Dog Hot Spots Can Be Caused By Allergies. Find Out How to Treat Them Now.

Subscribe To This Site

Dog Hot Spots are Treatable

I remember when Baggins had dog hot spots, he wouldn't stop licking and chewing his arm until he had a raw sore without any fur.

He was still a young pup and I didn't know what to do about it.

My solution was to rub aloe vera gel on the irritated area and distract him for awhile so he would leave it alone.

Luckily my methods worked and we haven't had to revisit this issue but hot spots on dogs are common.

Also known as acute moist dermatitis, these inflamed, raw areas of skin can spread quickly when your pet won't stop licking, scratching and chewing.

They look ugly and feel miserable to your pet. So what can you do about dog hot spots?

Well, let’s first look at the causes.

What Causes Hot Spots on Dogs?

What we call "hot spots" are actually bacterial infections that can be caused by:

Allergies

Flea infestations

Trapped dead hair--especially in humid climates

Boredom/Stress

Other Reasons

Long haired breeds are most susceptible to dog hot spots.

See, once the irritated area develops, it's important to get it air.

The infected area needs to dry out. Long haired dogs have such heavy coats they can hide the developing spot from you until it's a real mess.

Treatment

These irritated areas can spread quickly and your dog may not be nice about your getting near it because it hurts.

The first thing you want to do is clean it up and keep Lucy from worrying it into a bigger problem. This will take some patience and persistence. (And maybe a lot of yummy dog treats!)

Here are the steps recommended to start healing your pet:

Take a damp cloth and gently pat the area to clean it

Clip the fur around the infected area so air can get to it and dry it out

Choose one or more of the below treatments to help dry and heal the area

Use cool black or green tea bags to cool and comfort the area--tea bags have tannic acid in them which will dry out the area.

Make an oatmeal paste to dry it out by mixing oatmeal with water until you get a pasty texture (but you'll have to keep your dog from eating the treatment!)

Aloe vera gel

Nettle leaf

Chickweed

If it's really bad and your pet keeps getting them, you may have to get antibiotics or an topical treatment from your vet and use one of those cone collars so it can heal.

Veterinarian Dr. Pitcairn recommends putting your dog on a fast for several days.

He says this mimics the eating cycle for a dog in the wild and puts less strain on your pet's body to deal with digestion and deal with the skin disorder at the same time.

See his book for more information on the proper way to fast a pet. Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats

Prevention of Hot Spots in Dogs

Make sure you keep your long haired dog brushed! Matted and knotted fur is a prime place for hot spots in dogs to form.

Keep your pet flea free. Lots of skin irritations including dog hot spots are started by scratching for fleas.

If your dog has frequent hot spots or other skin irritations--what are you feeding him? Try a food without corn or wheat and see if the skin conditions heal.

You can also add healthy omega 3's like salmon oil, olive oil and flaxseeds to your pet's diet to help him have a healthy skin and coat.

There are many ways you can treat hot spots on dogs but if they're a recurring issue, you're going to want to discover the underlying problem so you can address it.

Look for soothing skin shampoos to help with skin irritations, add omega-3's to your pet's diet and look to a professional for advice.

Could allergies be causing your dog hot spots?