Hot Spots are technically called “acute moist dermatitis”.  These are localized areas of infection on the skin.  They are typically several layers of the skin deep.  Usually appear as localized, moist, reddish sores. Hot spots are the result of a bacterial infection: something irritates your dog’s skin and the irritation becomes itchy, so your dog does the logical thing—scratch, lick, or both—eventually causing a red, ugly oozing sore.

What causes a hot spot to form?  Itchy skin can be caused by a variety of things: allergies to food or the surrounding environment and fleas. Factors such as mange, anal glands, poor grooming, drool from other pets, not drying out well from a bath or swimming, ticks or mosquito bites, and even warm weather can cause your them to start the dangerous cycle of repeatedly scratching and licking an itch. Dogs with long, dense coats tend to be more susceptible to this condition.  Their coats tend to trap the moisture better.

If your dog is passionate about licking and/or scratching, or if you notice hair loss and irritated skin that is oozing, crusty or scabby, you should call the VVC immediately. Your pet needs some relief from the itching and some medications to treat his irritated skin.

Typically hot spots need to be treated by getting the hair away from the area.  This will allow the air to get to it and allow it to dry.  There are specific medications needs such as topical and oral medications need to help reduce all the infection and irritation that has been caused.  Finally, you need to discuss with the veterinarian what the underlying cause of the hot spot is and address that.

You also never want to wait to see what a hot spot is going to do.  They can go from being a quarter size before you go to bed to being 5 times their original size by the next morning.  Once they start, it will spread quickly.

 

 

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