I know that a lot of people have complained about the flea population this year, and I suppose Florida is bad like California because of the temps. In places where they don't get frozen for part of the year it's worse!!

I might try upping the flea protection and see if that helps. You have 2 choices - you can either do the Comfortis and topical route where you do them 2 weeks apart so that they overlap each other. Or you can use the topical every 3 weeks instead of 4. I opted for the latter and it's worked well for us. Topical like Frontline and Advantix start to grow weak by the 3 week, especially if you are bathing a lot. So reapplying every 3 weeks helps. Ask your derma vet what she thinks works for your area. Comfortis makes some dogs throw up, that's why we couldn't use it. Usually the vet will sell you one pill and let you try it before you have to get a whole box.

Also, when it comes to cost at a derma vet, ask for Rx's and them take them to Costco if you have one, or a place like that. Most of the drugs that you have to get - i.e. antibiotics, steroids, antihistimines - can be filled at Costco for a TON less. My derma vet volunteers to give me an Rx so I can get it somewhere else. It's saved me a bundle.

You can also get things like Genesis spray, the chlorhexidine pads and spray, online at pet pharmacies. I got the Genesis spray for 1/3 less online than it costs at the vet. There are ways to make this derma vet experience cheaper!

You can also ask about whether the vet can/will match printed-out prices from elsewhere (including the shipping on online sources, of course).

I do want to buy from my vet if I can. (And "if I can" does include "is this cost-prohibitive for me unless I look around elsewhere?") But then some things the vet can't even make anything on anyway because someplace like a big box store charges less than the vet's suppliers .....

I guess I'm saying, like Lori, that it's something to bring up and talk about.

JMO.

Geri, I'm going through a round of oral antibiotics with my dog right now. I did take him in for a re-check after the last bout of staph infection on his skin, and it did appear to be completely cleared up (even with a scraping of the two most affected sites), but it recurred.

I'm not particularly up on recurrent canine staphylococcal pyoderma, but I've read a little -- enough to understand that it's more common in dogs with allergies, and that steroids can delay resolution from antibiotics.

I guess I would probably add to my list for the next derm visit, what steps might be in order to address this, or do two bouts in fact rise to the level of recurrent canine staph.

Lori,

Update:
I checked with the vet about using that spray I had mentioned Betagan. She said that would be fine to use. It is working well and things are clearing up for Frazier. He has one more dose of steriod and I think he will be fine at least for awhile.
When I questioned the Derm Vet about the allergy shots being too strong they said that is the usuall dose for a dog his size.
So We'll just keep plugging along and see what happens.

Now I have to take my other old boy Max to the vet as he is showing the same signs as Frazier as far as allergies.
Looks like he may need antibiotics. I got the cortisone spray to try and use on him and will use the medicate bath for him.
I think I'm going to go with the confortis on both of them so I can give more medicated baths and the spot on somewhere in-between.

Geri

Lori,

I have been using Advantix on both dogs for about 3 months. Doing the medicate bath on Frazier and reg bath on Max. Then use the Advantix every 3 weeks. Does not seem to be enough.
I have used the Comfortis on both dogs and now I do remember that Max did throw up but not Frazier. So I'll talk to Vet about that.
I do get a lot of the supplies from on line pet supply web sites. I've gotten the Medicated shampoo and pads a lot cheaper.

Geri

Advantix doesn't work well for us here, but Frontline Plus has been very effective.

Connie,

Are you saying about the statement "that steroids can delay resolution from antibiotics."
that the steriods are hindering the healing of the antibiotics?
That is very interesting and I will ask asap.

Not sure what you mean by this statement "do two bouts in fact rise to the level of recurrent canine staph."
Are you saying once you get the staph infection it is easier to get it over and over. ? Frazier has had it many times since he was 6 months old.

Thanks Geri

Yes, steroids can slow/hinder the antibiotic's action.

I wasn't really saying that once the animal gets it, the more likely a repeat. I don't know if that's true; this has not been my experience with healthy animals. I've had several dogs with one or maybe two skin-staph episodes in their lifetimes. I think that there are usually underlying immune challenges (and allergies would fall in there, to me) behind recurrent canine staph.

By "do two bouts in fact rise to the level of recurrent canine staph," I meant: I might not consider it "recurrent canine staph" after just two instances. Recurrent canine staph has, I believe, a meaning beyond "had it once and then once more."

I found a pretty good little recap of it last week that I know I did not save but can find again, and I'll post a link.

I'm not a health professional.

Geri, Lori sent me a picture of her dog's black spots. I couldn't really see them closely, but they looked like they could be localized spots of malassezia (yeast) dermatitis.

Do the black spots look like this?

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_yeast_infection_of_the_skin.html

If this is what it is, the vet will recognize it right away. (In person, as opposed to photo, I can recognize it readily by now, too, unfortunately.)

You will want to be sure the vet is aware of it when you talk about the skin staph and antibiotics, etc.

Yeast and skin staph ..... both often triggered by allergies.


Also, read here "why do dogs get malassezia?" for a bit of an overview of the complicated relationships among allergies, skin staph, antibiotics, Pred, and yeast.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2102&aid=321

Lori, I'll look into the frontline plus next time. Thanks

Geri