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Dog hot spots are inflamed areas of skin that cause a dog a great deal of discomfort, resulting in them licking and biting at the area. The more the dog licks and bites at the area, the more inflamed it becomes, and without treatment can lead to unsightly lesions, which are very painful for the dog. Also known as moist dermatitis, these skin conditions can flare up within minutes, and can spread quite rapidly, resulting in chronic skin irritation and hair loss in the affected area.

Symptoms: Hot spots are areas of skin inflammation that visibly cause a dog much agitation. The area in question usually feels warm and moist, it has a scarlet tinge to the skin, and in severe cases where the dog has induced much trauma to the area, it will be bloody, with a discharge of puss once infection takes a hold.

Causes: Allergic skin reactions are often triggered by an environmental stimulus such as grass seeds, pollen, house dust, or fleas, and allergies to certain foods or food additives. Ectoparasites, anal gland disorders, and sensitivity to clipping and grooming may also cause skin inflammations in dogs. Breeds which seem to be most susceptible to hot spots include the long haired varieties such as retrievers, collies and shepherds, but it is also common in short haired breeds.

Treatment of moist dermatitis inflictions requires a two-pronged approach. Firstly, one needs to treat the symptoms to relieve the dogs suffering and prevent spreading, and secondly one needs to determine the cause of the problem so that it can be prevented in future. Dogs in pain may show signs of aggression, and it would be wise to muzzle or sedate the dog if necessary while you treat the infected area. You may need to fit the dog with an Elizabethan collar to prevent it from chewing at the area while the wound heals.

The following steps need to be taken to treat the affected area:

First of all clip the hair away from the infected area before commencing treatment, so that the wound is visible and can be cleaned and treated effectively.

Wash the affected area with a mild antibacterial soap or shampoo, then gently towel dry to ensure moisture removal, without causing further discomfort to the area. 
Keep the inflamed area cool by applying cool compresses. Home remedies using tea bags as a compress to help cool down the skin also help to dry out the lesions.

Depending on the severity of the inflammation and infection, you may need to take a multi-pronged approach to treating the skin lesions. This may include administering oral antibiotics to treat the bacterial infection and antihistamines to reduce inflammation, or the application of a hydro-cortisone or anti-bacterial cream or ointment.

Finally, prevention is better than cure, and you will save time, money, and poor Fido will be a lot happier if you get to the root of what is causing the skin problem in the first place, and take precautions to prevent recurrence. For example, if it is an allergy to fleas, then this needs to be addressed, if it is a food related allergy, then Fido may need a change of diet.

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