Hot Spot Treatment - Page 1

My dog has developed a large hot spot in her armpit area. What's a good treatment for this? I have some Burrow's solution (used for ears, contains an anti-inflammatory) and also antibiotic ointment with a bit of lidocane in it.

NO idea what triggered it. I wonder if it was an insect bite. The deer flies are bad right now, as are the mosquitoes1

I don't treat hotspots.  IMO the most important thing is drying them out, so I trim/shave the hair.  Anything I put on it just makes my dog more likely to fuss and lick it, and that's what will cause it to spread or become more infected.  I trim the hair so the spot is fully exposed, maybe gently dab it clean with warm water and a very mild soap, and then leave it be.  Normally it scabs over and starts healing within 24 hours.  If the spot is still spreading and could touch something more dangerous (eye, sinus cavity, anus, etc) then I may consider using oral meds, but with my dog it was a matter of keeping it dry which in his case means removing the hair.  His coat is so long and dense!  Now that I have him groomed differently, he hasn't had another hot spot.

Not enough hair to be bothered trimming it. I will try cleaning it with the Burrow's solution, and see if it starts to heal. Unfortunately , she can reach it iwth her hind foot to scratch, so a collar isn't going to help!

She has allergies, and she gets REALLYREALLY obsessive about scratching/chewing/liciking things like this.

coconut oil? it works wonders

My dog had one on his side that he wanted to scratch so I made him wear a sock on his foot and then once it dried out, put a loose fitting t-shirt on him.
 

The yellow stinky sulfadene stuff works wonders. It tastes terrible and dries the spot right up.

Melissa

Sunsilver, Have you tried Quercetin for the allergies? Not an instant cure - takes some time on them to be effective.

Short term use benedryl to reduce inflamation. Luckily I've never really had to deal with hotspots but an old timer I knew used citrus oils to dry them up and another friend swears by tea tree oil. Other old fashioned remedies for general skin problems are a tea soak ( as in Lipton's) or baking soda or good old Gold Bond powder - especially good for hard areas like arm pits.

Can you put a sock on the hind foot that she uses for scratching it?

Good luck, let us know how it goes.  Beth  PS not a great fan of baths BUT if doing anyways for another reason I swear by T-gel which is sulfer based and great for skin issues.

Main Tail Groom...you can buy a big bottle at Tractor supply for about $12.  The stinky stuff like Melissa was talking about!

That stuff smells absolutely terrible lol. It did clear it up in 3 days though :)

Melissa

I always manage to get it on my hands...and the stink doesn't wash off!  lol