Unfortunately, this isn’t an article about having a great time at the dog park. Dog hot spots are usually caused by an infection, often due to water being trapped under the fur. They’re extremely itchy and uncomfortable, and they can quickly become painful once your dog rubs, licks and scratches the hot spot raw.
If you’re facing a case of dog hot spots, your dog will scratch the same spot obsessively. There will eventually be hair loss in that area, sometimes with pus seeping out. Be very gentle with this area, because the skin is extremely tender around a hot spot.
What Causes Dog Hot Spots?
The main cause of dog hot spots is that a dog with a thick coat doesn’t fully dry after a bath or a swim. The moisture becomes a breeding ground for a bacterial infection called pyotraumatic dermatitis. Sometimes, rather than beginning with a moisture-aided infection, dog hot spots are caused by skin allergies. The dog’s scratching opens his flesh, providing an in-route for bacteria.
Either way, dog hot spots are fairly easy to treat, once found.
How to Treat Dog Hot Spots
First, clip the hair around the hot spot – do this very gingerly, because the slightest touch will cause your dog pain. Removing the hair will help the area dry out, which will hinder the bacterial infection.
Next, wash the wound and the area surrounding your dog’s hot spot with a gentle antibacterial soap and warm water. If the infection looks serious, a trip to the vet is warranted. The veterinarian would prescribe antibiotics or cortisone, if necessary. Your dog may also be fitted with a cone to keep him from aggravating the skin.
That takes care of the present hot spot problem – but you still need to find the cause in order to prevent future dog hot spots from arising.
How to Prevent Dog Hot Spots
If your have a long-haired or thick-coated dog, he needs to be groomed regularly to avoid matting. That will allow any moisture to evaporate normally, which will prevent future pyotraumatic dermatitis infections. Read my articles about grooming, bathing and brushing, and follow a healthy schedule.
Since summer allergies can also lead to dog hot spots, make sure you vacuum your carpet thoroughly and regularly, and weed your yard. If you use pesticides, make sure to talk to your vet about whether your dog’s breed is prone to pesticide allergies – he may suggest you switch to a product with a different active ingredient.
Finally, don’t forget to consider dog food allergies as a potential entry point for dog hot spots.
Certain allergy medications designed for humans, are fine for alleviating allergy symptoms in dogs – talk to your vet if you think your dog needs allergy medicines, and pay special attention to what your vet says about the right dosage, because dogs need smaller doses of those medicines than we do.
Conclusion – Dog Hot Spots
A mild hot spot infection can sometimes be cured completely without a trip to the vet. Compresses made from the extracts of black and green tea leaves, medicated itch powders, and creams with antibiotics and Vitamin E all work the same on your dog’s hot spot as they would on a human’s rash. The main issue is to prevent your dog from licking off the medication before it takes effect.
To prevent dog hot spots, just make sure your dog’s fur is properly groomed, that your house is clean and that you’re taking the time to address the potential for allergies. Thankfully, dog hot spots are not too troublesome to solve, but they are very troublesome for your dog to live with.
Learn how to train your dog, or read about other dog health concerns.