Is your pup itchy? Are they prone to hot spots? Learn how to prevent and treat these pesky things below. First things first though, please remember I am not a professional. I am giving advice from a place of experience but I am not a veterinarian. My advice is to always first consult a veterinarian before treating your pup for anything as there could be an underlying issue you are not able to diagnose yourself. If your dog is one like mine that gets hot spots fairly often though you may want to try some tips below.

What is a Hot Spot?

There are several ways to treat hot spots but first, what is a hot spot? A hot spot is also known as acute moist dermatitis. A hot spot is caused by a dog licking or chewing at a spot on their skin that is itchy for some reason. There are several reasons why a dog might start to lick including but not limited to:

• Allergies (flea, food, etc.)
• Parasites
• Atopic Dermatitis
• Infections of the skin or ears
• Excessive licking caused by stress or boredom
• Dirty or matted coat
• Trapped moisture in coat
• Anal sac disease

Symptoms

Hot spots starts just as most skin conditions do. It is good to check with a veterinarian if you are unsure what the problem is being caused by. Hot spots can occur anywhere on the body and have the appearance of being red, swollen, and cause hair loss in that area. The moist area may discharge pus or fluid which leads to the surrounding hair being crusty or matted. Hot spots are painful and itchy which makes your pup continue to traumatize the area.

Prevention

Some dogs are more susceptible to hot spots than others. Lily is a anxious licker so she sometimes causes spots on her feet or hips. There are some things you can do to prevent hot spots.

• Allergy management
• Good hygiene
• Routine grooming
• Make sure to dry coats well after baths or swimming
• Increase daily active play time to relieve stress/boredom licking
• If you notice the start to damaged skin soothe the skin with ointment or you can try a product like “Skin Soother”
• Supplements for skin health can also help I use Pet Honesty’s Skin Health

Treatment

It is good to visit your veterinarian if your see that your pup is having an issue. If you are unable to get to the vet at this time consider some of the following treatments. Be sure to keep an eye on your pup and take them in if they don’t heal quickly as there could be an underlying issue.

• Clip the hair around the hot spot so you can access the spot and to prevent matting/crustiness.
• Clean the area gently with antiseptic soap and water or antiseptic solutions
• Clean several times a day and keep the area as dry as possible
• Use cortisone to help with the itching
• You can use something like neosporin to help heal the area as well
• Use a cone to keep your pup from being able to lick, bite, or scratch the affected area.
• Keep an eye on your pup and remember to call your veterinarian if you see the infection getting worse or not improving.

We hope you have a fantastic week. Stay Safe, Live, Love, and Pet all the animals!

Love,

Jess & Lily