Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
krycek1984

Folliculitis

krycek1984
13 years ago

So, our dear Lola, a 3 or 4 year old foxhound, has folliculitis. I'm sure she's had it her whole life...when we adopted her we knew she had it.

Do any of you have experience treating it? The only thing we've used that gets it under control is prednisone but she can't be on that too much/too often for obvious reasons (side effects, etc.).

Our vet recommended benadryl, and it does help, but makes her a bit tired, and she's already mondo lazy. It doesn't seem to help the core issue though.

We're not sure what any of the underlying causes are. She's always had it and we just don't know. It's worst on her back legs and the "leg pit". She chews and licks so much that she has a few bare spots and stained her hair red. She chews right through bitter apple, etc.

Anyhoo, anyone have any experience dealing with folliculitis? Vet told me it's difficult to treat so I thought others may have had some experience to share. I need a support group! LOL!

Comment (1)

  • bbaird
    13 years ago

    Haven't a clue, but, I found this:

    Folliculitis in Dogs
    Folliculitis is an infection that begins in the hair follicles. In mild folliculitis you typically will find many small pustules with a hair shaft protruding through the center of each. Dogs with mild cases may have rings of scales around the follicles. Once the follicles become infected, the infection can bore deeply into the dermis, forming large pustules and furuncles that rupture, discharge pus, and crust over. Draining sinus tracts develop in cases of deep folliculitis.

    Folliculitis usually involves the undersurface of the body, especially the armpits, abdomen, and groin. A condition called Schnauzer comedo syndrome is common in Miniature Schnauzers. Dogs suffering from this disease have many large blackheads running down the middle of their back.

    Folliculitis often occurs as a secondary complication to scabies, demodectic mange, seborrhea, hormonal skin disease, and other problems. Some cases are caused by vigorous grooming, which traumatizes the hair follicles.

    Treatment: It is important to identify and treat the underlying cause as well as the folliculitis.

    Mild cases should be treated as described for acne. Deep folliculitis requires vigorous topical and systemic therapy. Clip away the hair from infected skin on longhaired dogs (donÂt clip shorthaired dogs), and bathe the dog twice a day for 10 days with a povidone-iodine shampoo such as Betadineor one with chlorhexidine such as Nolvasan. As the skin infection improves, switch to a benzoyl peroxide shampoo such as Stiff OxyDex, OxyDex, or Pyoben, used once or twice a week. Continue until healing is complete.

    The dog should also be placed on an oral antibiotic selected on the basis of culture and sensitivity tests. Continue oral antibiotics for six to eight weeks, including at least two weeks beyond apparent cure. Treatment failures occur when antibiotics are stopped too soon or used at too low a dosage. The prolonged use of corticosteroids should be avoided in dogs with folliculitis.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Treatment

0