Skin diseases are one of the most common reasons for visits to the vet, alongside gastrointestinal disorders. Pyoderma refers to purulent infections of the skin caused by various bacteria. In healthy animals, the skin provides good protection against infections through various defense mechanisms. There is a balance between the normal microflora of bacteria, yeasts, and parasites on the one hand, and the formation and breakdown of skin cells and their waste products on the other. The microflora feeds on the waste products of the skin and at the same time prevents the colonization of infectious germs.
Various factors can disrupt this balance, reducing the skin's barrier function and weakening the immune system, allowing pathogenic bacteria to multiply and infect the surface and deeper layers of the skin. This results in inflammation. Staphylococcal infections are by far the most common, but other pathogens can also cause pyoderma. The condition is not contagious between animals.
The following factors can promote the development of pyoderma:
A distinction is made between primary and secondary pyoderma. While primary pyoderma is an infection of the skin without a predisposing disease and usually involves only one germ, secondary pyoderma, which is much more common, is caused by the infection of pre-damaged or diseased skin, usually with several germs.
In terms of the layers of skin affected, pyoderma can also be divided into superficial and deep pyoderma. Superficial pyoderma only affects the upper layer of skin and does not affect the general condition of the animal. It usually heals within a short time without complications. Superficial pyoderma includes, for example, "hot spots" (sudden, round, purulent, weeping, bright red, and painful areas of skin) that often occur in dogs with long or thick hair, or puppy pyoderma (pustules and skin irritation on hairless areas of the body).
Classic symptoms of pyoderma include redness, pustules (pus-filled blisters), papules (round, red bumps without pus), scaling and crusting, skin discoloration, and itching. These skin changes can occur anywhere on the body, but are more common in areas with less hair, such as the armpits or inner thighs.
Severe itching leads to increased scratching and rubbing, which can quickly cause superficial pyoderma to develop into deep pyoderma. All bacterial skin diseases should therefore always be taken seriously, examined by a veterinarian, and treated consistently.
Since most pyodermas are secondary diseases, the veterinarian's first task is to identify the underlying disease. A detailed preliminary report and a thorough clinical examination are essential for the veterinarian. If this disease is recognized and treated by the veterinarian, the skin infection can usually be successfully contained.
Based on the clinical examination, the veterinarian will make initial findings, which can be confirmed by cytology (cell examination). To do this, cells are taken from the area of skin change in various ways, stained, and examined under a microscope. This means that a diagnosis of the status of the inflammation, the bacteria involved, and the immune system's response can be made during the first visit to the vet. The cytological examination does not take long, is not painful for your pet, and can therefore also be carried out to monitor further treatment.
Depending on the extent of the disease and skin damage, local antibacterial washes are used or these are used in combination with a skin-specific antibiotic therapy. Please follow your vet's treatment recommendations, especially with regard to the duration of the therapy, as skin regeneration is a slow process and discontinuing the medication too early can lead to a flare-up of the inflammation. Even if the visible skin changes have already disappeared, the invisible deep damage continues to heal. In severe cases, treatment can take up to eight weeks.
If triggering factors or underlying diseases have been identified, these must of course be eliminated and treated at the same time as the actual skin infection. In many cases, however, the underlying disease can only be diagnosed with certainty after the skin infection has subsided.
Regular check-ups with the veterinarian are recommended to assess the progress and success of the treatment.
Depending on the type and extent of the disease, the chances of recovery are good. Consistent and correct cooperation from the pet owner plays a fundamental role in ensuring a good prognosis. In cases of deep pyoderma, scars may remain on the skin after healing. If the underlying disease cannot be treated or successfully treated, the prognosis is poor.
Skin infections cannot be completely prevented in our pets. However, with particularly good coat care, species-appropriate husbandry, and appropriate hygiene, especially in long-haired dogs, the risk of bacterial skin infections can be significantly reduced. This includes regular checks of the skin and coat by the pet owner and regular health checks at the vet. Suitable parasite prevention also helps to prevent the development of pyoderma.
In centuries past, looking into a horse's mouth played an important role, albeit primarily to determine the animal's age. Today, the focus is more on dental care and dental disease in horses. Dental hygiene is a very important aspect of keeping horses healthy. Regular veterinary checks of the mouth and teeth should be carried out at least once a year. The annual check-up and routine dental treatment can be carried out by any equine practice. In the event of specific dental problems or complications, it is advisable to consult a practice that specializes in equine dentistry. Typical dental problems in horses include tartar and the formation of hooks and edges on the molars due to uneven wear. These issues can be quickly resolved during routine treatment, preventing further damage. But how can we, as horse owners, tell if our horse has dental problems?
Hoof cancer is a chronic disease of the hoof corium. Unlike hoof abscesses, hoof cancer does not cause individual cells to die, but rather leads to uninhibited growth of individual parts of the hoof corium, accompanied by a foul-smelling discharge and a lack of keratinization of this tissue. The term "hoof cancer" was coined due to the appearance of this excessively grown, cauliflower-like tissue, although it is not a form of cancer.
Borna disease, also known as contagious encephalomyelitis or head disease of ungulates, is a rare viral disease of the nervous system that mainly affects horses and sheep. However, other animals and humans are also susceptible to the Borna virus. The disease was first described in 1813, when a whole group of cavalry horses fell ill in the town of Borna.
What is a fun night of dancing for many people is unfortunately a sensitive issue for a lot of dog owners: New Year's Eve fireworks frighten our noise-sensitive four-legged friends and can lead to major problems.
Uveitis is an inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye. It can be divided into anterior and posterior inflammation and manifests itself through a narrow pupil and reddened conjunctiva.
Due to its appearance, the neck lump is also known as a talpa, which means mole tumor. It describes all inflammatory enlargements of the soft tissues in the neck area of the horse. The majority of cases are due to inflammation of the bursa located under the neck band.
It happens in the paddock or even in the stall: your horse injures itself and may be bleeding. What should you do? Is it just a small scratch, a bump, or even a huge, gaping wound? Do I need to call the vet, or can I treat it myself, and if so, how? How can I minimize the risk of injury in the future? Kicks, bites, falls, or foreign objects can cause cuts, puncture wounds, abrasions, bruises, contusions, or burns in horses, which may require veterinary treatment depending on their severity. The severity of an injury always depends on its location and the involvement of surrounding structures, such as muscles, tendons, or joints. As with humans, a distinction is made between covered and open injuries in horses. In covered injuries, the horse's skin is undamaged, which is why this type of injury is not always easy to detect. For example, a kick may have caused a bruise that we as owners may only notice when grooming or when the horse is lame. Damage to the skin is referred to as an open injury or wound. This results in bleeding of varying severity, but even here, smaller wounds can be overlooked due to the coat.
Ear infections in dogs are one of the most common reasons for visits to the veterinarian. However, the condition is often detected too late and not treated consistently. The anatomical structure of the ear canal in dogs and its length make it prone to inflammation. Due to various factors, some dog breeds are even more susceptible to inflammation in the ear area. Outer ear infections, also known as otitis externa, are the most common type. Middle and inner ear infections are less common. However, if not detected early, these can develop into chronic conditions that require intensive treatment.
Skin fungus, also known as dermatomycosis, is one of the most common infectious skin diseases in cats. It resembles many other skin diseases in appearance and is therefore not always easy to diagnose. Many types of fungus are also transmissible to humans, meaning that it is a zoonosis.
Is your dog moving more stiffly, reluctant to go down stairs or jump into the car? Is he limping or does he have a swollen joint? Around 20% of all dogs develop joint diseases such as arthritis and osteoarthritis during their lifetime. But what is the difference between them?
If your horse is rubbing itself more than usual, you should take a closer look, as itching can be a key symptom of many skin diseases or allergies in horses. However, some metabolic disorders can also cause itching in horses. This condition is very stressful for your animal and should therefore be examined and treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
It is a dramatic sight for us as owners when our own horse suddenly cannot bend its hind leg and can barely walk. In many cases, the kneecap dislocation resolves itself and the horse runs normally again. If the dislocation does not resolve, a veterinarian must remedy the situation by skillfully manipulating the horse and leading it backwards or sideways so that it can walk normally again. A brief digression into the anatomy of the knee joint provides a simple explanation for this phenomenon.
