Hot spots, also known as bacterial infections, occur when your dog scratches or licks at an area of his or her skin, often as the result of poor grooming, flea infestation or food allergies. This condition may result from improper coat maintenance practices, flea sensitivities or food intolerances.
In many instances, a visit to your veterinarian will be necessary in order to ascertain and treat the source of your dog’s hot spot; however, in the interim there are also some home remedies which may help.
Contents
How to Use
Dogs can develop hot spots from excessive biting and licking behavior that creates open wounds where bacteria flourish. Breeds with thick coats are particularly susceptible, as their hair traps warmth and moisture within these painful lesions, creating hotspots.
Vets usually start by cleaning the area with an antimicrobial such as diluted chlorhexidine or veterinary-grade astringent to eliminate bacteria. They may then apply either hydrocortisone spray to help alleviate itching and discomfort or topical Neosporin cream to ease symptoms of inflammation and pain.
Once the area has been cleaned and treated, a veterinarian should be able to pinpoint its cause through various tests, such as ear cytology, orthopedic exam, oral exam, anal gland palpation and skin biopsy. Once identified, hot spots typically clear more quickly. Treatment processes can sometimes take some time; keep in mind that some dogs may need Elizabethan collars (i.e. “cone of shame”) worn to physically prevent further licking and chewing of it by physically blocking their access to it.
Dosage
Flea and tick bites can result in itchy areas of skin that become hot spots, which may become painfully itchy for your dog and difficult to locate due to being under their thick coats. These hot spots should be taken seriously because they can lead to serious discomfort for both of you.
Dogs that experience itchy spots could also have underlying medical conditions like allergies or arthritis that cannot be effectively addressed through topical medication alone. Understanding why these hotspots occur will allow you to prevent future outbreaks – this may require consulting your veterinarian.
For severe hot spots, your vet may recommend anti-inflammatories and oral antibiotics. It’s also essential that fur around the lesion is clipped off using electric clippers (not scissors) so that more air exposure can reach its healing site; this allows for you to track its progress more effectively.
Side Effects
Dogs tend to lick and chew at any area that causes irritation, creating open wounds which become breeding grounds for bacteria. This cycle of self-trauma can become even more serious in itchy dogs with thick coats which trap warmth and moisture beneath their fur layers.
Infection is common in hot spots, and your vet may use a diluted disinfectant or astringent to clean and dry them out. They may also prescribe short course oral antibiotics if cytology or culture samples indicate infection or severe pyotraumatic dermatitis.
Hot spots can also be caused by insect bites and stings, prompting your vet to conduct skin cytology to check for parasites such as mites or yeast, or conduct a biopsy in order to rule out other conditions like tumors or furunculosis. Once an infection has been treated, topical steroids will likely be recommended to soothe inflammation and relieve itching – they may even recommend an Elizabethan collar in order to keep your pup from licking and chewing their affected area.
Prevention
Dog hot spots usually start out as areas of irritated or inflamed skin on paws and hips that become irritated after excessive licking or chewing, often worsening into infected sores that may resemble breakouts but are much more serious and painful than they appear. These lesions often manifest themselves through licking and chewing activities which eventually cause infected pustules which become infected pustules with swelling that look similar to acne breakouts but much more serious and severe than either option available to us humans!
Start the treatment off right by visiting your vet and having them clip away any fur near the affected area, this allows them to better assess and understand its extent as well as improving air flow. Depending on your dog’s anxiety level, short-acting sedation may also be needed beforehand.
Once a vet has evaluated and created a treatment plan for a hot spot on your dog’s skin, they will likely recommend a topical solution. It is crucial that you keep your pup from licking or chewing at it; an E-collar may help prevent this action and ingestion of bacteria or yeast on lesion; most topical solutions also contain antibacterial agents which will eliminate any growth on their lesion as well as soothe any itching that might arise from this lesion.
