Dog hot spots are a very commonplace problem that dog owners are going to run into, particularly with dogs that have thicker, longer coats of fur.
While they might be a hassle for you to deal with, they are even more annoying and irritating to your pooch. The problem is something that snowballs on itself, with the actions causing it continually also making it worse and worse. Learn about the symptoms and causes of dog hot spots, along with how you can treat them.
Every dog owner can probably recognize dog hot spots when they see them. These dog skin allergies or problems are irritated, red patches, often moist or oozing. Typically the hair in that patch will have fallen out. Conversely, the hair could be matted over the moist wound, hiding the true extent of the damage, while also providing an incubating moist environment that could lead to further and worsening infections than were originally present.
Dog hot spots are caused when your dog repeatedly itches, licks and even bites or gnaws at one particular area. The scratching and biting can open up the skin, leading to infection, or spreading infections that are present. This behavior just doesn't pop up in most cases however, there's always an underlying cause or reason for it.
Many times a dog will start going after a particular spot because he has been bitten by fleas Dog Flea Control)or other mites, insects or parasites. There could also have been an allergic reaction to something, some kind of bacterial infection and so on. Alternatively, in rarer cases dog hot spots could be sparked by stress or behavioral problems in the dog. In other words, there is no physical underlying cause for the behavior that then worsens the problem.
Another factor to keep in mind with dog hot spots is that they can seemingly pop up from out of nowhere, becoming large and seemingly serious without warning. This is because once the process begins and your dog is focused on it and bothered by it, just a day or even a few hours could be enough time for the animal to really go to work on it, creating a large problem when nothing was even visually present earlier.
Dog hot spots can often be treated at home with some careful care and cleaning. You need to remove the hair from the area so as to really see all of the damage, while also preventing the trapping of moisture by the fur which furthers infections. For small problems and short hair, you can cut or clip it off. Otherwise carefully shave off the fur in the area.
Once the area is fur-clear then you have to clean the wound. Use mild soaps and cleansers or specific dog skin cleansers with some cool water and a clean cloth to completely cleanse the area. You can then apply hydrocortisone spray to help reduce itching, give your dog antihistamines such as Benadryl or try some alternative anti-itch treatments such as a cold compress soaked in green tea. Leave the wound open as opposed to wrapping it up in bandages so that it airs out.
Another home remedy treatment that you can use is using Listerine antiseptic mouthwash. Put Listerine, mineral oil or baby oil and water into a bottle with 1-to-1-to-1 ratio. Then, apply the mix to the infected area. You may apply this mix as often as you want, depends on the severity of the hot spots. If your house does not have Listerin, you can use Apple Cider Vinegar. Put Apple Cider Vinegar into a spray bottle and spray on the hot spots area. Any skin eruption will dry up in 24 hours.
It's crucial that you prevent your dog from continuing to itch and bother the area, because this is what causes dog hot spots and enlarges and worsens them to begin with. In addition to these treatments you may need to use an Elizabethan collar, one of those large cones around the neck to prevent licking, biting and gnawing.
This takes care of the physical condition but keep in mind you need to understand and treat the root cause as well. Your veterinarian may need to prescribe antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, or you may need to apply topical flea creams or sprays, or other specific treatments depending on the cause. Some wounds from hot spots can be bad enough that they require antibiotic treatment on their own, and in some cases even stitches.
Remember that at the root of dog hot spots can be any number of different factors. Home remedy treatments can be very effective at taking care of the visual problem, but the underlying cause may still need medication. Dog hot spots are no fun for anybody, but the good news is that once detected the problem can be dealt with accordingly.
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