My pug's fungal infection won't heal. What's the best treatment?

Hello. It appears that Bruno has a pretty significant & chronic inflammatory reaction going on in his skin. I would suspect that this may require oral medications rather than topical ointments or creams, but knowing how long this might take to clear up really depends on the underlying cause. If he has a bacterial infection, treatment can last 6-8 weeks, a fungal infection, 2-4 months, & if this is due to an allergic reaction, unless you pursue a desensitization protocol, treatment is lifelong. It is best to have your veterinarian examine Bruno to determine the best course of action. If your vet is unable to help, ask for a referral to a veterinary dermatologist. Hopefully with time, Bruno will go great. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, It would be helpful to know what your veterinarian recommended for the next step of Bella's treatment at her recheck. Fungal infections that are not responding to topical treatment often require a course of oral medications. Skin is the largest organ in the body, so it takes the longest to respond to infection treatments. Many skin infections require a full 6-8 weeks of treatment. Skin infections can also be complicated by allergies, underlying endocrine disease, or associated immune mediated or dermatological disease. This means sometimes an underlying problem may need to be addressed to fully resolve the skin issue. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

For ringworm you need either Conofite lotion (Miconazole), or a similar anti fungal cream +/- an oral antifungal (i.e. Fluconazole or Ketoconazole). Ringworm can take 2-4 weeks to cure in most cases. Also shaving the hair around the lesions helps prevent further spread. It is also advised to was all of Bruno's bedding in really hot water to eliminate any fungal spores the environment that could re-infect him.

You will first need to determine the type of infection. A recheck with your veterinarian would be recommended. Samples can be submitted for fungal culture as well as for bacterial culture and sensitivity. If it is a fungal infection, your vet can dispense an antifungal. Some of these infections can take weeks t months to resolve. If it is a bacterial infection, the sensitivity panel should determine the most effective antibiotic to use in treatment. Allergies should also be ruled out as an underlying cause. They can be frustrating to diagnose since they have multiple causes (food, environmental, parasites). Discuss allergy testing, food elimination trials, hydrolyzed diets and antihistamine use with your veterinarian. Legally, we are prohibited from recommending a medication in the absence of a physical exam. Any prescription medications will need to come from your vet.

This problem could be caused by a mix between chin and skin fold dermatitis usually caused by a bacterial infection. Usually antibiotics and long-term topical care (e.g. medicated wipes and ointments) will prevent this condition from progressing. In your dog’s case oral antibiotics may be indicated. Failure to respond may be due to a resistant infection, so bacterial culture and antimicrobial sensitivity testing may be indicated. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm this clinical suspicion and treat appropriately. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

There is a shampoo that can help somewhat but likely won't completely resolve this infection without prescription antibiotics through your vet. The shampoo is called Duoxo Chlorhexidine shampoo --> https://www.amazon.com/Douxo-Chlorhexidine-Shampoo-16-9-oz/dp/B000O1HEJ0/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3IX1JOHHEE23W&dchild=1&keywords=duoxo+shampoo+for+dogs&qid=1587904785&sprefix=duoxo+shampoo%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-5 I hope that this helps. Best of luck with your pet Bruno moving forward. Take care.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This sounds like a focal infection. You can try to use chlorhexidine containing pads (such as the Douxo chlorhexidine 3% PS pads) to clean the are twice daily for 7 days. You may find these online or at your local pet store. If there is no improvement or in the meantime this appears to be getting worse, have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!