Has your dog had a hot spot? Has your dog had more than one? If so, you’re not alone. Hot spots (also known as moist dermatitis or pyotraumatic dermatitis) are a very common cause of red, oozy skin in dogs. Fortunately, hot spots can be managed with appropriate treatment and certain preventative measures.
What Causes Dog Hot Spots?
Anything that irritates the skin or makes a dog itchy can trigger the process that leads to hot spots, including:
- Fleas, ticks and other external parasites
- Mosquito bites
- Small wounds
- Ear or skin infections
- Matted fur
- Chronically dirty or damp skin
- Anal gland impactions
- Contact with skin irritants
- Foreign material within or under the skin
- Allergies
Some dogs will also lick or chew at their skin because they are bored, anxious or an underlying body part is painful (e.g., arthritis).
Whatever the trigger, excessive scratching, licking and chewing traumatizes the skin and lessens its natural resistance to infection. Bacteria may begin to proliferate at the site and inflammation increases, leading to a greater desire to lick, chew and scratch. Because of this, hot spots can get worse very quickly. In just a few hours, your dog may go from being normal to having a large hot spot.
Dog Hot Spot Treatment
The goal of dog hot spot treatment is to eliminate itching and inflammation so that dogs will stop licking, scratching and chewing at themselves.
Mild hot spots can often be treated at home. Hot spot home remedies work best when applied to non-haired skin. Use electric clippers to trim the hair away from the hot spot until healthy skin is visible all around the wound. Next, clean the area using an antiseptic containing either povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine (e.g., Betadine or Hibiclens), and rinse well. Then pat the area dry with a clean paper towel.
Over-the-counter hot spot home remedies are widely available and may transiently provide relief for mild hot spots. Active ingredients like lidocaine provide the most effective relief. Temporarily using an Elizabethan collar while treatment takes effect can prevent licking and chewing, giving your dog’s skin a chance to heal. If the hot spot does not improve with a few days of home management or worsens at any point, it's time to make an appointment with your veterinarian.
More serious hot spots are best treated under the care of a veterinarian. The doctor will thoroughly clip and clean the wound, verify that it is indeed a hot spot and look for anything obvious that may have triggered your dog’s symptoms. Based on the details of the case, he or she will then prescribe a combination of topical and/or oral anti-inflammatory medications, pain relief and antibiotics.
Preventing Dog Hot Spots
If your dog has a history of recurring hot spots, it’s time to look for the underlying cause.
Hot spots on paws are often associated with allergies or an irritant reaction after a dog has walked through a contaminated area or grass that has collected pollen. In these cases, preventing access to problematic locations and/or regularly rinsing your dog’s feet off with cool water may help prevent hot spots on paws.
Flea and tick infestations can be treated and prevented with effective flea control medications and regular grooming sessions will stop matted fur from trapping dirt and moisture against your dog’s skin. Finally, if you cannot identify an underlying cause for your dog’s hot spots or if they don’t respond to treatment, make an appointment with your veterinarian.