Facial fold pyoderma is common in brachycephalic breeds. In these dogs, corneal ulceration may occur as consequence of self trauma. Vulvar fold pyoderma is common in obese females that may have been spayed at a very young age. In these cases the only permanent cure is the surgical correction of the anatomic defect. Palliative medical therapy consists of clipping the area, cleaning it gently on a routine basis, and topical application of an antibiotic-steroid cream.
Weight reduction is useful in some cases of vulvar fold pyoderma.
In dogs, the pustular phase is short lived due to the extreme thinness of the epidermis. This is one of the reasons why these pyoderma are often confused for other papular diseases and not treated appropriately. Sometimes an unequivocal diagnosis can be made only retrospectively following a positive response to antibiotic therapy. In this case the pustules are subcorneal and not follicular oriented. The disease is mild and usually occurs in young dogs in the groin and axillae.