anyone's dog ever get a staph infection on its skin?

I have a friend with a shih tzu that is about 12 years old (dog not the friend...although there are days when she acts about 8)

anyway....she thought it was an abcess and cleaned it up. Next day she noticed it was much larger and was oozing yellowish really nasty smelling stuff. She called the vet who at first said a staph infection but had to see the dog to be sure. Unfortunately that day the other vet called in sick and they were swamped so she couldn't see the dog (wasn't a life or death situation).

Meanwhile this "thing" on the dog's back kept spreading. My friend clipped the dog's fur down close to the skin, as ordered by vet, and kept the dog clean and dry. She could see the puss forming and spreading just under the dog's skin, then the skin would turn a brownish color, crack and the yellow nasty stuff would come out.

She saw the vet today and they aren't sure what it is. I did some online research and it sounds like staph infection. The dog is on Clavamox, has an antiseptic shampoo and she was also given Ivermec - but that's for worms/parasites.

Anyone ever have a dog do this?

 

As a matter of fact, we just went through this with our Malamute. She had a sebaceous cyst on her neck that just sort of blew up. Unfortunately I didn't notice the cyst had opened and was draining for several days, due to the fact she's in winter coat, and has enough hair for 6 dogs. By the time I noticed it, she had a lovely hot spot going where the cyst had drained, the pus got stuck in her coat, and whew, what a mess!

I clipped it, took her to the vet the next morning and got her started on antibiotics. After a few days of that, she had the cyst removed, and everything healed up nicely.

A lot of hot spots are staph infections. They often start as allergies or flea bites. The bacteria get a foot hold, and BAM, you have a staph infection.

 

tell your friend to go get some medical manuka honey. im not sure if it can be used on dogs but its just honey so id assume its safe. only problem is you have to have the area covered for it to work best and dogs would find this particularly tasty if uncovered. its good for staph infections. i had to use it on those infected rope burn wounds i had and its cleared up better than i thought it would. regular antiseptic ointments/washes will be useless against staph.

 

HOT SPOTS!!!! Jake is just recovering from one and its staph. PLease read what I wrote about hots pots in the the pawspaper link at the top.

If you dont catch them in time they spread like wildfire and need medical attention and antibiotics, and usually a cortizone shot to help with the itching. Even from what I read holistic vets recommmend this regimen when its not caught as soon as it flares up.


"A lot of hot spots are staph infections. They often start as allergies or flea bites. The bacteria get a foot hold, and BAM, you have a staph infection."

YUP to what shine said. and it can be caused by food allergies too, and yeast problems, but usually the culprits are getting bit. Jakes was flared up by a tick bite.


I can normally control them if I find them when they are the size of a pin, get the area shaved and clean with betadine. if its bigger its too late. DO NOT USE PEROXIDE. Jakes was about the size of a nickel and then spread to the whole side of his face. the vet had me wash his face with betadine 2 times a day even though he was on antiboitics.

honeybear