Efficacy of Cefpodoxime with Clavulanic Acid in the Treatment of Recurrent Pyoderma in Dogs

In the present study on recurrent pyoderma, dogs with a history of more than three episodes of skin infections in a period of one year were selected. The associated conditions and (or) underlying factors revealed upon thorough investigation were demodicosis, Malassezia dermatitis, flea infestation, hypothyroidism, keratinization disorder (seborrhea), combination of Malassezia dermatitis and tick infestation, and a combination of scabies and tick infestation. Therapy was given with cefpodoxime with clavulanic acid along with appropriate simultaneous medication for the underlying associated conditions. In all the cases response to therapy was excellent. Improvement was noticed by 9 to 19 days and 17 to 21 days in recurrent superficial and deep pyoderma, respectively. In one dog, relapse occurred by 45 days due to the associated condition of hypothyroidism which was confirmed through laboratory findings. Cefpodoxime with clavulanic acid proved to be an effective, safe, and convenient antibiotic for the treatment of recurrent pyoderma in dogs without any side effects. 1. Introduction Dogs suffer from a variety of skin infections. Canine pyoderma is one of the most common diseases. Pyoderma literally means pus in the skin and can be caused by infectious, inflammatory, and/or neoplastic etiologies; any condition that results in the accumulation of neutrophilic exudates can be termed pyoderma. Most commonly, however, pyoderma refers to bacterial infections of the skin. Pyodermas are common in dogs and less common in cats [1]. Pyoderma classified according to the depth of infection into surface, superficial, and deep pyoderma. Surface pyodermas are those infections that are restricted to the surface of the skin and not extended into the follicle; it does not extend deeper than the stratum corneum or into hair follicle. Superficial pyodermas include infections that involve the hair follicle but do not extend into the dermis. Deep pyodermas are infections that extend into the dermis and underlying panniculitis [2]. Pyoderma is caused most frequently by staphylococci. Bacterial pyoderma is usually triggered by an overgrowth/overcolonization of normal resident or transient flora. Among different pyoderma conditions, recurrent pyoderma is an important clinical skin problem and frequently occurs as a result of uncorrected underlying cause(s) or use of inappropriate antibiotics or improper duration of antibiotic therapy. Recurrent pyoderma is the infection which responds completely to an appropriate therapy leaving the dog apparently normal between episodes of