What is a Hot Spot?
Acute Moist Dermatitis, more commonly known as hots spots, start out as itchy areas on your dog. The itchiness could be caused by several different conditions such as fleas, allergies, skin infections, trapped moisture, a dirty coat, or even boredom. Some dogs will scratch and bite if bored or anxious and this could lead to hot spots. Hot spots often start as small red and/or moist looking areas. If left untreated they could turn into very large, red, and painful sores. Hot spots are typically caused by your dog. Your dog has an itchy spot, and they scratch the area making it worse. The scratching (or biting) causes the area to become inflamed and in many cases causes a bacterial infection. Hot spots are usually accompanied by hair loss and are most common in the summer months. This is due to higher temperatures and higher humidity. Hot spots are usually hot to the touch due to the inflammation and is where they gained the name “hot spot.” Hot spots can be very painful and very stressing to your dog. So, how do we treat them?
How Can I Treat My Dogs Hot Spot?
I always suggest having your dog seen by your veterinarian if any type of sore appears particularly if it seems to worsen. If a hot spot is on the skins surface and doesn’t present with oozing, clipping back the hair, washing with a medicated shampoo, and applying a topical should suffice. However, if it is oozing, your veterinarian will likely prescribe an antibiotic and topical ointment. If the hot spot is small and not too troublesome, you may try a natural home remedy such as this skin soother. However, if there is no immediate improvement, be sure to promptly make that vet visit. The sore could be something different than a hot spot and you don’t want to be upset with yourself if you did not seek medical advice soon enough.
How Do I Prevent Hot Spots on My Dog?
There are a few things you can do to prevent hot spots. First, keep your dog as dry as possible. Make sure you dry them off immediately after swimming or after a bath. Second, Omega 3’s are great at preventing hot spots. This Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil is about the best product on the market in my humble opinion. It contains Fatty Acids Omega-3 and Omega-6 along with EPA, DHA, Vitamin D3, and Vitamin B12. The most important thing you can do to prevent hot spots is to figure out what was causing the initial itching and prevent that. If the root cause is allergies, be sure to get the allergies under control. For information about allergy relief, read this post: https://thefrenchiemamablog.com/2021/07/21/dog-allergies-and-natural-solutions/
If the root cause is fleas, get the fleas under control. Flea Free is a great natural flea and tick repellent.
If your dog is itching out of boredom, try to exercise them more often, and consider buying them interactive toys such as this [ New Edition ] Dog Puzzle Toys- Penerl Slow Feeder Dog Bowls, Interactive Dog Toy for IQ Training; Slow Feeding, Aid Pets Digestion, Dog Puzzle Toys for Smart Dogs or this Wobble Wag Giggle Ball, Interactive Dog Toy, Fun Giggle Sounds, As Seen On TV.
Basically, whatever is causing the need for your dog to itch, be sure to address it and get it under control.