Inc. Staphylococcal bacterial infections are usually referred to as staph infections. Staph bacteria are widespread and cause mild to severe skin infections in dogs of all ages.
Symptoms depend on severity.
Mild skin infections may appear as crusty skin lesions, frequently about the belly area. More advanced cases will manifest draining areas and cause severe itching. Occasionally, usually in adults, individuals are actually allergic to the staph bacteria. These dogs have severely reddened and itchy skin. The risk depends on the severity of the individual case.