Last Updated on January 19, 2023 by Kunthida
On this page you will find several articles and videos dealing with the hot spot treatment in dogs. You’re better to get this knowledge in advance, because, when your pet will get this skin infection, it will often be unbearable.
Hot Spot Treatment in Dogs – First Understand the Causes
Hot spots can result from any external cause such as a simple scratch, a skin allergy or even an insect bite.
What will encourage its development will be, in each of these cases, the presence of moisture on the skin surface. This will in fact be the determining factor for the development of bacteria.
Here are listed below the classic causes of hot spots in dogs:
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Wounds and skin scratches
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Food allergy
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Flea bites
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Stress that leads the dog to lick itself excessively
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Moisture that remains on the skin after a bath or swim.
Hot spots in dogs develop more easily in long-haired dogs and with the strong humidity of hot seasons or tropical climates. This is why they are also called “summer Sores.”
Hot Spot Treatment in Dogs – Prevention, Diagnosis and Symptoms
What exactly is a Hot Spot?
A hot spot is a single area of skin that has an infection on the surface.
These localized areas of infection are more likely to happen in dogs that have thick hair coats, dogs that swim a lot, and in moist or humid environments.
Sometimes flea bites or other insect bites can also be involved.
A hot spot starts to develop when more than the usual amount of moisture stays close to the skin. This changes the local environment of the skin and allows bacteria to grow.
The bacteria release toxins, which cause inflammation in the skin. This makes the skin itchy in that one spot. A dog will chew and scratch on that spot to relieve the itching, but this makes the situation worse. The chewing damages the skin more and makes the skin infection worse.
This makes the area even itchier. This becomes a vicious cycle. A large hot spot can seem to develop over only twenty or thirty minutes and can get bigger quickly. A flea or insect bite can also start the itching process.
Hot Spots – The Symptoms
These spots are very easy to identify. They are large areas of the skin that are red, inflamed, hairless and sometimes oozing or scabbed over. Most commonly these spots are found on the rear legs and neck but can appear on other areas of the body as well.
This are will be so irritating that a dog will not be able to stop licking, chewing, biting and scratching at it. This can make the area very painful to touch.
The Diagnosing of Hot Spots
Generally, all that is needed to diagnose a hot spot is a visual inspection or physical examination.
If your dog has several hot spots, a visit to your veterinarian may need for testing. These include:
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Scraping of the Skin: This rules out Mange
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Fungal Culture – This will rule out Ringworm as the cause.
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Blood Tests – These are used to rule or seasonal or inhalant allergies.
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Blood or skin tests to identify flea allergies
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Extensive flea treatment even if no fleas are present.
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Dietary food trials to test for food allergies
Dog Hot Spot Treatment
The most important things to address when treating a hot spot are:
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Stop the itching
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Cure the Infection
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Stop the dog from biting or itching the area
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Keep the area dry
All hair left on the area as well as that surrounding the area must be clipped. Then the spot must be cleaned with antibacterial soap and dried thoroughly. Oftentimes, these spots are so severe that this procedure is very painful. In these cases, the dog must be sedated.
The next step is for the area to be treated with oral and topical antibiotics.
The topical antibiotic will generally contain a corticosteroid to reduce inflammation while the oral antibiotic will contain a corticosteroid to reduce itching.
The most important thing is to stop the itch, chew, infection cycle. By making your dog comfortable, the healing process can begin more quickly.
An Elizabethan or lamp shade like collar may be needed if your dog can not stop licking the area. These are generally only needed for 24 hours. In about one week’s time, the hot spot will usually be completely healed.
Methods to Prevent Hot Spots
There are several different ways you can prevent hot spots from occurring. They are:
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Use effective flea control on a dog and in the environment
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Trim the hair of long and thick haired breeds during the summer months
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Whenever possible, prevent your dog from swimming
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If your dog does partake in a swim, be sure to dry them thoroughly.
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VIDEO — Hot Spot Treatment in Dogs – More Home Remedies
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The Cause Of Dog Hot Spots Can Be Difficult To Determine
When a dog looses its hair in various areas it can be attributed to one or a combination of many factors. Dog hot spots is a possible reason. Sometimes you will notice that the areas are wet, but this is not always the case.
The bacteria will grow in certain conditions.
If you have been neglecting the grooming of your dog you may find that the bacteria have been growing on him.
Some allergies and behavioral issues can cause this infection to develop.
It is common for healthy dogs to experience skin irritation at the beginning of an infection.
There may be many reasons for this such as being allergic to parasites or food, environmental changes, matted fur that results in concentration of moisture or dirt, etc.
Continued licking or scratching of certain body parts due to the presence of allergens, boredom or sometimes behavioral problems may also result in the condition.
A skin irritation can be the result of allergies caused by parasites or it may again be due to food. Even dogs with good immunity can fall prey to this problem.
Hot spot treatment is to be undertaken under directions and supervision of a vet as there may be some underlying cause for the problem.
The hot spot treatment in dogs may sometimes involve removing the hair from the affected part followed by thorough cleaning with mild cleansers or antiseptic on a regular basis.
The vet may suggest using an e-collar in cases where the problem is caused due to excessive licking until the problem is cured.
Skin irritations can be treated relatively easy, but there is usually a deeper problem causing the issue. Resolving the bigger issue is important. The skin infection will reoccur until you have solved the problem.
In case the condition is caused by poor grooming, then more frequent grooming sessions with more care will be required. It is necessary to remove all matted portions from the dog’s fur more regularly. Two times a week or even more may be necessary so as to prevent skin infections.
The matted portions can be cut off and removed to disentangle the hair. Services of a professional groomer may be sought in case the owner is not in a position to provide sufficient attention.
The underlying condition has to be found if you want to be able to cure the condition when it is due to more than a simple infection. This can be a difficult process in which possible causes will have to be found and eliminated. The advice of the vet will be valuable in this regard.
Dog hot spots are indications of a bigger issue. Hot spot treatment in dogs can be difficult but it is important to find them out in order to avoid reappearance.
Proper treatment of the root cause makes the dog a happy companion. Taking care of he training and entertainment aspects of the dog keeps it physically and mentally content.
Jennifer is a pet health professional who specializes in treating dog allergies. Check out her Website here.
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VIDEO — Hot Spot Treatment in Dogs – Essential Oil Recipe
Dealing With Dog Hot Spots
As you go to make your way through the daily grind, chances are you and your dog are going to see your fair share of dangerous germ sites.
These are regions that will just breathe out infection, and particularly for your dog with his or her lower immune system. One way these infections come noticeably about are on dog hot spots.
Essentially, dog hot spots are similar to sun spots. They are very involved and pocked rashes that spread all around and beneath your dogs coat, burning and itching up a storm.
Not to mention that should your dog begin to scratch one of them, it is not going to strike you as odd. What dog doesn’t scratch themselves after all?
Some improvements to a dog’s health or coat can come simply, such as an increased number of baths your dog is given, with special shampoos that can help combat pesky carriers of skin infections.
Or, even less difficult (and less of a wet mess for your bathroom floor), simply checking your dog’s coat.
After all, these hot spots will not be as noticeable as a human’s given that they live beneath a thick padding of hair. Running your hands through your dog’s coat to check for any rashes is a good start to bucking the trend of ignorance towards this popular problem.
What you should try to avoid doing though, is writing off your dog’s illness as just another case of fleas. While common, fleas are not always the case and you could end up prolonging treatment of the real case.
That said, when you think you have encountered a single hot spot, or a number of dog hot spots, it is extremely important to know exactly what it is you are dealing with.
Because it is so important, we actually, in a manner as urging as possible, suggest you get in touch with some sort of veterinarian.
We mean, they did happen to spend most of their life attending medical school and caring for animals with similar problems, and so they probably can’t ever steer you wrong. Or at least very rarely will.
Once they do sum up whatever it is your dog is facing or working with, they can be sure to react in the best known way, whether through prescription drugs or prescription creams.
Now, do not be attacked by the prospect of paying. It may cost a little more, but the pay off is all too worth it for the rapidity in which the problem will dissipate.
Overall though, the situation is not on your vet. While they are a reliable source to use and should be sought out, they do not live in your house and work and live right beside your beloved dog.
That said, in order to diagnose dog hot spots sooner, one should take heed of our advice and perform routine checks on their dog’s skin. It can only lead to a healthier outcome for all!
Jennifer is a canine health guru who specializes in treatment for skin allergies in dogs.
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VIDEO — Hot Spot Treatment in Dogs – Best 3 Home Remedies
Hot Spot Treatment in Dogs, Home Remedy
Dog hot spots are the areas on the dog’s skin where there is an inflammation. As the name suggest, it appears as a red hot mess that often destroys the dermatitis part of the skin.
The medical term for dog hot spots is known to be moist dermatitis. There are many known causes for dog hot spots but among them is biting and other external factors that cause allergies.
There are telling signs that can alert you if your pet has dog hot spots. Among them is excessive itching.
If you see an inflammation that might already be a hot spot. Of course it helps to bring him as soon as possible to the vet but if you can’t just yet, there are important things you can do on your own to treat it.
Soon as you find the dog hot spots, it would be best to have the area shaved off. You should do this especially if your dog has a heavy coat on them.
This will be the best way for the hot spots to get treated because you will see how bad the current area is. This would also help you assess more or less how worse the hot spot has become. At least it would already prompt you to bring your dog over to some vet care.
Soon as you have the area shaved, you can cleanse the wound by using a gentle skin cleanser like the ones you use on your face and a cool water. Cleaning the area can stop further infections from happening.
It can also stop the itchy sensation felt by your dog. Gently wash the area especially if there are small wounds already.
Once you’ve done the cleansing and until such time that you can bring your dog to the vet or he gets better, you can apply a cool compress over the dog hot spots.
You can do this for two to four times daily using a clean wash cloth submerged in cool water. Tea bag compresses are also known to help dry and disinfect the area.
Since dogs scratch and lick themselves as a response to what they feel, it would be best for them if you make them wear an Elizabethan collar in the meantime. This way they would not be able to infect the dog hot spots much further.
Always keep an eye on the dog hot spots especially if your pet has not been seen by a vet yet. If the areas still cease to heal for more than 2 days, you should already bring your dog to the vet immediately.
They will be prescribed some antibiotics to stop the growth of bacteria as well as topical medications to soothe the dog hot spots
Jennifer is a family pet health expert who specializes in treating dog allergies.
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VIDEO — Hot Spot Treatment in Dogs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnmsinm6A8c
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Hot Spot Treatment in Dogs – Do Not Underestimate Its Gravity!
What is commonly called “Hot spots” is a prominent skin infection whose proper name is “pyotraumatic dermatitis”.
Hot spots are surface skin infections caused due to an overgrowth of skin bacteria, which overwhelms the resistance mechanism.
In general, hot spots are circular patches that lose hair and can be swollen. They can be agonizingly itchy, causing the dog to scratch, lick, or bite to the point of causing self-injury.
Hot spots must be treated immediately, since they may spread to an alarming proportion.
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