subject: Dog Skin Problems: How To Identify, Treat & Prevent Hot Spots On Dogs [print this page] Have you found some red, moist, sores or lesions on your dog? What does it mean?
SYMPTOMS
These are hot spots, which can best be described as an area of skin inflammation and infection that can be superficial or very deep. The hot spot or lesion on the dog's skin will be red, moist painful sores, sometimes with matted fur, that occur due to biting, licking or scratching. These hot spots only get worse as the dog continues to lick and bite the lesion. Hair loss soon follows due to all the scratching and biting.
CAUSES
There are several underlying causes for the appearance of hot spots on your dog that include but are not limited to mites, fleas, bacteria, allergies, harsh shampoo, severe fatty acid deficiency, external parasites, any skin wound or scrape, hot and humid temperatures and matted fur. In some rare cases the dog may start the hotspot out of boredom or stress!
SOLUTION
Once you discover the hot spot don't waste any time treating it, as it can become a deep wound in a very short time due to the constant biting and scratching.
The first thing you do is put an Elizabethan collar around the dog because it is quite likely to snap at you as hot spots are very painful and also to prevent further damage to the lesion.
Next you take the two fold approach: treat the lesion and remove the underlying cause.
To treat the hot spot, trim the fur in the area around the hot spot or shave it, which leaves the hot spot exposed to the air and healing will be quicker. Clean the area with a non-irritating solution such as dilute Nolvasan solution, then rinse gently with cold water and pat completely dry. You can apply any desiccating powder that your Vet recommends. Medication is usually Benadryl tablets but do check with your Vet. In the more severe cases oral antibiotics and pain killers may be needed.
Hot spots under a dog's ear could be an indication of an ear infection and hot spots on the flanks could be an indication of an anal gland problem.
Tip: It is always advisable to take the dog to the Vet for a professional exam and treatment.
PREVENTION
A few tips on the preventive measures you can adopt to avoid your dog getting hot spot:
If your dog has a thick fur coat - make sure it is always well groomed and trimmed in summers to avoid matting of the fur. Never bathe your dog with matted fur, always comb out the tangles first. Matted fur tends to trap moisture inside it giving rise to the hot spot.
Dogs like human beings are prone to allergies - make sure your home and the surrounding areas are dust free and clean. Bathe your dog in skin soothing herbal shampoos containing Aloe Vera.
If the cause isn't fleas, which usually are the most common cause, then maybe your dog is bored or lonely or stressed - start exercising and playing with your dog a little bit more than usual.
A word of advice, pets are like children - they need constant monitoring. Moreover your pet cannot speak for himself, so you need to be extra vigilant to ensure that Fido stays healthy and well groomed all the time.
