What is a Hot Spot?

A hot spot is a single area of skin that has an infection on the surface. These localized areas of infection are more likely to happen in dogs that have thick hair coats, dogs that swim a lot, and in moist or humid environments. Sometimes flea bites or other insect bites can also be involved. A hot spot starts to develop when more than the usual amount of moisture stays close to the skin. This changes the local environment of the skin and allows bacteria to grow. The bacteria release toxins, which cause inflammation in the skin. This makes the skin itchy in that one spot. A dog will chew and scratch on that spot to relieve the itching, but this makes the situation worse. The chewing damages the skin more and makes the skin infection worse. This makes the area even itchier. This becomes a vicious cycle. A large hot spot can seem to develop over only twenty or thirty minutes and can get bigger quickly. A flea or insect bite can also start the itching process.

Dog Hot Spot Symptoms – What to Look for at Home

Hot spots are usually easy to identify. They consist of a well-defined area of skin that is very red and inflamed, hairless, and may be oozing or scabbed over. Hot spots are most frequently found on the rear legs and around the neck but can be found in any location that a dog can reach with its teeth or rear claws. A dog is usually unable to leave this area alone and will seem to chew, lick, and scratch at it constantly. It may be so itchy and inflamed that it will be painful to the dog if touched.

Dog Hot Spot Diagnosis

Generally, all that is needed to diagnose a hot spot is a visual inspection or physical examination.

If a dog seems to get many hot spots, some diagnostic tests may be needed to find out why. These include:

Skin Scraping – This test will rule out other possibilities such as mange.

Fungal cultures to rule out ringworm

Blood Tests – These are used to rule or seasonal or inhalant allergies.

Blood and Skin Test – This can rule out an allergy to fleas.

Extensive flea treatment even if no fleas are present.

Food Testing – This is performed in order to rule out an allergic reaction to food.

Treatment of Hot Spots

Things to remember when providing treatment include:

Alleviate Itching

Clear up the infection

Prevent the dog from biting or scratching the area

Keep the hot spot dry

The hair around the area must be clipped and the skin cleaned with an antibacterial soap and dried thoroughly. Sometimes the hot spot can be so severe that this procedure is painful and the dog must be sedated.

The next step is for the area to be treated with oral and topical antibiotics. The topical antibiotic will generally contain a corticosteroid to reduce inflammation while the oral antibiotic will contain a corticosteroid to reduce itching. The most important thing is to stop the itch, chew, infection cycle. By making your dog comfortable, the healing process can begin more quickly.

An Elizabethan or lamp shade like collar may be needed if your dog can not stop licking the area. These are generally only needed for 24 hours. In about one week’s time, the hot spot will usually be completely healed.

Dog Hot Spot Prevention

There are many things you can do to prevent hot spots. They include:

Using top flea control on your dog and the surrounding environment

Trim long hair and thick haired breeds during the summer months

If you can, prevent your dog from swimming

If a dog does swim, dry it well afterwards

Heather Fox is an established writer and veterinarian who loves to share her knowledge about Dog Hot Spots Treatment with others. She has more lessons including Dog Pyometra Causes on Clivir.com.