Skin Infections in Dogs  

Skin Infections 

Did you know that an animal’s skin is its largest organ? The skin is the largest sensory organ and also plays a vital role as a barrier that protects the dog. When the natural barrier of the skin is damaged, or when the immune system is compromised, a skin infection can occur. The skin barrier can be damaged by:

• A break in the skin caused by excessive scratching, biting, or chewing

• A break in the skin caused by external trauma

• Increased moisture in skin folds

• External parasites (for more information, visit our page on External Parasites)

• Underlying diseases that can affect normal skin cells

Skin infections are often referred to as pyoderma (literally translated as “pus in the skin”). While pyoderma can result from fungal infections such as “Ringworm” (a contagious fungal infection of the skin, hair, or nails) and Malassezia (a yeast infection), the term is most often applied to bacterial infections.

It is not uncommon for a dog to have a bacterial skin infection and a fungal skin infection at the same time.

If your pet has a skin infection, you may notice one or more of these signs:

• Increased scratching, biting, or chewing

• Broken hairs or bald patches of fur

• Patches of dry, flaky skin

• Redness of the skin

• Black heads, red bumps, or white heads

• Discharge from the skin

• Scabs

• An unpleasant odor

Diagnosis and Treatment
If you are concerned that your dog may have a skin infection, please contact your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will perform a full physical examination and may recommend further diagnostic testing. Most treatments for skin infections are available only by prescription through a licensed veterinarian and may include a combination of topical medications, oral medications, and/or injections. 

It is important to always administer any medication according to the instructions and finish the full course of treatment. Not doing so could result in a treatment failure or in a worsening of the condition you are trying to treat.

Enroflox® (enrofloxacin), from Norbrook®, is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is indicated to treat susceptible bacterial skin infections.