BackgroundThe emergence of meticillin‐resistantStaphylococcus pseudintermedius(MRSP) has become a significant animal health problem. Recent studies have indicated that previous antibacterial drug exposure is a factor in acquisition of meticillin‐resistant strains of staphylococci.Hypothesis/ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with prior antimicrobial drug use andMRSPpyoderma in dogs presented to a veterinary teaching hospital.AnimalsDogs diagnosed with pyoderma associated withMRSP(n= 53) or meticillin‐sensitiveS. pseudintermedius(MSSP;n= 45).MethodsThe medical records of dogs diagnosed with pyoderma associated with isolation ofS. pseudintermediusbetween January 2006 and November 2012 were reviewed. All cases with a complete twelve month to 3 yr drug history prior to the diagnosis were included.ResultsFifty two of 53 (98%)MRSPcases and 42 of 45 (93%)MSSPcases had received at least one course of antibacterial drug prior to diagnosis. The total number of antibacterial drug prescriptions provided to pet owners and the variety of antibacterial drug classes represented were higher for cases withMRSPthan for cases withMSSP(P< 0.0001 andP= 0.009, respectively). More cases withMRSP(98%) received beta‐lactam drugs than those withMSSP(82%;P= 0.007) and the proportion ofMRSPcases that had received concurrent immunomodulatory therapy was higher (62% versus 42%;P= 0.048).Conclusions and clinical importanceThese results suggest that the total number of antibacterial drug prescriptions, exposure to multiple drug classes (beta‐lactams in particular) and concurrent immunomodulatory therapy may be associated with increased risk for acquisition ofMRSP.