Staph Infections in Dogs

Written By Wag! Staff
Published: 09/30/2015Updated: 03/19/2024
Staph Infections in Dogs

What are Staph Infections?

You’re probably here to find an answer to the question, can a dog get a staph infection? That answer is yes, absolutely they can — and this guide will explain more.

Staphylococcus infections are the most common skin problems in canines, but in worst-case scenarios they can be very serious.

Staphylococcus is a group of bacteria that tend to live in and around the genitals, eyes, nose and mouth of a dog (and a human). In itself, Staphylococcus is nothing to worry about; it helps form part of the healthy microbiome in an animal. 

What’s less healthy is when an infection in this bacteria takes hold. Whenever your dog has a cut, they will be at risk of the Staphylococcus entering the wound and infecting it. If their immune system is compromised and they become ill, pathogenic bacteria in the skin can overwhelm the healthy bacteria and cause infection.

But it’s a mistake to think that staph infections are just irritations on the skin. They can also occur in the spinal cord, the brain, the heart, the kidneys, the urinary system, and the reproductive organs. In these instances, you may notice that your dog has a fever and is unusually weak. 

As with all conditions, the best precaution if you’re at all worried is to call your vet and explain what’s happening, giving them your dog’s dermatological history so that they can offer advice and examine your dog if they need to. In order to confirm a diagnosis, they will probably recommend tests like a skin cytology.


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Symptoms of Staph Infections in Dogs

Your dog won’t display all of these symptoms, of course, but it’s worth noting that the features of a staph infection can be numerous and wide-ranging. Look out for any of these tell-tale staph infection in dogs:


Can humans get a staph infection from a dog?

You might be wondering, can I get a staph infection from my dog? Unfortunately, yes — a dog staph infection can be contagious, but it happens so rarely in humans that in the vast majority of cases you needn’t be worried about it.

It’s also possible that dogs can get a staph infection from humans, so it’s advisable to act quickly if you suspect an infection.

If your dog develops a staph infection that needs treatment, does your pet insurance cover the cost? Use our fast comparison tool to get quotes from leading pet insurance providers.

Causes of Staph Infections in Dogs

First of all — staph infections in dogs are completely normal and it’s worth pointing out that most of the time they aren’t scary at all. 

So, what causes staph infections in dogs? Well, there are a range of causes as to how dogs get staph infections, including:

  • An existing fungal or bacterial infection in the blood
  • A pre-existing chronic or debilitating disease
  • Allergies that make a dog vulnerable to infection 
  • Contaminated material entering the body through the eyes, mouth, nose, or stomach
  • An infected wound, scrape or cut
  • An operation, performed on your dog, with equipment that had not been properly sterilized


Licking and staph infections in dogs

In many cases, a staph infection takes hold when a dog really enjoys licking, chewing or scratching a part of their body to such an extent that the skin is irritated.

It’s no surprise therefore that there are more staph infections in dogs with allergies and in dogs who are plagued by fleas, as these are conditions that cause dogs to scratch themselves.

Staph infections in puppies

If your furry friend is a young puppy — or an older dog — they will be slightly more likely to contract a staph infection because their immune system won’t be as strong. Labrador retrievers, American and French bulldogs, shar-peis and pitbull-type breeds are some of the breeds with a slightly higher chance of developing the infection.  

Staph infections are secondary infections so it’s important that the vet does their best to discern the primary cause in case the staph infection returns with a vengeance.


Diagnosis of Staph Infections in Dogs

While most of the bacteria that cause staph infections are basically harmless, Staphylococcus aureus is one of the few that can cause a nasty infection in almost any part of your dog’s body.

While dogs, like humans, can get MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), it’s methicillin-resistant Staph pseudintermedius (helpfully shortened to MRSP) that concerns vets more because it’s more common. 

In MRSA and MRSP, the bacteria is becoming resistant to antibiotics, making the infection much harder to treat. This may leave vets with no option but to perform surgery — a serious course of action that’s always best avoided if possible.

Of course, surgery is far better than the alternative: if you don’t treat a staph infection, it can lead to far more serious problems like blood poisoning, organ infections, and sometimes death. 

If you have any concerns at all about your dog’s health, always consult a vet. A wellness plan covers the cost of vet examinations and routine appointments. Check out the wellness plan options available to you in addition to your standard pet insurance. 

Treatment of Staph Infections in Dogs

Because staph infections are topical, the more mild examples can be treated with remedies like ointments, creams, sprays and shampoos. But a lot of the time — sometimes as well as, not just instead — a vet will use antibiotics to stop the infection spreading. 

These drugs will usually be administered over a period of three to six weeks and you must stick to a schedule when administering them; if you don’t, the antibiotics may do more harm than good.

They tend to be taken orally at home but can sometimes be administered via an injection in hospital. A vet may also insert a stent to drain excess fluid.

What you shouldn’t forget is that in the scenario that your dog has a type of Staphylococcus that has become resistant to antibiotics — as multiple strains of the bacteria have — the drugs won’t be a simple course of action.

Your vet may prescribe a course of multiple antibiotics or have to perform surgery on your dog in order to remove the infected tissue from the animal’s body. 

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Recovery of Staph Infections in Dogs

Generally, if all has gone well, the antibiotics are administered correctly, and the dog is kept clean and in a sanitary environment, it will take between several days and a couple of weeks for your furry friend to be completely back to normal after suffering a staph infection of the skin. 

While they’re recovering, ensure that they are eating and drinking regularly — If you need any information on good-quality dog food, our friends at Dog Food Advisor will be able to help you.)

With an internal dog staph infection affecting tissue and organs, however, it’s a little more complicated. While the chance of recovery is still significant, sometimes antibiotics don’t solve internal staph infections by themselves — hence the need for interventions like surgery.

If you want more guidance on canine health conditions and anything else dog-related, check out the Wag! app and get expert advice at your fingertips in seconds. 

Cost of Staph Infections in Dogs

Staph infections can most commonly be a skin infection or an internal infection. For most staph infections classified as skin infections, the veterinarian will prescribe an antibiotic cream (Mupirocin $15 on average) to help combat the infection.

The veterinarian may prescribe oral antibiotics ($10-$30) as well. If the staph infection is caused by an internal infection then there could be more extensive treatments done. In addition to oral antibiotics ($10-$30), the veterinarian may combat the internal infection with stents ($100-$130) to drain any fluid buildup. Surgery ($1,000-$2,500) may also be an option in order to remove any necrotic tissue.

Staph Infections Average Cost

From 110 quotes ranging from $300 - $3,000

Average Cost

$450

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Staph Infections Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals

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spitz

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Cookie

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7 Years

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0 found this helpful

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0 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Panting,
Scratching Floor, Panting, Hiding
My dog(small breed) is 7 years old and she gave birth 5 days ago. On the 3rd day I noticed a red bald patch on the outside of her left thigh. My Vet prescribed ointment for staph infection. But now its become swollen, red and inflamed. She pants and leaves her babies after every feeding and then go to corners of the house or under the bed and start scratching the floor. Will this affect her's or her puppies' health? What should I do to help her recovery fast?

March 28, 2018

Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM

0 Recommendations

Without seeing the lesion or being able to examine Cookie, I'm unfortunately not able to provide much insight into what that wound might be caused by. If it is not improving with the therapy that your veterinarian prescribed, it would be a good idea to have a recheck for her, and see whether she needs any more medication. I hope that all goes well for her!

March 28, 2018

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Golden Retriever

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Fred

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9 Months

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0 found this helpful

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0 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Redness
Bleeding
Itching
Loss Of Appetite
Puss
Scratching Til He Bleeds
Should I be washing and treating with topical antibiotic ointment? I took Fred to the vet and was given a corticosteroid shot and a round of antibiotics (keflex). It started when Fred had a pea sized scab on his head. He'd had it for quite a while and I assumed he may have bumped his head coming out of his kennel. Then one day we go to the park, and it rained on us real good--we were probably out in it for about 30 minutes. I bring him home and towel dry him. Then we lounge, and he air dries a while. After that I give him a good brushing to make sure he doesnt have any knots or matting. I let the brush pass over the scab to see if it works loose (probably a big mistake), but I am not aggressive about it. Anyway, a couple of days later he starts to eat more slowly. He had scratched at the scab and caused it to bleed. Then he scratches the skin near it to bleeding. The next day he causes his head to bleed in a two inch round area. I start getting onto him when he tries to scratch thinking I cannot break the habit. On the third day of Fred scratching til he bleeds, in the evening, I notice that he has scabbing and/or scaling from brow to the back of his head and from ear to ear. It wasn’t noticeable under all of fur and wasn’t there’s before. I knew that whatever it was, it wasn’t spreading fast. The following morning I take him to the vet first to thing. The vet visually inspects the area, then takes glass for a microscope and presses it I to the blood and puss. He goes to look at it beneath a microscope. When he returns, he says that Fred is going through puppy puberty. He got the dog equivalent to a pimple. Then, when Fred scratched and opened the area, staph entered.

Feb. 23, 2018

Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM

0 Recommendations

Thank you for your email. Superficial pyoderma can be common in dogs with thick hair coats, ans excessive moisture. If Fred isn't improving on the Keflex, he may need a recheck to have the wound reassessed. These infections typically resolve fairly quickly with antibiotic therapy, and shouldn't need any topical medication. I hope that his infection clears up quickly.

Feb. 23, 2018

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Average Cost

$450

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