Spring is here and summer is just around the corner. Seasonal allergies are in full bloom! Along with allergies comes itching,
scratching, and chewing – which often leads to red, raw, inflamed skin. These
irritated patches of skin are commonly called hot spots. Allergies are just one
of the possible causes of hot spots.
What is a hot spot?
A hot spot is a general term for an area of the skin that is
infected, inflamed and itchy. Common
sites for hot spots are on the face, neck and around the tail base although
they can occur anywhere on your dog’s body.
What causes a hot spot?
Hot spots result from excessive scratching and/or licking which
creates a red oozy wound. There are many
reasons why dogs will scratch themselves raw.
Hot spots on the face are often secondary to an ear infection. Hot spots at the tail base are usually from flea
bites. Other reasons to be itchy
include allergies, a wound, bug bite, mites or a tumor. Sometimes the reason a hot spot forms is a
mystery.
How are hot spots treated?
Standard treatment for a hot spot is to shave the hair over it for
better inspection and treatment. Once
shaved, the hot spot is cleaned with an antibacterial soap and rinsed well. The infected area is often treated topically
with a combination of an antibiotic and steroid cream. Additional medications such as oral or
injectable antibiotics or steroids may be prescribed. And most important, an e-collar is used to
prevent your dog from scratching or chewing the hot spot and causing further
damage.
If an underlying reason for the hot spot is determined, it will also
need to be addressed. For example
applying flea control or treating an ear infection might be part of the
treatment plan.
Can I treat my dog’s hot spot at home?
Honestly, yes, you can treat mild hot spots at home following the
treatment plan outlined above. The
problem with home treatment is that the underlying problem might be missed or
the hot spot might get out of control (which happens fast!). For optimum treatment I recommend you have
your dog checked out by a veterinarian.
Dr. Kristel Weaver is a graduate of the Veterinary School at the
University of California, Davis where she received both a DVM and a Master’s of
Preventative Veterinary Medicine (MPVM). She has been at Bishop Ranch Veterinary
Center & Urgent Care in San Ramon since 2007. She currently lives in
Oakland with her husband and their daughter, Hayley. If you have questions you
would like Dr. Weaver to answer for future articles, please email info@webvets.com
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