Hot Spots - Page 1

Can German Shepherds be prone to hot spots?

I believe so?  Mine have never had them, but I know a few who have. My large mixed breed used to get them (he no longer does due to a grooming job/clip we use that keeps his insane coat dry and ventilated).

Hot spots are usually a reaction to a food allergy, or more likely, to flea infestation, or both.

They are easily curable themselves, but, the underlying issue must be addressed.

If it is a food problem the likely culprit is crappy food with too much grain (corn, wheat, soy) in it.

An excellent source of info on pet food is: http://www.dogfoodproject.com/

To treat hot spots: Corti-Care Hydrocortisone Spray

Dogs get hotspots (moist dermatitis) when moist skin becomes inflammed or infected. Moisture is the key, not necessarily an allergy or an infestation. I do not actually treat with oral antibiotics unless the spot keeps spreading and/or is in a more dangerous area (like near an eye or the anus). My dog has no allergies, has never had fleas, and eats a food containing no poulty, soy, wheat, corn, or gluten meal.  He got hotspots in the summer when it's very hot and humid.  We never had AC, so he would often go into the basement and lie on concrete which felt cooler, but was still humid/damp.  He has an insane amount of coat.  Also anytime he got wet he would get a hotspot so we never let him swim and only bathed him if we could use a high power dryer.  Now I have a professional groomer do a certain trim which involves the areas he used to get hotspots and he hasn't had another since.  When he got them, we treated by gently cleaning the wound (spray with Vetericyn), trimming/shaving the hair, and letting it dry out without him licking it. Once the spots were free of hair and kept dry, they all scabbed over and healed quickly.

Apple cider vinegar, unpasturized, is great for hot spots. I put it in a spray bottle and part the hair and spray it on the spot. It usually clears up within 2 days! :)

I know I have posted videos from Karen Becker before. But she has a GREAT one on youtube about Hot Spots. This really helped me with my dog. Although I did not trim any of the hair on my young dog.

i changed to Grain free, no more hot spots!

OGBS wrote "...Hot spots are usually a reaction to a food allergy..."

This was my experience when i switched from Orijen to Natures Logic, one of out dogs developed hot spots on his ears. Happened within two weeks of switching and as soon as i went back to Orijen the bald spots cleared right up.