Hot spots - Page 1

We dealt with our first hope spot a couple of weeks ago and it's looking good now.  Question is, is it true that once a dog gets one, they are prone to them now?  That is what a few people said that I know at work.  I hope not, I don't want Chaos to go through that again. It seemed quite painful after I got it all cleaned up.  What else can you do for them once they start getting them?

It is my experience that any dog at any time can get a hot spot for no apparent reason whatsoever. I have never seen one appear at exactly the same place as an earlier one, but I am sure it is possible. The spots are caused by a mild skin irritation that the dog begins to lick and chew until it is inflamed and infected. Typically these appear on the outer thigh, but I have seen one appear on the back of a dog's neck where the dog could not lick itself.

They are nasty, I agree, but I never noticed increased susceptability to hot spots once the first appeared. I have seen a dog have two (2) in one year, and that same dog went at least four (4) years before another hot spot appeared. I think the best preventive measure is a good bath with a medicated shampoo every four (4) to six (6) months, plus daily coat care with a rake and brush. Soft, clean bedding may very well help.

Regards,

Bob-O

I have become quite an unwilling expert on the subject this past summer..  I think that it is not that the dog becomes mor susceptable, but that the underlying causes continue to exist.  They are usually caused by a minor skin irritation, as Bob said, that with the summer heat and moisture, such as the dog licking, causes the surrounding area to become infected.  A good way to treat is with a good antiseptic shampoo, I use a surgical scrub called Hibicleanse, followed by an application of Animax, to act as antiseptic and help with itch and a dusting of Gold Bond medicated powder to dry and soothe the itch.

I found the underlying cause in my case to be an infestation of "seed ticks" in my yard.  These are the larval form of ticks, tiny and VERY hard to spot on a dark colored dog.  The Frontline does kill them but not until they bite, starting the hot spot cycle.  After a good dose of an insecticide called "Seven" to my back yard, no more hot spots.  Also helped kill biting flies.

Good luck

Thanks, Chaos has a long coat, and we found this one in his arm pit.  It was nastyyyyyy.  He was chewing on it and that's how we noticed he had it.  Otherwise we wouldn't have known it was there.  I treated it with a spray from work, and then Clavamox for the infection.  Hopefully he won't get many more.  Can't show him with hot spots on him, lol.  Thanks all.....

psp---are you talking about seven dust?...i've been meaning to get some of that.

You can get it as a dust, I get it with the applicator that attached to a garden hose.  Great stuff!

This product is outstanding on hot spots http://www.nustock.com/

ShepherdWoman -

I've been dealing with reoccuring hotspots with my female.  In fact - I actually started a thread on this while back (not sure how to find it) and there were some good answers on treating the hotspots.  Her hotspots are isolated to the area above her hips on her topside.  She tends to aggravate the same area if left to her devices.   It sure doesn't take long for the licking to start and before long you have a nice oozing and gooey hotspot.  YUCK!

I have no idea if one they get a hotspot this makes them more prone to get them?!?!  In our case - my female has inhalent allergies which play a large role in our reoccuring problem.

Good luck to you. 

Ever notice how a hot spot can grow from the size of a dime to the size of a meat platter overnight? I've had success treating them with witchhazel and Gold Bond medicated powder, but there are many other home remedies that seem to work well We all seem to have our favorite hot spot treatments ranging from Preparation H to steroids.