allergic skin disease pathology.…”

Staphylococcal pyoderma: challenges and therapeutic considerations

“…2 The possible primary causes are investigated by Seckerdieck and Mueller in a paper summarised on p 434 of this week's issue. 3 Staphylococci are Gram-positive, facultative anaerobic cocci that exist as part of the normal cutaneous and mucosal microbiota of animals. Initial acquisition of the bacteria occurs at or around birth in puppies followed by colonisation, and persists for many months ater being separated from the dam.…”

“…When a diagnosis of pyoderma is made, it should be considered a secondary problem and a search for the primary underlying cause responsible for the pyoderma is indicated, as staphylococci do not readily cause infection in the normal skin of healthy individuals 2 . The possible primary causes are investigated by Seckerdieck and Mueller in a paper summarised on p 434 of this week's issue 3 …”

Antibody Response to Canine Parvovirus Vaccination in Dogs with Hyperadrenocorticism Treated with Trilostane

“…Therefore, those 2 patients could be considered as being more immunocompromised compared to the others, although both dogs had pre-vaccination antibodies. HAC in untreated dogs can lead to opportunistic bacterial infections—often present as pyoderma and/or urinary tract infections [ 20 , 21 ]. Those infections usually do not reoccur once HAC is controlled.…”

“…Although there was no significant difference in occurrence of VAAEs, more than half of the dogs in the HAC group showed VAAEs. Glucocorticoid excess has several effects on the immune system e.g., deviations in neutrophil and macrophage function, such as impaired chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and bactericidal activity as well as decreased interleukin-1 production and antigen-processing and can predispose dogs with HAC to secondary infections [ 6 , 11 , 20 , 21 ]. Since clinical signs were mild and transient, they were likely a direct result of active virus replication in the lymphoid tissue and epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract.…”