Dealing With Dog Hot Spots

Among the painful skin problems your pet can have are dog hot spots. They are different from allergies because they often come with a pus and smell horribly. These hot spots tends to progress easily because they get terribly irritated when your dog licks on them to try to soothe themselves from both the pain and itch.

Yes, dog hot spots do not just come in ones or two’s. They can appear on more than one area and the result can really be very hard for your pet dog. They can be found beneath the ears’ flaps and they are also common among large breeds who exhibit thick furs.

There are different reasons why dog hot spots appear. It can be due to fur shedding or improper pet hygiene.

Dog hot spots can erupt quickly and get worse in a small amount of time. So as soon as you spot this on your dog, it would be best to send them over to the vet so that the spots can be immediately taken care of. Because the procedure can be extremely uncomfortable, the dog is often given a sedative first.

Soon as the hair has been clipped off, the spots would first be cleansed using a povidone-iodine laden shampoo. Then the skin would have to be completely dried off first. After this, antibiotics will be applied in the form of either cream or powder over the affected area. This would be repeated twice every day and would last for up to two weeks.

On top of this topical medication, the vet might also ask you to have other types of medications done as well such as oral meds. These would only be done for a short period of time just enough to help your dog feel less itching as the hot spots start to heal. An Elizabethan collar would also be prescribed to protect the area.

Though it can be painful to have, dog hot spots can be avoided. The easiest way to do so is to make sure that your dog gets dried up completely after having a bath or taking a leisurely swim to cool off. Trapped moisture can be the early beginnings of a hot spot.

It also helps to keep your home clean. Make sure you also vacuum the place where your dog usually sleeps to help prevent mites and fleas from being picked up.

I’m a family pet health specialist who specializes in dog skin allergies treatment.