Hot spots and how to avoid them

Hot spots and how to avoid them

With the nice summer weather, dogs are spending more time outside and are at risk for developing “hot spots”. Hot spots are areas where the skin rapidly becomes red, moist, itchy and infected with bacteria. It is typically caused by scratching or an abrasion. The scratching may be caused by a variety of conditions including allergies, fleas and other skin parasites, matted fur or ear infections. Hot spots tend to arise in hot, humid weather in dogs with heavy coats, often with a recent history of swimming and not drying out afterwards.

We tend to see hot spots in areas where the skin/coat is more likely to accumulate moisture and matting such as in the armpits, groin, under the neck collar or harness and under the ears. The best way to avoid hot spots is to ensure your dog is well groomed with no matting. If they swim, it is vital to rinse them off with clean water and thoroughly dry them.  

Hot spots can be quite alarming to pet owners as they develop rapidly as a red, moist, circular lesion that continues to spread without treatment. The good news is that with prompt veterinary care, hot spots are generally straightforward to treat. The key to treatment is to clip away the fur over the top of the hot spot and beyond until healthy normal skin is observed circumferentially. The hot spot is then disinfected with an antibacterial solution. Depending on the severity of the hot spot, topical and/or systemic antibiotics will be used to address the bacterial infection. It is important that the site remain dry until healed. For dogs that are licking/scratching at the hot spot, anti-itch medication and an Elizabethan collar may be used to prevent self-trauma. If you notice a hot spot on your dog, give us a call right away so we can get them on the right track.

Dr John Booth