5-Day Treatment Plan for Dog's Bacterial & Fungal Skin

Before I brought a French Bulldog into my home, I was well aware of the high likelihood of them developing skin issues. So, I mentally prepared myself early on. To my relief, after over a year of care, my pup remained healthy and free from any skin ailments. I was quite proud of my efforts, thinking I had done a fantastic job. But then, in April and May of this year, with the constant rain in Guangdong and the return of the humid weather, my dog unfortunately caught a case of it!

At first, I thought it was just a few red bumps on its back. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that many other parts of its body were affected too. The dog was constantly scratching, hiding in the corner of the sofa to rub its back, and it looked incredibly uncomfortable. Moreover, it was shedding excessively, and despite the clean little "butt" area, there was a persistent, unpleasant smell of dog feces. We acted quickly and took it to the vet for a skin scraping test, confirming a bacterial and fungal infection, along with a touch of allergies.

The vet recommended shaving the dog to better assess the extent of the infection and to make applying medication easier. To our shock, the dog was almost entirely infected, with red, inflamed skin and numerous tiny red spots!

Following the vet's advice, we bought several skin medications and treated the dog at home. Gradually, its skin began to improve.

Treatment Methods:

1. Shaving: It's essential to shave the dog to facilitate medication application and ensure the skin absorbs the drugs effectively.

2. Elizabethan Collar: If the dog tends to lick or scratch, use an Elizabethan collar to prevent it from doing so. My dog, however, was very effective at itching with antihistamine tablets (Chlorphenamine Maleate Tablets), so it didn't scratch much, and I didn't need to use the collar.

3. Topical Treatments: Apply Terbinafine Hydrochloride Spray and Zinc Oxide Ointment twice to thrice a day. The Terbinafine Hydrochloride Spray is for treating fungi and should not be licked. After applying, keep the dog in an Elizabethan collar for 10 minutes to let the medicine dry. The Zinc Oxide Ointment is for bacterial infections, offering antibacterial and astringent properties to protect the skin.

4. Oral Medication: Give Cefahexodine Tablets for inflammation, once a day. If you prefer, you can get a longacting injection at the vet's office, but my dog would scream in pain, so I chose to give it medication instead.

Treatment Tips:

1. French Bulldogs have sensitive skin, so regular checks are important. For mild symptoms, home treatment is fine, but for severe cases, seek veterinary care promptly.

2. Use a gentle shampoo for your dog's baths and avoid frequent washing. Always dry the hair thoroughly after washing.

3. Avoid taking your dog out during rainy days and don't let it sleep on the floor.

4. If your dog develops skin issues, it's best to have it checked by a vet. Many skin conditions are caused by mixed infections that are not visible to the naked eye. A skin scraping test is only a few dozen yuan and can help identify the pathogen, making treatment more effective. While vet medications can be expensive, you can purchase them based on the test results. For bacterial infections, use iodine, a skin antibacterial spray, and Zinc Oxide Ointment. For fungal infections, use Terbinafine Hydrochloride Spray or Miconazole Nitrate Ointment. In severe cases, oral Itraconazole may be necessary.