Hot Spot Causes and Treatments

A hot spot is a pesky skin condition that can pop up on your dog’ skin within hours. These painful lesions can grow quickly–sometimes doubling in size within a day. Having a hot spot can become a vicious circle. The more a dog licks at the painful wound, the worse it gets, which causes further licking. I’ll share a few home remedies I’ve used for many years that can usually dry up most hot spots. If, at any time, hot spots remain the same or worsen, it’s time to schedule a veterinary visit.

What Causes Hot Spots?

Anything that irritates your dog’s skin barrier can cause a hot spot. Flea bites, tiny scrapes or allergies are known culprits, as they allow bacteria to set up shop in your dog’s skin. Usually, these irritations cause your dog to lick the area, which makes things much worse. When a dog’s skin itches, hurts or burns, he’ll most likely react by scratching or licking the area. It’s his way of scratching an itch. Think about when you had chickenpox: it was almost impossible not to scratch, so now you understand your dog’s frustration.

Most dog hot spots look the same. They resemble inflamed ulcers. They are usually hot to the touch and moist and sticky. They either bleed or ooze, and the surrounding skin probably looks swollen due to inflammation. Remember, hot spots are very painful. You’ll probably notice your dog limping if hot spots form on his feet. Plus, hot spots can pop up anywhere. I’ve seen them on rumps, flanks, ears, necks, legs and feet. Basically, all of your dog’s skin is susceptible to hot spots.

How to Prevent Hot Spots

Treat your dog’s area for pests on a regular basis. I highly recommend using cedar oil because it’s safe and natural. If your dog is prone to seasonal allergies, address the issue before it becomes a problem. Your veterinarian can advise you when to begin giving your dog antihistamines to prevent flare-ups, but they work best before pollen counts rise. Keep an eye on any skin abrasions, and make sure they heal completely and your dog leaves them alone.

Home Remedies for Hot Spots

Everyone has her own hot spot home remedy, which works for her dogs. I’ve used these products for years and have had great success. You’ll certainly need to help your dog through the process, as hot spots need to be cleaned three or four times per day, so your vigilance is a huge part of success.

• Clean the area: Using an antibiotic cleanser made for dogs, gently clean the area. Personally, I use Nolvasan Wound Cleanser, which contains chlorhexidine, which kills bacteria on skin. Remember to be gentle. Hot spots hurt, so use warm water, touch lightly and pat dry. Clean your dog’s hot spot two to three times per day for quicker healing.
  • If your dog’s hot spot is so painful that he refuses to allow handling of the area, it’s best to schedule a veterinary appointment within 24 hours. Some hot spots are excruciating, so your vet may need to sedate your dog to examine and clean the wound.

• Remove hair: If needed, trim back excess hair to avoid it from sticking in the wound and causing further inflammation. I recommend using clippers or blunt-nosed scissors.

• Apply topical antibiotics often: Once the area is cleaned and the excess hair is removed, apply a topical antibiotic. By far, I find sprays to be much easier, as ointments keep hot spots too moist and they never really dry up and heal. Usually, I spray Bacitracin on the area and allow it to dry for a few minutes.

• Pain control: If your dog’s hot spot hurts, he’ll have a hard time ignoring the throbbing area. I rub a small dab of OTC hydrocortisone on the area to reduce the pain and minimize licking or scratching. Never give your dog any type of human pain medications, as they are lethal to dogs.

• Keep your dog away from the wound: If your dog is allowed to lick or scratch a hot spot, the area will never heal and become much worse. Keeping your dog from licking or scratching the hot spot is by far the hardest part of hot spot treatments. Just spraying the area with a bitter tasting deterrent doesn’t work, and many products contain alcohol, which burns when it touches hot spots.
  • If your dog’s paw is affected, try covering the area with a sock. Secure the sock by wrapping bandages along your dog’s pastern (wrist).
  • Some dogs are persistent, so try using an e-collar, which keeps your dog from licking, pawing or scratching a wound.

WATCH: Teaching Your Dog to Wear a Cone Video

https://youtu.be/ugG4OXTQjBM

Keep hot spots clean and dry, and check them often. You’ll usually notice a huge decrease in oozing, heat and swelling within 12 hours. With persistence, most hot spots dry up and heal within 48 hours.

I highly recommend keeping a sock or e-collar in place until the entire area turns into a scab and completely disappears. So many times, we think a hot spot is healed, but then our dogs lick or scratch the area again, causing a hot spot to reappear quickly.

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