Lesions often spread rapidly to the surrounding skin. Successful treatment involves controlling the itch with corticosteroids, and sprays and clipping the hair away to prevent spreading. Superficial pyodermas are deeper infections and frequently have pustules and folliculitis present. They can be recurrent chronic problems. Staph bacteria may be very pruritic and can actually be a cause of allergies in some dogs.
Treatment includes antibiotics, and benzoyl peroxide shampoos.
Deep Pyodermas may be localized or generalized, but usually involve the face, feet, and pressure points. Sometimes immune stimulants, such as immunoreglan or staph lysate, can be given by your veterinarian to help heal these serious infections. This mite and its larva burrow and wander in tunnels in the skin. This burrowing causes extreme pruritus, red skin, and secondary scab and crust lesions from the dog traumatizing the area. Treatment involves either weekly paramite dips or biweekly injections with ivermectin until no mites are detected on skin scrapings for 2 consecutive scrapings.