Health problem we find very often at dogs, particularly at Dobermans as a breed, is infection caused by bacteria of Staphylococcus kind. Mostly, in the beginning, this kind of infection passes like unnoticed or not seriously treated by owner, but just as local esthetic problems of skin. Also, most of the owners tries to solve this problem by extended local disinfecting or increased cleaning measures, but not with correct microbiological examination of source intruder, its sensitivity towards certain medicaments and finally by treating infection with exactly found proper cure till healthy stage of dog is reached. Local skin problems, as spotty chin, or hard bubbles at side of buts, are often just outer sign of silent,
but serious infection going inside, not causing initially visible changes in general health condition of the dog. Problems are noticed later, when female can not stay pregnant after number of matting, or bears dead puppies, often before time, or puppies get diarrhea soon after birth and later spots all over heads, necks or elbows, or when stud male, after few initially successful matting, can not give progeny any more. Disease treatment in this far stage is very long, expensive and mostly unsuccessful.

CAUSES AND WAYS OF INFECTION

Staphylococcus infections at dogs show up in generalized or secondary forms.
Bacteria are everywhere around us. Is dog going to be infected or not, depends from few reasons like:
kept in bad environment conditions, disturbed hormonal system, vitamins and minerals deficit, or inborn immune-deficit. At Dobermans, as a breed, we are noticing particularly often presence inborn low immunity on Staphylo toxins. Treating with inadequate antibiotics (as just by experience, without exact microbiological and antibiogram checking) often makes problem even worst. Bacteria develop more resistive kind and at the same time the immune response of dog is lowered. In such cases, problem looks like solved temporary, than, soon appears as more resistive and worst form. At dogs sensitive on Staphylo problem, infections are often spread during matting, from one dog to another. Also, puppies can be infected since still in uterus of mother.

FORMS AND SIGNS OF DISEASE

First signs appear 2 to 3 weeks after dog has been infected, often as skin problems. There are 3 types of these problems as: surface, superficial and deep form.
We recognize surface form by skin surface damaged, superficial granulation or draining appearance. Two forms of this kind are vet summer eczema and intertrigo. Vet summer eczema appears at hot days when skin ventilation is reduced. Also at longhair dogs kept in bad condition. Intertrigo form is connected to some anatomic characteristic of skin, as when skin is tied to muscles and there is no space
for inner skin layer ventilation. This is convenient for bacteria extensive colonization. If not treated on time, this form affects deeper skin layers soon.
At Superficial form infection covers all layers of piodermis and also hair follicles. There are also 2 types as impetigo or "young dog's dermatit" and surface folliculit. First, appears as pustule bumps at hindrance or armpit region, at young dogs still not hormonally matured. Second affects hair follicles causing hair loss.
Deep form affects deeper layers of skin before all. It is often as secondary with demodex caused infections.

With Generalized form, skin problems are just side effects. At affected dog we notice enlarged lymphatics and extensive draining. From local changes, we can notice spotty chin, even having
"grape" look, spots between fingers, or nose spins damage.
Second important form is reproductive organ disease. At females there are vaginit (with draining from
vagina) or uterus infection (endometrit ). At males there is reproductive organs infection with draining
what with chronically extension, could lead to pathologic deforming of inner layers of prepuce. In microbiological sample lot of epithelia cells, phagocytes, lymphocytes and Staphylo cells are found.
Also important clinical sign of Staphylo infection are kind of large bumps under skin what sound as rustling on pressure. Disease can be followed by eyes draining or para anal gland infection.
At puppies infected while still in uterus of mother, first signs look like food poisoning. Two to seven days they get diarrhea, not so intensive as at some virus caused diseases (vets often give wrong diagnosis at this age, as virus caused diarrhea). Puppies are growing (there is no throwing food up) but , if lasts enough, diarrhea could have even lethal end. If survive, later various pustule forms on skin are developed (on heads, necks) - very often wrongly assigned by breeders as problems caused by puppy fights or urine caused infections. All these signs are appointing at inborn (genetic) immune deficit at puppies. We can also find Staphylococcus as cause of mastitis at females. In case staphylococcus infection is suspected at puppies, we advice sample of milk taking on analysis. If Staphylo is confirmed and antibiotic found as effective is allowed at phase of lactation, start treating female immediately. If not possible, puppies should be separated from breast feeding and fed artificially until they are grown enough to be under proper treatment.
At any suspect on Staphylo infection proper microbiological sample should be examined and exactly effective therapy found. Only exact antibiotic what particular Staphylo kind is sensitive at , should be used.
Treatment with just any, not confirmed antibiotic could cause more damage than good (strengthen bacteria and reduce dog's immunity at the same time). This can also cause further healing impossible as bacteria become resistive on just any kind of therapy.
We appoint it is important to confirm exact infection with Staphylo kind and differentiate it from other
skin problems having similar symptoms as: eczema caused by zinc deficit or hyper vitaminosis, infection caused by fungus or parasites (as demodex), allergies, contact dermatitis, genetic anomalies (as blue Doberman syndrome), hormonal caused, etc.

When there are combined infection with Staphylo and fungus (Candida) or Demodex, complex therapy should be applied for one cause treatment not to be contraindicated to the other.

HEALING

Very good results in Staphylococcus caused problems treatment has been reached in Russia, at Scientific Veterinary Center Ignatov. Their product ASP (Anatoxin Staphylococcus Polyvalence), developed especially for dogs Staphylo problems treatment and prevention, can be applied at the same time as therapy and further immune protection (as vaccine). ASP acts different way than antibiotics, with enlarging and stimulating self-immune mechanism of organism, instead of just killing bacteria.
This way, after ASP application, dog is also protected from further potential infections. For treatment
of already infected animal, ASP is applied for 15 days as injections according to given schematic of concentration. For protection , ASP is given as whole doses at once, as advised, at least twice a year.
Also it should be given preventive way to females at 20th and 40th day of pregnancy and to stud males, having number of matting.

When Staphylo infection is treated with proven antibiotics, we advice repeated microbiological checking after treatment is done (signs disappearing does not mean problem is gone for good),
and also in case of repeated infection (it is not sure same antibiotic will be effective next time).
Some kinds of Staphylococcus are showing incredible ability of fast adoption on antibiotics,
developing resistive forms, what means, once successful cure is ineffective next time, or just
calmed infection is going to burn out again without being sensitive to already applied therapy.

Author of this article has unfortunately seen many times problems at Dobermans caused by Staphylococcus: from valuable females unable to give puppies at all, or to bring live puppies,
after years being under various treatments, those who "suddenly " died from silent uterus infection going inside, puppies who survive "by miracle" something marked as "Corona" or "Paravo" by vet and then develop endless job for breeder healing "spots and scratches" at them to look at least dissent,
Till very valuable studs , who after few initial successful litters, stayed sterile for life or with hard chronically prostate diseases. All those terrible consequences has had started just as "silly spotty chin from food dirt" or "bumps on elbows or buts from laying on hard surface" or "normal draining from reproductive organs , cause such things are often at dogs"…My friendly advice to all having Doberman
Is to consider seriously all "those silly esthetic" or "dog's normal" problems and check at vet by taking sample. If Staphylo is found - to treat it properly till battle is won. Otherwise, soon they can be with dog not being able to have progeny, or dies suddenly, or skin disease has reached very unpleasant form to live with (draining and bad smell) what makes necessary for dog to be put asleep. By experience, I advice preventive checking of breeding females 2 to 3 times a year, particularly before planned matting and after delivery. By data collected for 10 years, I have found that most often form at our Dobermans here is Staphylococcus Aureus, affecting both skin and reproductive organs, very aggressive and fast adoptive kind, causing sterility; and second, less dangerous Staphylococcus Epidermis, affecting mostly skin.
Beside proper antibiotic treatment, in past two years , we have experienced good results at our dogs and dogs from friends affected, by applying ASP. Treatment of skin with various disinfecting stuff (iodine, peroxide, various colored dilutions etc) could be effective just is proper treatment is done at the same time.
Take this problem seriously.
(Based on article "Staphylococcus infections at dogs - new access to problem" by Dr.Sci. A.Ermakov,
published at Russian "Dobermann" magazine, practice of Prof.Dr.M.Pavlovic at Clinic for Reproduction, Veterinary University Belgrade, Veterinary clinic "Alesandra", Belgrade)