Have you ever wondered what a pimple looks like in a dog?
Pustules (pimples) in dogs are most commonly caused by skin infections with a bacteria called Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. This bacteria normally lives on the skin of all dogs and does not typically cause a problem unless something disrupts the skin, the immune system, or both. When that happens, the Staphylococcus takes advantage and causes an infection, which can be very irritating to the skin and itchy.
The trick to managing bacterial skin infections is not just treating the infection, but also finding out why it happened. Common causes for skin infections in dogs are allergies, hormone imbalances, or trauma. Getting at the underlying reason helps to prevent the infection from happening again in the future.
Other common causes of pustules in dogs are ringworm (called dermatophytosis) and mange (called demodicosis or demodectic mange). An autoimmune disease called pemphigus foliaceus can also cause pustules, but this is very rare in dogs and the other more common causes should be ruled out first.
Working with your veterinarian to get to the bottom of the cause of any pustule is an important step towards ensuring the long-term health of your beloved pup!