Infected areas on your dog may be Hot Spots. Hot Spots are normal skin bacteria that have overtaken the dog's normal resistance and begun to cause itching painful lesions. The term Hot Spot is a pet owners way of referring to Pyotraumatic Dermatitis. You can see, Hot Spot is an easier way of common communication. Hot Spots are round patches of skin that may be swollen, oozing pus, smelly, balding, and causing serious licking, biting and scratching from your suffering dog.
Found most often on the legs, paws, backside and flanks of dogs, Hot Spots can also appear anywhere else, such as ears, chest, neck and sides. Regardless of the location, you can be sure your dog will be contorting around to lick, bite, claw or scratch to try to relieve the painful itching. Pet owners have a very difficult time when their pet is inflicted with this kind of infection.
There are a number of reasons a dog might be predisposed to hot spots: 1) food or environmental allergies, 2) thick coats, 3) ear infections, 4) humid climates, 5) undercoat of dead hair trapped against the skin, 6) flea infestation, and 7) a tangled, matted, poorly groomed coat. Finally, hot spots need to be addressed or they may spread, causing the dog to become inhospitable, irritable, and, ultimately, aggressive.
One must treat the immediate Hot Spot infection and get rid of the root causes in the first place. To do that, review and follow the guidelines below:
Shave or clip hair from around the edges of the sores.
Wash with mild soap and a cooling water bath.
Use herbal cooling compresses a few times each day.
Your veterinarian might prescribe antibiotics or cortisone for severe cases. Also, you veterinarian might give a drying spray or special shampoo.
Keep your dog from attacking the sore spots. A collar may be necessary (e.g. Elizabethan collars).
Prevention:
1) Once or twice weekly groom your dog.
2) Clip matted hair before shampooing tangled hair.
3) Find skin calming bathing herbs.
4) Rid environmental allergens, such as indoor plant pollens, artificial fertilizers, household dust, household chemical cleansers.
5) Rid your yard of chemical hazards.
6) Seriously change your dog to an hypoallergenic dog food regimen.
Following the treatment suggestions noted above should return your dog to a happier, pain free life.
Found most often on the legs, paws, backside and flanks of dogs, Hot Spots can also appear anywhere else, such as ears, chest, neck and sides. Regardless of the location, you can be sure your dog will be contorting around to lick, bite, claw or scratch to try to relieve the painful itching. Pet owners have a very difficult time when their pet is inflicted with this kind of infection.
There are a number of reasons a dog might be predisposed to hot spots: 1) food or environmental allergies, 2) thick coats, 3) ear infections, 4) humid climates, 5) undercoat of dead hair trapped against the skin, 6) flea infestation, and 7) a tangled, matted, poorly groomed coat. Finally, hot spots need to be addressed or they may spread, causing the dog to become inhospitable, irritable, and, ultimately, aggressive.
One must treat the immediate Hot Spot infection and get rid of the root causes in the first place. To do that, review and follow the guidelines below:
Shave or clip hair from around the edges of the sores.
Wash with mild soap and a cooling water bath.
Use herbal cooling compresses a few times each day.
Your veterinarian might prescribe antibiotics or cortisone for severe cases. Also, you veterinarian might give a drying spray or special shampoo.
Keep your dog from attacking the sore spots. A collar may be necessary (e.g. Elizabethan collars).
Prevention:
1) Once or twice weekly groom your dog.
2) Clip matted hair before shampooing tangled hair.
3) Find skin calming bathing herbs.
4) Rid environmental allergens, such as indoor plant pollens, artificial fertilizers, household dust, household chemical cleansers.
5) Rid your yard of chemical hazards.
6) Seriously change your dog to an hypoallergenic dog food regimen.
Following the treatment suggestions noted above should return your dog to a happier, pain free life.
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