Hot Spots - Page 1

For the first time my 18 month male GSD just got a hot spot on his front leg.  I washed it with mild soap and hot water,   My vet says put a cone on him.   

There has to be a better way to deal with this than a cone?

Larry you could try using Listerene Original (the brown stuff). It is an antibacterial and tastes bad too. It may sting a little. But you will still have to watch him and tell him not to lick. It has to stay dry to heal. You could maybe try a basket muzzle at night when you can't watch him, of course he probably won't like it either but he can pant and drink. Less cumbersome than the cone things. Good luck.

3/4 Witch hazel 1/4 pure Aloe Vera - or you can buy this as a ready mix :Thayers witch Hazel with Aloe. It's also good for cleaning ears.

A tea tree oil solution may work well too!  I use "Superdrug's" own Tea tree oil cleansing wipes to clean my dogs ears, they're great for this and there's no mess!

I have heard of people using apple cider vinegar(acv) and dabbing it on the hot spot until it dries up. Once it's dried up then they put emu oil on it. They do this every day until it gets better.  From what I've hear it works wonder's.

Wash with good antiseptic, I use Hibicleanse Surgical Scrub. Wipe with Tucks Hemorroid pad to relieve the itch and burning. Apply antibiotic cream.  Dust with GOld Bond Medicated Powder to dry and sooth.  Do this once a day and the spot will be gone in 2 days

I had good results with Sulfodene. Small bottle avaiable at pet stores and walmart. It is a yellow oily fluid and really nasty. I have never seen my boy lick over an hotspot again after application. Within a day, the spot crusted over and after one week you could see the hair growing back in.

My schnoodle had one between his toes, and I did Epson salt soaks (recommended by the Vet- I thought he had a splinter) on him, which took longer to heal and it didnt keep him from licking it. I only recommend Epson salt soaks for yeasty feet.

What I noticed tho, that when I increased his fat content of the food, the occurence of the hot spots deminished significantly. I currently supplement him with high doses of Showstopper, this worked well for him and I have seen very good results in skin and coat improvement. He is my problem child, and I am dealing with skin issues on him since I got him as a puppy. Tried a lot, failed a lot, but this seems to be finally working out.

I clean hot spots with an antibacterial soap, then use Gold Bonds Medicated Powder on it.  You can also try putting vicks vapor rub around the edges of the wound....some dogs dislike the taste of it.

Usually clears even the worst hot spot up within a week or so.

I have a further question tho....A hot spot on a leg is pretty unusual, in my experience....Do you know what caused the hot spot?

Here is why I ask: 

Often times, a dog may have problem, and they lick the source of the problem.  For instance, I just had carpal tunnel release surgery.  If I were a dog, and couldn't communicate that my fingers were tingling and sometimes on fire, I might lick it to try to relieve the problem.

So, sometimes, when dogs lick their legs, I wonder if they have a pinched nerve, or something, that is causing them pain, numbness/tingling/or some other sensation that makes them want to try and relieve the problem....

Just a thought process, but you might ask yourself, why does he have a hot spot?

ELK,

I too have noticed that food sometimes will cause a hot spot....if the skin is too dry, it is itchy, so dog worries it....hence, increasing the fat content, would help that problem

I have also seen dogs get a food that makes them too "HOT"(term we used with racehorses)...higher the protien, sometimes, the more damage it would cause.

Between the toes....I have a couple of dogs get those, but I think it is residual cleaning solution....they are getting it on their pads and then trying to relieve the burn...

Thanks a lot a bunch of great ideas

Larry~~these are all good ideas, but before I would treat anything, I would find the cause of the spot.  It can be anything from allergies to Demodex, all having different treatment modalities.  I never treat symptoms, always the cause.

Connie

Constance Krebs, RN

Spartanville Shepherds

www.spartanville.com