Dog Hot Spot Treatment
What Does a Hot Spot on a Dog Look Like?
Manifesting as painfully raw and reddened blisters on the body, hot spots on dogs are common afflictions that can result from things like bacterial infections, allergic reactions, and stress. Also known as acute, moist dermatitis, they can exacerbated when left untreated. This means they can spread rapidly and subsequently worsen.
Hot spots are a condition that the dog can often self inflict due to these conditions. If an irritation of any kind is felt on the skin, dogs tend to react by digging, chewing, or licking at the source of irritation. Irritants such as an undetected infection or allergens plaguing the pup are only some of the many causes that can trigger coping mechanisms like licking and biting at the skin.
This can often can possess a worrisome, alarming appearance, especially if they are not treated quickly. Some can look scabbed, dry, and cracked. Others can look moist and pus-filled. Overall, they will more often than not look very raw and very pink or red in color.
In examining pictures of hot spots on dogs, anyone can see that they must be undeniably excruciating and sore for the poor dog. Because of this, treatment should begin as soon as possible. Prolonging treatment, whether it be done at home or by a vet, only makes matters worse.
By making sure your dog is being properly treated with some type of dog hot spot treatment, you are helping relieve its pain and ease the acute suffering caused by the tender areas.
What Causes Hot Spots on Dogs?
They can be triggered by a myriad of things, ranging from something as commonplace as allergies to something as serious as infections and nerve issues. The summer months are when veterinarians experience an influx of cases where dogs come in with these raw areas on their skin. This is mostly because exposure to water and humidity can cause tangled and snarled hair to conceal moisture beneath.
This can then cause irritation to the skin, thus prompting scratching or licking from the dog. This then goes on to form canine hot spots. Environmental allergens in the summertime can operate in the same manner as moisture.
The list below outlines the most commonly seen sources of hot spot development in dogs.
- Infections (especially those of the anal glands or the ear)
- Allergens (food or environmentally caused)
- Nervousness or stressful situations (being separated from owner, phobias, etc.)
- Arthritis
- Grazes or scratches on the skin
- Knotted, filthy hair
- Bug bites
If your pet is prone to experiencing any one of these causes, it is highly advised by vets that a close eye be kept on them. If a hot spot is caught early in development, it can be an easy, convenient fix by means of treatment at home or treatment administered in a vet’s office.
Once a hot spot is found, the main focus should be getting your dog hot spot treatment as soon as possible for optimal healing time.
Where are Hot Spots on Dogs?
Anywhere on its body that your dog can reach with either its paws or mouth is a possible place where hot spots can form. A dog’s chest, legs, and head area reveal frequent scars. A hot spot on dog’s face, belly, paw, and even tail can regularly form as well.
Overall, besides checking the common areas mentioned, the dog should be checked over completely and thoroughly to ensure that nothing has been overlooked. Dogs with thick, coarse fur may be particularly easy to miss.
Vets recommend those dogs predisposed to getting frequent hot spots be looked over even more methodically.
It should be kept in mind that all a hot spot takes to form is a dog itching, biting, or licking at an area of the skin that is causing it annoyance and irritation. This makes hot spots easy to form and easy to notice.
General Hot Spot Treatment
Hot spots are generally known to become more inflamed and infected the more they are allowed to spread. This is due failure of not being treated soon enough. Even though hot spots, especially those that are frequent in some dogs, can pose an inconvenience to the pet owner, hot spot dog treatment should be sought immediately to prevent further dispersion of the lesion.
While infection can play a role in causing hot spot irritation to begin with, it can also arise from a lack of treatment and a worsening of the afflicted area. Infections are nothing to joke about, so promptly getting your pup the treatment it needs as soon as it needs it is highly advisable.
Types of Treatment
The particular types of hot spot treatment for dogs varies between a hot spot home remedy and a visit to the vet’s office.
Before any type of treatment takes place, the dog’s wound should be shaved, cleaned, and kept sanitized as it heals. To help speed up this healing and prevent potential infections, there are several home remedies available, such as hot spot cream for dogs.
Products like raw aloe vera or honey can help soothe the area. Any products high in acidity or that are known to normally sting human skin should be avoided.
Anti-inflammatory medicinal creams and ointments are available in stores or at your vet’s office. If the hot spots are severe, the vet is preferable over home treatment. The whole situation can be properly assessed and an antibiotic will most likely be prescribed.
Hot spot spray for dogs, healing ointment, and specially made “cone” collars can all help in keeping hot spots at bay.
In spite of the type of treatment chosen, the improvement of the dog’s hot spot or a lack thereof should be monitored. Hot spot relief for dogs should be paramount when considering the pain that comes along with this condition. If the sore is worsening despite efforts to help at home, the professional expertise of a veterinarian is the most reasonable and safe option for your pet.
For a healthy dog, pet owners should read about conditions their dogs may have so they can be as healthy as possible!