Dog hot spots are inflamed areas of skin that cause a dog a great deal of discomfort, resulting in them licking and biting at the area. The more the dog licks and bites at the area, the more inflamed it becomes, and without treatment can lead to unsightly lesions, which are very painful for the dog. Also known as moist dermatitis, these skin conditions can flare up within minutes, and can spread quite rapidly, resulting in chronic skin irritation and hair loss in the affected area.
Symptoms: Hot spots are areas of skin inflammation that visibly cause a dog much agitation. The area in question usually feels warm and moist, it has a scarlet tinge to the skin, and in severe cases where the dog has induced much trauma to the area, it will be bloody, with a discharge of puss once infection takes a hold.
Causes: Moist dermatitis is often caused by an allergic reaction to something in the inflicted dog's environment, such as grass seeds, pollen, house dust, and fleas, or to food that he has consumed. Other common causes include external parasites, anal gland disease, and adverse skin reactions to clipping or grooming. Less common causes include adverse reactions to medication, or injection site irritation. Long haired dogs with a thick undercoat such as retrievers, collies and shepherds are more at risk, but moist dermatitis is common among short haired dogs as well.
Treatment: To treat these types of skin allergies it is necessary to first treat the symptoms, and then to isolate and treat the cause of problem in order to prevent recurrence. When treating a dog at home, it may be necessary to restrain or even sedate the dog, as the skin my be painful to touch, causing him to show aggression when handled. After treatment an Elizabethan collar may need to be temporarily fitted to allow the area to heal without the dog interfering with the wound.
Steps to be followed to cure moist dermatitis skin afflictions in dogs:
Firstly, the hair surrounding the inflammation needs to be clipped or shaved short so that the infected area can be properly treated.
Wash the affected area with a mild antibacterial soap or shampoo, then gently towel dry to ensure moisture removal, without causing further discomfort to the area.
Then try to bring some relief and reduce heat by applying a cold compress using cold tea bags to draw away inflammation and dry out the lesion.
There are a few different options in terms of medical treatment that you can apply to treat the symptoms of moist dermatitis, and your choice will be determined by how severe the case is. If the wound is secreting puss, this indicates bacterial infection, and requires treatment by applying an anti-bacterial cream and/or antibiotics administered orally. To reduce inflammation and relieve itching antihistamine tablets can be given, or hydro-cortisone ointment applied to the area.
Last but not least, you will need to try to figure out what is causing the skin irritation in the first place. Food allergies may be determined by a process of elimination, and if the cause is found to be food related then the diet can be changed accordingly. By treating the cause you will prevent future recurrence and save you and your dog much grief in the future.
Jennifer is a family pet health specialist specializing in dog skin allergies. She recommends all-natural remedies for dog allergies treatment.
