Originally Posted by
SamtheSquirrel2018
Although Rocket is doing better which is wonderful news; please consider that the Dermalone has a steroid component in addition to its 2 antibiotics and an antifungal. The steroid is used in this particular preparation to decrease inflammation which will lessen redness, swelling and sometimes pain and itching as well BUT it is not a cure for what may be a bacterial or fungal cause. That is one of the concerns about these multicomponent "shotgun type" medications. Rocket may actually have a continued infection and if so, you are treating this systemically (not by applying antibiotics to the skin) which is usually the best and appropriately means using SMZ-TMP. Topical antibiotics as in the Dermalone are not usually the optimal way to treat a skin infection. It may also be that a fungus is causing at least some of the problems you have noticed with Rocket's skin. If so, the antifungal medicine in Dermalone may be showing its effectiveness. The potential problem with the steroid is that with its antiinflammatory properties, it can make the lesions appear much improved but fungal infections (but also a bacterial infections) can still be present and in a sense, "masked" by the steroids and still be active. My suggestion would be, since you are already using the Dermalone and there are no obvious adverse effects from it (such as skin sensitivity to the Neomycin or other components), and, assuming that when the lesions completely resolve or when you do stop the Dermalone, that you monitor the area for recurrence of the problem. Also, I would recommend that you continue the Dermalone maybe 3 days beyond the time the lesions have resolved in the event that there is still some infection remaining but the steroid has suppressed all of the little inflammatory response that remains and makes it appear that there is a cure. Also, Dermalone should not be used long term and 10 days to 2 weeks might be a max. Also please coordinate all this with your vet. One last thing, if the condition improves or resolves and seems to recur after stopping the Dermalone, it may be that there is a fungal infection which can often take several weeks to cure and using just a plain antifungal medication such as Nystatin which can be used for relatively long-term if necessary and is ordinarily quite safely might be an option.
Regards,
SamtheSquirrel