Treatment and Prevention of Hot Spots in Dogs by Dr Claire Stevens
First thing is not to panic. Seizures and convulsions cause a dog’s muscles to repeatedly contract and relax in rapid A hot spot is a common skin condition in dogs. It’s also called pyotraumatic dermatitis or acute moist dermatitis. A hot spot affected area on a dog’s skin will turn red and inflamed and become itchy and uncomfortable. Your dog will try to scratch or chew at the area and this will only exacerbate the condition. Hot spots can appear in any part of a dog’s body and are most common in summer.
How to Identify Hot Spots in Dogs
Hot spots are sometimes colloquially referred to as summer sores because they usually occur during the summer when it’s hot and humid and dogs are swimming more. Dogs that have thick coats and long hair are more susceptible to this condition than dogs with shorter hair.
Hot spots can spread to other parts of the dog’s body if the dog doesn’t stop licking or chewing at the infected area. Sometimes, pus might ooze from the infected area. These hot spots don’t go away on their own and if you don’t get your dog to stop biting or scratching the infected area, the condition will get worse. The first thing you should do when you see hot spots on your dog’s skin is contact your local vet.
Causes
Hot spots are usually caused by excessive scratching of an affected area. Here are some conditions that can trigger scratching and lead to hot spots:
- Allergies – Food allergies and atopy (allergies to ingredients in their diet, like meat proteins or grains, or allergens in the environment such as grasses, pollen or dust mites) can cause your dog to scratch their skin.
- Ear infections – Presence of bacteria or yeast in the ear canal can make your dog scratch the area and traumatise the surrounding skin.
- Bad habits – Dogs often develop a habit of licking and chewing at areas that they can reach easily. The paws and forearms are the most common areas for this.
- Insect bites – Bites from fleas, mites and mosquitoes can also cause dogs to scratch the bitten area.
Some other things that can make your dog scratch or chew at their skin incessantly are pyoderma (bacterial skin infection), dry skin, and orthopaedic problems. All of these conditions result in your dog developing hot spots.
Treatment
The best course of action is to take your dog to your vet as soon as you’ve identified hot spots on their skin. There are some things you can do at home to ease your dog’s discomfort and anxiety. Bath your dog with a medicated bath, ensure flea and tick prevention products are up to date and apply a cool compress to soothe the infected area.
The best course of action is to take your dog to your vet as soon as you’ve identified hot spots on their skin. There are some things you can do at home to ease your dog’s discomfort and anxiety. Bath your dog with a medicated bath, ensure flea and tick prevention products are up to date and apply a cool compress to soothe the infected area.
Your vet may suggest the following:
- Trim the hair around the infected area with scissors or clippers.
- Clean the area with a medicated wash (with an appropriate pH formula for dogs). There are products that are specifically made to clean hot spots.
- Apply a topical spray or medicated cream prescribed by the vet. Antibiotics may also be prescribed depending on the condition.
- If your dog is incessantly biting or scratching the infected areas, the vet may recommend a plastic cone around their head or a tapered dose of corticosteroids.
Prevention
There are some things you can do to prevent your dog from developing hot spots. Keep their skin clean, give them regular baths with veterinary recommended shampoo and don’t let them stay wet for long after baths. Prevent moisture from sitting on your dog’s skin by grooming them regularly and drying them well after a swim.
Don’t let your dog get bored or anxious. Keep your dog busy because boredom can lead to neurotic behaviours such as excessive scratching and biting. Spend plenty of time with your dog and give them toys to keep them entertained when you’re not around.
Finally, make sure you keep your dog’s skin healthy with superior quality nutritious food. The Hypro Premium grain-free dry dog food range contains ingredients rich in omega 3 & 6 essential fatty acids which promote skin health and minimise hot spots.
Of course, it’s still possible for your dog to develop hot spots even if you’re taking good care of them. Hot spots are usually not a major cause for concern as they can be treated easily if you get to the vet right away. If you suspect your dog has reoccurring hot spots, then you should get them checked over thoroughly by your vet for possible underlying health conditions, such as hypothyroidism, parasites and atopy.
