Has your dog suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, developed a raw sore spot on their skin? They may have a hotspot. Hotspots are one of the most common skin conditions in dogs. In this week’s article, we will take a closer look at what hotspots are, how they are treated, and what can be done to prevent them from developing.
What are hotspots?
Hotspots are sore, red, irritated skin lesions that come up suddenly. They can be raised, ooze, and/or contain pus. Hotspots are also called acute moist dermatitis. These painful sores can develop anywhere on the dog’s body, but are most commonly seen on the head, hips and legs. While size may vary, they will generally look the same regardless of where they are on the body. Most hotspots will cause some degree of hair loss in the affected area.
Hot spots develop when a dog scratches, licks, or chews their skin and damages it in the process. The resulting trauma to the dog’s skin leaves it open to inflammation and secondary bacterial infections. Because excessive licking and scratching, and excessive moisture, will increase the chance of developing hot spots, dogs with underlying conditions that cause itchiness are more at risk of developing a hotspot. Hotspots can worsen quickly because the itching causes dogs to lick and bite the area, further irritating and damaging the skin. This leads to even more itching, creating a vicious cycle.
Symptoms
- Red, raw, inflamed area of the skin.
- Affected area may be raised
- Hair loss at the affected area.
- Excessive scratching, licking or biting due to intense itch
- Affected skin may be hot to the touch.
- Oozing or crusting
Treatment
The first step in treating a hotspot is removing the hair from the surrounding area. Removing the hair will result in faster healing and gives the lesion a chance to fully dry and medication can be applied easier. Hotspots are (very) sire, so this process may be painful for the dog, and in some cases they might even need to be sedated. After removing the hair, the lesion should be cleaned and disinfected. Topical cream may be prescribed, such as antibiotics to prevent infection and soothing crèmes to help with itch. For serious hotspots, oral antibiotics and medication to lessen the itch may be more suitable.
After the hotspot is treated, it’s important that the dog can not reach it to bite or scratch. This can be achieved with an Elizabethan collar, medical pet shirt, or socks, depending on where the hotspot is located.
Next is determining if there is an underlying reason for the dog to be itchy, and treat it. Dog’s can become itchy for several reasons, such as allergies, arthritis, poor grooming and drying after being wet, infections such as from the anal glands, and even boredom. If you fail to address the underlying reasons, there is a big chance that the hotspots will keep recurring.
While minor hot spots can be treated at home if you have the right supplies, the underlying cause should always be identified and treated too. When the hotspot is increasing in size, bleeding, having discharge, or is causing your dog a lot of pain, the hotspot is better treated by a veterinarian.
Prevention
The best prevention for hotspots is determining and treating the underlying cause if your dog is itchy. Besides this, you can ensure to groom your dog regularly and dry them properly if they are wet. Prevent boredom through interactive toys and enriching activities, as this may result in excessive licking and chewing behaviours.
Conclusion
While hotspots are a fairly common skin problem seen in dogs, there are steps that can be taken to prevent them, which include properly grooming and drying your dog when they are wet, and treating any itchiness when it occurs. When your dog does develop a hotspot, the first step is to remove the hair from the affected area, clean and disinfect it, and ensure the dog can not further reach it. Antibiotics and medication against the itch may be needed. Additionally, the underlying reason for the itchiness needs to be addressed to prevent the recurrence of hotspots.
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