{"id":2214,"date":"2026-02-15T16:24:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T22:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.medicaldistrictvet.com\/blog\/?p=2214"},"modified":"2026-06-15T16:29:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T21:29:36","slug":"when-skin-infections-keep-coming-back-pyoderma-in-dogs-and-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.medicaldistrictvet.com\/blog\/when-skin-infections-keep-coming-back-pyoderma-in-dogs-and-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"When Skin Infections Keep Coming Back: Pyoderma in Dogs and Cats"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"beagle<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Skin issues are one of the most common reasons pets end up at the vet. For many itchy dogs and cats, the underlying problem is pyoderma, a bacterial infection of the skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Dr. Clarissa Souza, a board-certified veterinary dermatologist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, understanding what causes pyoderma is the key to treating it effectively \u2013 and preventing it from returning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPyoderma is always secondary to an underlying disease,\u201d Dr. Souza explains. \u201cIn dogs and cats, the most common primary disease is allergies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dermatology Services at Medical District Vet Clinic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since November 2025, Dr. Clarissa Souza, a boarded dermatologist from the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital<\/a>, has offered appointments on a part-time basis at the Medical District Veterinary Clinic in Chicago. She diagnoses and treats allergies, skin infections, ear diseases, hair loss, nail and nail bed diseases, itching\/scratching\/biting, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please call 312-226-2588<\/a> to schedule a dermtology appointment for your pet.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Signs of Pyoderma<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"Dr.
Dr. Clarissa Souza<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Unlike people, who often show their allergies through sneezing or watery eyes, allergic animals primarily have their skin affected and secondary bacterial infections aggravate the problem. And for owners, the signs are usually hard to miss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost animals with skin infections are itchy,\u201d Dr. Souza points out. \u201cSometimes they are already itchy because of allergies, and they get markedly itchier because of the pyoderma.\u201d Owners may also notice visible changes. \u201cIf owners see some scaling, small pink lesions resembling mosquito bites, or yellowish crusts, they should bring their animal to the veterinarian.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While many owners worry that certain breeds are more prone to pyoderma, Dr. Souza stresses that the bigger issue is allergy prevalence. \u201cI personally don\u2019t think there is one breed of dog that is more predisposed than others,\u201d she notes. \u201cAll allergic dogs can have pyoderma.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diagnosing Pyoderma<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the most important messages Dr. Souza hopes to convey to pet owners is that pyoderma must be properly diagnosed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCytology is essential to confirm pyoderma,\u201d she says. \u201cWithout cytology, we can suspect, but we will not have a definitive diagnosis.\u201d For cytology, veterinarians collect samples from the skin and examine them under a microscope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes veterinarians will culture the bacteria found on the pet\u2019s skin to identify which antibiotics the bacteria respond to. \u201cCulture is recommended when we suspect resistant infections,\u201d Dr. Souza explains. Classic candidates for culture tests include pets that have had multiple antibiotic courses, infections that don\u2019t resolve with treatment, or new pyoderma lesions that appear despite antibiotics administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Treating Pyoderma<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Souza supervised a clinical trial at the University of Illinois evaluating how long dogs need antibiotics for superficial pyoderma, the most common form of the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe main goal of this study was to determine the ideal duration of antibiotic prescriptions,\u201d she says. \u201cAt the end, we saw that two weeks of systemic antibiotic treatment should be enough for the great majority of superficial pyoderma cases. We may even be able to use it for a shorter period if topical antibacterial treatment is prescribed together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, and of importance, Dr. Souza notes: \u201cThat\u2019s the idea nowadays: to try to use as little as possible of antibiotics so that we are not allowing bacteria to develop resistance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also warns owners against using leftover antibiotics or stopping treatment early. \u201cFailing to complete the full course of antibiotics or using antibiotics prescribed for something else could contribute to bacterial resistance,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, rechecks are essential so veterinarians can re-assess the skin infection and determine whether it has resolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Treating Early, Addressing the Cause<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The longer pyoderma goes untreated, the more uncomfortable pets become \u2013 and the more likely the infection is to spread, recur, or require aggressive treatment later. Early diagnosis and proper management of the underlying allergy, endocrine issue, or other skin disorders are essential to prevent these infection cycles from repeating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For owners frustrated by their pet\u2019s repeated pyoderma, Dr. Souza stresses the need to address the underlying problem, which is often allergies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most current research focuses on allergy control to get at the root of the problem. \u201cWe\u2019ve been seeing companies developing more options for allergy treatment,\u201d Dr. Souza says. \u201cThat\u2019s been the focus. Not specifically pyoderma, but controlling the underlying disease.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With advances in allergy care, dermatologists hope future patients will experience fewer bacterial infections overall.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Skin issues are one of the most common reasons pets end up at the vet. For many itchy dogs and cats, the underlying problem is pyoderma, a bacterial infection of the skin. According to Dr. Clarissa Souza, a board-certified veterinary dermatologist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, understanding what causes pyoderma is the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,9,21],"tags":[52],"class_list":["post-2214","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-for-dogs","category-pet-health-wellness","category-cats-meow","tag-dermatology"],"yoast_head":"\nWhen Skin Infections Keep Coming Back: Pyoderma in Dogs and Cats | University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.medicaldistrictvet.com\/blog\/when-skin-infections-keep-coming-back-pyoderma-in-dogs-and-cats\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"When Skin Infections Keep Coming Back: Pyoderma in Dogs and Cats | University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Skin issues are one of the most common reasons pets end up at the vet. 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