Post-grooming furunculosis in dogs
by Thelma Lee Gross, DVM and Peter J. Ihrke, VMD
In the past several years we have recognized a syndrome of severe skin infection in dogs following grooming. All occurrences have involved the use of contaminated shampoo or cream rinse. These cases have occurred across the United States. Recently, we have had personal communication from a veterinarian in England of a fatal case that occurred in a young Border Terrier following hand stripping and shampooing. That dog developed a deep skin infection that spread to her bloodstream, creating sepsis (blood poisoning). She subsequently died. This fatality has prompted us to write this article.
Post-grooming Furunculosis affects dogs with individually thick hair shafts, such as dogs with wired hair coats or large breed dogs. We suspect that minor trauma that occurs during bathing, which involves moving the hair back and forth in the shampooing motion, occurs in the setting of application of contaminated shampoo. Thicker hairs are more easily damaged during shampooing. Wire brushing or other more vigorous activity may increase the likelihood of infection. In the case of hand stripping, the injury to the hairs is much greater than in routine grooming, and thus the infection may be potentially deeper and more dangerous. We have not seen the condition in dogs with very fine or short hairs. (Poodles, Maltese, Chihuahuas, etc.)
Post-grooming Furunculosis is distinctive. Typically, painful lesions develop in an irregular stripe along the top of the dog within 24 to 72 hours after bathing. This dorsal stripe is likely due to the way the bather applies the shampoo (down the top of the back). Severe redness and swelling rapidly become large boils, which may be very bloody and can ooze. Affected dogs have a fever, and may feel very sick, especially if diagnosis and antibiotic therapy are delayed.
The syndrome has occurred following bathing in self serve dog washing facilities and grooming salons, but also has occurred in veterinary practices. It is common practice in many dog washing facilities to pre-dilute shampoo and cream rinse, and to use and reuse communal shampoo containers without regular sterilisation. The bacterium Pseudomonas Aeruginosa is most often grown from affected dogs and from the shampoo or cream rinse that was used on them.
On the advice from this article, Puriton Paws follows these guidelines:
Post-grooming Furunculosis affects dogs with individually thick hair shafts, such as dogs with wired hair coats or large breed dogs. We suspect that minor trauma that occurs during bathing, which involves moving the hair back and forth in the shampooing motion, occurs in the setting of application of contaminated shampoo. Thicker hairs are more easily damaged during shampooing. Wire brushing or other more vigorous activity may increase the likelihood of infection. In the case of hand stripping, the injury to the hairs is much greater than in routine grooming, and thus the infection may be potentially deeper and more dangerous. We have not seen the condition in dogs with very fine or short hairs. (Poodles, Maltese, Chihuahuas, etc.)
Post-grooming Furunculosis is distinctive. Typically, painful lesions develop in an irregular stripe along the top of the dog within 24 to 72 hours after bathing. This dorsal stripe is likely due to the way the bather applies the shampoo (down the top of the back). Severe redness and swelling rapidly become large boils, which may be very bloody and can ooze. Affected dogs have a fever, and may feel very sick, especially if diagnosis and antibiotic therapy are delayed.
The syndrome has occurred following bathing in self serve dog washing facilities and grooming salons, but also has occurred in veterinary practices. It is common practice in many dog washing facilities to pre-dilute shampoo and cream rinse, and to use and reuse communal shampoo containers without regular sterilisation. The bacterium Pseudomonas Aeruginosa is most often grown from affected dogs and from the shampoo or cream rinse that was used on them.
On the advice from this article, Puriton Paws follows these guidelines:
- Shampoo should be diluted for day use only (none left overnight)
- All bottles of shampoo are sterilised daily, including pumps
- Dogs are not bathed immediately after hand stripping, but wait a minimum of two weeks before bathing
- Owners are asked to watch their dog for any signs of swelling and/or redness for the first few days following a visit which included bathing