How To Remedy Dog Hot Spots
Dog hot spots are what you call the inflammation that often happens on a dog's skin. It's easy to identify them because they appear as red inflamed areas on moist patches on the skin. It appears and destroys the dermatitis, which is why it is also medically known as moist dermatitis. Hot spots occur because of excessive dog biting as well as other skin allergies currently experienced by the dog.
Because of the appearance of dog hot spots, it's quite easy to note if your dog has this. You should first notice this when your dog starts to scratch with an unnatural frequency. When he begins to do this, you should inspect the area where the dog often scratches.
These red patches on the skin are often already irritated or infect that it would be extremely itchy for the dogs. It might also sting a bit and the only way dogs can relieve of the discomfort is by either scratching on it or licking it excessively.
First off, you should consider shaving the area. This is especially important if your dog has a heavy coat on him. This will help you see how much damage has been done on the skin already. Dogs who have hot spots often have falling hair as well but if you shave it off, you would see more clearly if there are severe and larger problem areas that would need to be attended by a vet.
When the area has already been shaved off, you should then proceed to cleansing the wound. Even if you have only seen red patches, you should still take the time to cleanse it to prevent from further infections. You can use a gentle skin cleanser to wash out the dirt and kill the bacteria from the area. This can also help alleviate the itchiness from the area.
Over time, you should consider applying compresses on the area until you bring the dog to the vet and be prescribed with topical medications among others. You can apply a cold compress on the area up to four times a day so that you dog would feel comfortable. You can also try putting on a tea bag compress to help dry out the wound and also provide an additional protection from bacterial growth.
If you also want to keep your dog from scratching the affected areas during the healing period, it would be best to make them wear an Elizabethan collar. This way, they would not be prompted to scratch at the areas and further infections can also be avoided.
Always keep an eye on the dog hot spots especially if your pet has not been seen by a vet yet. If the areas still cease to heal for more than 2 days, you should already bring your dog to the vet immediately. They will be prescribed some antibiotics to stop the growth of bacteria as well as topical medications to soothe the dog hot spots
I'm a dog health professional who specializes in treatment for skin problems in dogs.
