02/05/2022
I had a cocker spaniel called Mollie. She went to Rainbow Bridge on November the 5th 2016 at the age of 14. It goes without saying she was my world and my life was less rewarding without her in it. But she was a heathy girl apart from her constant Lip Fold Pyoderma which she battled with from a young age. She had a couple of operations at the vets to remove the offending lip folds, which of course helped, but it never really went away.
So, what is Lip Fold pyoderma and what breeds are prone to it?
Pyoderma is the medical term for a bacterial skin infection. Pyoderma is commonly associated with acute moist dermatitis or hot spots.
Lip (or Skin Fold) Pyoderma is an inflammatory skin disorder that develops in skin folds, such as facial folds, lip folds, and in the groin or armpits. It may develop between the mammary glands in females that have had multiple litters of pups. It may also occur secondary to obesity, when adjacent skin folds upon itself. The skin folds allow the surface of the two adjacent areas to lie in close contact, creating a warm, humid environment. In the presence of moisture, the normal skin bacteria then multiply, creating an infection in the fold.
Certain breeds suffer with this condition. These include:
– Spaniels with lip fold pyoderma
– Pekingese, Pugs, Boxer Dogs, and Bulldogs with facial fold pyoderma affecting the wrinkles on the face and nose
– Shar Pei and other breeds with loose skin and skin folds.
The smell is quite nasty and the infection can fester and become rancid. I know this first hand and also I have a number of dogs on my books with the same problem.
Home care is the best solution to keep surgery at bay and maintain the hygiene around the infected area.
It’s not always easy to perform routine tasks on your own dog. Dog groomers are in the unique position of being able to safely and comfortable harness your dog and perform procedures that they would otherwise not allow at home. This is why I am offering a Lip Fold Pyoderma treatment for just an extra £5 with your groom:
The treatment will be:
The area will be cleansed with a medicated skin cleanser (such as chlorhexidine, miconazole, or sulfur/salicylic acid) and the hair will be intricately clipped. Care has to be taken that ‘stubble’ does not cause damage to the opposing skin surfaces. The area will be thoroughly cleaned and dried.
You will also take away a solution you can use at home and one to one instruction on how to maintain the best hygiene.
In mild to moderate cases, Lip Fold Pyoderma responds well to medical treatment.
I would always advise vetenary advice if you think that the infection is worsening as anti-biotics or an operation may be required.
Contact me at Gentle Paws to book in a treatment.