It's quite normal for healthy dogs to have bacteria living on their skin. However, if the skin gets damaged in any way it can result in a bacterial infection (often called pyoderma).
This means any skin condition can lead to bacterial infection, as these conditions usually cause the dog to itch and scratch, therefore damaging its skin.
Body areas that can be particularly affected include skin or body folds such as those of the face, lips and tail. It also often affects the feet and ears.
Your dog might have a bacterial infection if it:
- Is itching and scratching
- Has got red, weeping wounds
- Has started losing its hair
- Has swollen, painful spots and scabs
As the infection spreads, the dog can become very unwell.
