• Epidermal collarettes are signs of an infection on a dog's skin.dog image by Erg??n ?--zsoy from Fotolia.com
  
  An epidermal collarette is a surface scale on the dog's skin that is a symptom of a skin infection. Epidermal collarettes form in a circular shape and appear red and scaly. These itchy spots are not a disease or infection, but are signs of a dermatological infection like dermatitis or Staphylococcus intermedius. Treatment for epidermal collarettes will often depend on what the underlying cause is.
  
  

Oral Antibiotics

• For most any kind of skin infection, a veterinarian will prescribe an oral antibiotic as part of an antibiotic regimen. The antibiotic will slow or stop the growth of infection-causing bacteria in the dog. The medication will likely need to be administered regularly over a period of time, typically longer than one month. The antibiotic needs to be administered long enough to effectively eliminate the infection. If the infection and epidermal collarettes react badly to a certain antibiotic, the vet can try a different type until he finds one that works.
  
  

Topical Antibiotics

• Topical antibiotics work in conjunction with oral antibiotics to treat specific areas of the skin. The topical medication should be applied on the epidermal collarettes to help eliminate them as quickly as possible. If the vet knows the skin infection is local, meaning it is only present in a specific area on the dog, he can prescribe a topical antibiotic. Topical treatments include shampoos, gels, creams or ointments. Before applying the topical antibiotic, the dog owner should clean the affected areas.
  
  

Eliminate Underlying Cause

• While antibiotic treatments will work to eliminate infections and epidermal collarettes, a veterinarian should diagnose the underlying cause. If the cause of the infection is not identified, it can easily return. If a cause is determined, there may be other treatments available. To help the vet make a diagnosis, the dog owner should provide a history of the pet's health and what the dog's environment is like.
  
  

Autogenous Vaccine

• When a dog has a recurring skin infection and the cause is unknown, a veterinarian may use an autogenous vaccine. The vaccine is made from cultures of bacteria taken from the infected dog to tailor the treatment specifically to the animal. It is likely given in the form of a shot. To make this bacterial vaccine, the vet will take a culture swab from the infected spot, like an epidermal collarette. The process of creating the autogenous vaccine takes about 10 to 14 days.