Another Damn Hot Spot! - Page 1

Ok, how in the heck do you stop hot spots????????  This is driving me nuts.  Now Chaos has one on his back!  This one seems more painful than the one under his arm pit.  He didn't even want me to touch it this time.  Cries when I do.  I put that spray on it and some antibiotic ointment.  What else can I do to make him comfortable?????

ShepherdWoman,

What is he eating? This happened to 3 of my dogs when I fed Canidae and 2 when I fed Eagle Pack. It could very well be a food allergy!! That would be my first change. I would put the corizone spray and antibiotic ointment on it as you have been, and try to keep him from licking it.  If it hurts him really badly, you can get solarcaine spray and that will numb it. It will also numb his tongue if he licks it. LOL

Try changing his food to a completely different protein source (I've found that FROMM Salmon a la veg works very well, and puts a good coat on as well, for those dogs allergic to chicken or beef!), and preferably a food without corn, if his current food has corn in it. It takes a couple of weeks and up to 8 weeks before you will see a definite change, but the hot spots should start going away, and no new ones crop up if it is the food.  :)

Good luck!

-Melanie

They are eating a cheap food right now.  Can't afford the best right now.  I will be able to get them better food in the next week or 2.  He is a longer coated gsd, so he gets hotter faster than the rest.  This is his second hot spot.  The first one cleared up quick after I shaved it and kept putting the spray on it.  I don't want to have to shave the one on his back, because it would look prettyyyyy funny with a bald spot on his back.  I am hoping that doing what I'm doing will help it and fast! 

ShepherdWoman,

I can pretty much guarantee it's the food, given what you've said. I would be willing to bet good money (and I am not a gambler!) that it has nothing to do with heat.  ;)  True long coats (with no undercoat) actually do better in hotter climates because of that lack of undercoat.

Once you switch foods to better quality food, my guess is that you will see drastic improvement. 

Take care,

Melanie

I will try a better food along with the meds and ointment and spray.  He actually has a very thick undercoat, but is considered a long coated shepherd by most.  When I have my central air on, he constantly lays on the air ducts to get most of the cool air.  He has done that for a long time now when ever it's on.  Hopefully all I will try, will help.  More suggestions welcome.  Thanks.

Here is a remedy that works for me.  Mix a solution of 1/2 Witch Hazel and 1/2 Apple Cider Vinegar.  Both are cheap and available at
a drug store or Walmart.  I mix a small amount at a time and add about 5 drops of Tea Tree Oil in as well.  If you mix a larger amount
 then a teaspoon of the Tea Tree Oil.  If you don't have the Tea Tree oil you can use the other two alone.  My old girl will lick her feet
 raw from allergies but when I put this on it she leaves them alone.  It is obvious she hates the taste.  I have used it on hot spots as
 well and it heals them fast!  I have not had to shave one.   Put it on there two or three times a day.  

Heather

Another cause of Hot Spots is not rinsing shampoo out of the coat thoroughly, I have seen this happen many times. I normally use a mild vinegar & water rinse, this helps balance the pH. I haven’t seen a hot spot for several years.  

(Hi Heather )

Ivomec, apply with cotton ball and then dust with gold bond medicated powder. Will be gone in a week. Trust me this works, I will in Atlanta GA. where it is always hot and humid!

I can quarantee  if you change to all raw meat , period.....and you can find the meats on sale,,,you have to feed organs, bone and muscle......at all times alternate back and forth.....  

A young gentleman took a male of mine to vet for rabies shot  and he had a hot spot  ;,  vet checked it  no dermadectic  ,so the man went home ,googled raw meat diet and from that day on till I got him back ....he   never , never ate dog kibble again,,,,,no more hot spots period...white teeth, and scads of energy...big shiny coat .....He fixed a weeks packs at a time thawed it and added a raw egg, whole  yard eggs, and 7 grain bread for treats, and vit  ester C....and Vit e      cottage cheese for calcium and yogurt every day,,,,,,he added different veggies to the mix , and extra virgin olive oil,,  and fish caps or salmon from a can   .....diet altered....he kept a bag of avoderm in container in case of an emergency .....

I've been battling these darn things myself with my female GSD.  However, she does not have a food allergy but rather inhalent allergies.  I couldn't get her last hot spot to dry up.  The vet gave us a small sample of Tannisol which I applied with a cotton ball and it dried it right up.  I was amazed. 

Her dermatologist recommended that we use a wash cloth soaked in warm Epsom salt and apply it directly to the hot spot to clean the crusted area and then put Pyoben gel on the affected area.  I haven't had to do this process yet (knock on wood) because she hasn't had another hot spot so I don't know how it works.  I'm not sure how difficult it will be for you to clean the area given that Chaos cries out when you touch it.  Ouch.

Keeping the area clean and dry and free from licking can be a battle.  Good luck to you...and more importantly to Chaos.