psudomonis

Question
My dog has had a skin problem for 6 months which was at first thought to be caused by rubbing under a bed.  Recently a biopsy revealed it is psudomonis, we're having trouble getting the medicine.  At first it was on her back, but it has spread to her paws, tail, and under her chin.  What treatment do you recommend?  Thank you.

Answer
Pseudomonas is an opportunistic bacteria.  In other words, there is damage to the skin from something then the pseudomonas bacteria get in there.  Often the medications given do not kill this bacteria because there is not enough blood supply to the damaged tissues to get the medicine to the bacterial infection. First, you have to treat the underlying skin problem, whatever that might be, and then you can attack the infection.  I often use whirlpool treatments with povidone iodine to flush out the skin lesions.  I also use very high doses of a drug called a fluoroquinolone (Baytril, Zenequin, Dicural, etc.) to penetrate into the damaged skin.  Sometimes, we use wide surgical incisions to remove the damaged areas.