Imagine
that you have an itch and you go to scratch it only for it itch more. Ok, this
happens a lot and isn’t a big deal.
But,
now imagine that the itch is so unbearable that you have to keep scratching it
— it’s all you can do to relieve some of the itchiness — but every time you do so your nails shred
deeper into your skin. You start bleeding, it becomes infected, and the itch
becomes agonizingly worse. This is how your dog feels when they have hot spots.
What Are Hotspots?
Hot Spots are tears and scratches that develop into lesions ripe with bacterial infections and abhorred pain. They can look like a blanket of irritated red skin that washes over the dog’s shoulders or back legs. Or you might see a bald spot peeking through your pup's fur on their neck.
Hot Spots are tears and scratches that develop into lesions ripe with bacterial infections and abhorred pain. They can look like a blanket of irritated red skin that washes over the dog’s shoulders or back legs. Or you might see a bald spot peeking through your pup's fur on their neck.
Hot
Spots can spring up overnight depending on how frequent your dog is scratching
the area. This is why it’s important to keep an eye on your pup. If you see
them scratching too much, grab an anti itch spray and address the situation.
Are Hot Spots Contagious?
They
are pretty brutal looking, and it’s advised that you don’t go searching for
pictures unless you want to have nightmares. However, hot spots are not contagious. Because of their
appearance, how quickly they develop, and that dogs in the same household get
them together, it’s a misconception that they are contagious.
Anything
that causes a dog to itch can be the start of a hot spot. Hot spots are
commonly seen in the warmer months because of allergies, fleas, ticks, and
other insects that bite their skin causing irritations. This is the main reason
multiple dogs in the household can develop hot spots at the same time.
If
fleas and ticks are the banes of your dog’s existence, you have a lot of
options available to kill the little buggers. There are all-natural shampoos
& sprays that contain natural pesticides like lemongrass. Your vet is
always a fantastic source of knowledge and will help you find a flea & tick
solution that are safe for your dog.
If you
expect allergies might be the culprit, dogs display similar symptoms as humans
— look for sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, coughing, and facial pain from
congestion. Your vet will be able to diagnose the specific allergy and will
prescribe medicine to help.
Medical
conditions like anal sac disease and hip dysplasia often cause dogs to lick the
area which can lead to hotspots.
Last,
obsessive scratching may be a sign of anxiety, stress — and to a lesser extent
boredom. Boredom is easy to fix — give
them more attention, exercise, having other pets can help, etc.
The
two main forms of anxiety in dogs are behavioral and situational. A lot of pet
owners are giving their pups hemp CBD products to keep them calm. It helps
relieve anxiety for up to 8 hours. This is the perfect amount of time for you
to leave the house for work and not have to worry about coming home to a torn
up house.
Hemp
CBD is all that is needed for situational anxiety like the Fourth of July or
thunderstorms. While hemp CBD can
greatly help with individual episodes of situational or behavioral anxiety it
won’t cure the condition — only training can.
Regardless
of the cause of the hot spots, if you’re not targeting the source of the issue
no anti itch spray, antibiotic, etc. will be enough.
The
other big cause of hotspots are breeds with thick-coats and long-hair — if they
aren’t getting regularly groomed they are left opened to hot spots.
Dog
Breeds Prone To Hot Spots:
● Labrador Retrievers
● Golden Retrievers
● St. Bernards
● German Shepherd
● Rottweilers
● Newfoundlands
How Are Hot Spots Treated?
Some
hot spots are caused by bacterial infections, but not all. However, bacteria
thrive in moist and wet areas, and hot spots are a perfect breeding ground for
them. Why am I telling you this? Because the first thing you need to do to
treat hot spots is to remove the hair around the area.
Start with scissors — no need to get right up against their skin with them — shaving is often necessary. If this seems like too much work or the hot spots are bad enough that you're worried about damaging them, then take it as a sign to see your veterinarian.
Start with scissors — no need to get right up against their skin with them — shaving is often necessary. If this seems like too much work or the hot spots are bad enough that you're worried about damaging them, then take it as a sign to see your veterinarian.
There
are several steps to treating Hotspots:
● Diagnosing and treating the
source of the hotspots
● Cleaning the area &
removal of fur
● Antibacterial medicine
● Medicine to heal the skin
● Medicine to prevent future
hot spots
Can Hotspots Be Treated At Home?
Hot
spots can definitely be treated at home, and there is a big market out there
for it — walk into any store that sells pet products and you’ll see dog hot spot sprays and solutions.
Before
you start, inspect the hot spot — is it badly bleeding or infected? If you
answer yes, then stop and call your vet before doing anything else. If you feel
confident that the hot spot isn’t terrible and you’re up for the challenge then
let’s proceed.
Don’t
worry, it’s not a terribly difficult process. First, make sure you have
scissors, a shaver, hot spot spray, antibacterial soap, Benadryl, and maybe
even the cone of shame handy.
Tips for finding the best hot spot
spray:
● Alcohol Free
● Relieves itchiness
● Repairs damaged skin
Step for treating hot spots at home
1. Cut away the fur around the
area so the hot spot can breath and won't lock-in moisture
2. Give them a bath and use
antibacterial soap
3. Apply hot spot spray *Follow
Their Instructions*
4. If you notice scratching or
can’t keep an constant eye on your dog, think about giving them benadryl. It’s
one of the few safe over-the-counter drugs you can give dogs and vet’s have a
very favorable opinion of it.
Hotspots
should clear up in about a week, so if you notice them getting worse or not
healing give your vet a call.
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