Steps on How to Treat Hot Spots
What are hot spots? Vets refer to hot spots as acute moist dermatitis or pyotraumatic dermatitis. They are localized areas of skin inflammation and bacterial infection. According to PetMD.com, they often begin as a small red area that can seemingly appear spontaneously anywhere on a dog's body, that pet owners may mistake for an insect bite. Unlike an insect bite, if left untreated, a hot spot will rapidly worsen and spread, developing into a hot, red, oozing, and painful lesion.
Dogs are their own worst enemy when it comes to hot spots, and they are generally created by their over-zealous self-licking, scratching, and chewing, resulting in trauma to the skin, causing inflammation and secondary bacterial infections. This self-trauma only makes the area itchier, which creates a self-perpetuating cycle of itching and scratching. Thus, any condition that causes your dog to feel itchy has the potential to result in a hot spot.
Fleas, ticks, atopic dermatitis, contact irritants, and food allergies are just a few of the common causes of the itching and scratching cycle in dogs.
Hot spots seem to be prevalent and more common in hot, humid environments. Dogs that are prone to allergies also tend to get hot spots more readily than non-allergic dogs. Certain breeds are more prone to it, including Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, Saint Bernards, and German Shepherds (according to akc.org).
While there are various forms of hot spots, there are two distinct, common forms; superficial and deep hot spots. At one time, all “hot spots” were thought to be essentially the same, and as a result, were treated identically. Correctly identifying the type of acute moist dermatitis is essential in determining the correct treatment protocol.
- Superficial hot spots are, as the name implies, on the surface of the skin and appear as moist patches of inflamed, itchy skin.
- Deep hot spots are quite different from the superficial form in that there is not only itchiness and inflammation but also a severe infection and oozing.
Identify Address and Treat. Identifying and addressing the underlying cause of your dog’s hot spot is one of the most important factors in preventing future skin problems; however, early detection and treatment of hot spots are also important. The good news is that hot spots almost always look worse than they are, but can be resolved with a few simple steps.
Steps to Treat Hot Spots:
- If your dog has long hair, the affected area needs to be trimmed. If the area is too big, shave it. Exposing it to air will dry out the moisture and help speed healing.
- Cleanse the area. Cleansing the hot spot with our shampoo, which contains organic aloe vera and charcoal, will remove dirt and detox the skin.
- Apply skin butter. Our skin-calming butter will help with skin irritations such as rashes, hot spots, cracked paws, dry nose, and yeast infections. Our sulfur butter will help relieve pain, sores, pus, and infections.
- Prevent your dog from biting, licking, or scratching the hot spot affected area by placing an Elizabethan collar (plastic cone) around your dog's neck.
- Change the diet for better results. For your pet’s health, it is important to address skin issues not only topically, but internally. A raw diet may be beneficial, especially if the skin allergies are caused by food allergies.
- Do not place any bandages or wraps to cover the area—you want the area to “breathe.”
- Keep an eye on the area to make sure it continues to heal and doesn't worsen or spread.
Hot spots are an uncomfortable skin condition from which many pets suffer. With these tools, your dog’s hot spots will hopefully be a thing of the past.