Pet Health
Condition Overview
These bacterial skin infections generally occur in hunting dogs. Both actinomycosis and nocardiosis can produce a systemic infection that involves the lymph nodes, brain, chest cavity, lungs, and bones.
Symptoms
Subcutaneous (below the skin) abscesses with draining sinus tracts appear at the site of a puncture wound or break in the skin, usually in the head and neck area. The wound discharge often resembles tomato soup and or/ contains material that looks like sulfa granules.
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Causes
The bacterial infections are acquired by contact with infected soil. Norcardiosis can be associated with gingivitis and mouth ulcers.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is made by culturing the wound drainage.
Treatment
Treatment involves surgically opening infected abscesses and draining body cavities. Norcardiosis responds to sulfa drugs; actinomycosis to penicillin. Prolonged antibiotic treatment is necessary. If the infection has spread deeply into the skin, the dog may not survive.
Prevention
More information needed.
Support
Please contact your veterinarian with questions regarding this condition.
Sources
Dog Owners Home Veterinary Handbook
Publisher: Wiley Publishing, 2007
Website: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/
Authors: Debra M. Eldredge, Liisa D. Carlson, Delbert G. Carlson, James M. Giffen MD
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