Protect Your Pet From Dog Hot Spots
It's really an uncomfortable thing for dogs to have those unruly dog hot spots. They can be extremely painful and not as easily manageable as allergies could be. You would know that it is a hot spot because it often emits some sort of pus and also has some foul odor easily sensed once it become plenty.
What's worse is that dog hot spots are not concentrated within one area alone. You can also find them in other places of your dog's skin. This is why it is important to have your dog checked all over if you see a hot spot anywhere on their skin.
There are many reasons why dog hot spots occur but it has been observed that they are most likely to appear when a dog is days away from shedding. What happens is that the dead hair gets moistened and trapped right onto the skin. Aside from this, improper grooming practices that lead to the appearance of fleas and mites on the skin can also cause the said spots.
Because the spots can be painful to treat, it is advised that you seek the help of your dog's vet. They would also be sedated before the spots will be treated to make sure that the entire process can be done smoothly. The surrounding area would also be clipped off so that the vet can see how bad the case is.
After the clipping has been done, the spots would now be treated first through sanitation. This is important so that the infection can finally subside. Drying should be done completely after this before the antibiotics would be applied directly on the area. This would be repeated for a maximum span of two weeks, twice daily.
On top of this topical medication, the vet might also ask you to have other types of medications done as well such as oral meds. These would only be done for a short period of time just enough to help your dog feel less itching as the hot spots start to heal. An Elizabethan collar would also be prescribed to protect the area.
Though it can be painful to have, dog hot spots can be avoided. The easiest way to do so is to make sure that your dog gets dried up completely after having a bath or taking a leisurely swim to cool off. Trapped moisture can be the early beginnings of a hot spot.
In addition to this, you should also consider getting some cleanup done inside your home. Take special care of the places where you dog frequently stays. Make sure that you vacuum it and keep it spic and span. Do your best to prevent any part of the home from becoming a breeding ground for mites and fleas which are also known to cause these unwanted dog hot spots.
I'm a canine health professional who specializes in dog skin infections.