Don’t allow hot spots to ruin your summertime, with the proper treatment, your dog will feel more comfortable in a matter of days.
A hot spot, also known as moist dermatitis, is a conditionin dogs that involves an area of skin that becomes inflamed or infected, whichis quite annoying and uncomfortable for your dog.
Your dog will probably chew and scratch the infected area for relief, but doing so makes these hot spots more harmful. Hot spots on dogs are often set off by your dog scratching, licking, gnawing, and chewing on the infected area.
The early stages of formation involve the skin becoming moist, itchy, and red. The advanced stage involves a full-blown infection with pus oozing out of the wounded area.
If your dog continuously develops hot spots, it might be asign of an underlying disease; if that’s the case, you should visit your vet.
Symptoms of Hot Spots on Dogs:
Signs your dog may have a hot spot include:
What Causes Hot Spots in Dogs?
Hots spots are a result of scratching, licking, and biting, which can be caused by any number of factors that irritate the skin, including allergies, insect bites, matted coats, moist or dry skin, or boredom. Flea allergies often lead to hot spots, so using a regular flea treatment is crucial to preventing breakouts.
When the skin is pruritic (itchy), scratching and licking will occur, which often leads to secondary trauma of the skin. The coat traps moisture that allows an opportunistic bacterial infection, usually caused by Staphylococcus intermedius. The infection causes hot spots and often leads to further irritation. If not treated, the dog will continue to scratch, and thereby spread the infection to other areas of the skin.
A Vet’s Take on Home Remedies for Hot Spots
This vet provides some alternative remedies for treating hot spots that have worked in his practice. The video also shows the clipping and cleaning procedures, so before you start treating your dogs hot spot, take a few minutes to watch this.
FAQ
Can I put Listerine on my dog’s skin?
Can I use Listerine mouthwash on my dog?
What is the best thing to put on a dog’s hot spot?
What is the best home remedy for hot spots on a dog?
Trim and clean the affected area. Apply calming oatmeal baths, tea bag packs, or an all-natural balm made for dogs. Cover the area with a clean bandage or gauze. Use an Elizabeth collar or dog cone.