Pododermatitis in German Shepherd Dogs and its Management

Abstract

German Shephered dogs of either sex with chronic recurrent pododermatitis with various degrees of clinical signs along with excerbation of pus presented at the Teaching Veterinary Clinical complex, C.V.Sc. and A.H., O.U.A.T. were selected for the present study. The culture and sensitivity test of the skin swab from the lesions of the affected dogs revealed the presence of four bacterial species namely Staphylococcus intermedius, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactia, Micrococcus leuteus with highest sensitivity to antibiotics namely piperacillin+tazobactam, clindamycin, amoxicillin+potassium clavulanate and mupirocin. There was reduced Hb concentration with leucocytosis, neutrophilia and lymphopenia in the affected animals; however the biochemical parameters of liver and kidney function test remained within the normal value. The treatment was done with piperacillin with tazobactam @ 40 mg/kg intravenously thrice daily for 7 days, clindamycin @ 11 mg/kg body weight twice daily orally for another 7 days continuously along with regular dressing and topical application of mupirocin which brought complete recovery by 21 days and dogs were quite alright with growth of hair at the affected parts by 28th day.