A hot spot is a patch of skin on your pet that is often irritated, painful, swollen and has a foul odor.
Usually, there is no hair on the hot spot, and it can be exacerbated or become infected if your dog can easily lick, bite or scratch the affected area. While there are many causes of hot spots, poor diet and poor grooming are the most common.
Skin problems, including hot spots, may occur in pets fed low-quality food that usually contains meat by-products, high glycemic carbohydrates and improperly balanced vitamins and minerals. Try switching your pet to a high-quality food to see if this alleviates the hot spots.
Many types of dermatological problems are avoided if your pet is fed a balanced diet. In some cases, dietary supplements, such as omega fatty acids and probiotics, can help avoid repeated issues of hot spots and other skin afflictions.
Another cause of hot spots is poor grooming. Dogs not groomed regularly develop matted, dirty coats and can be prone to hot spots. Dogs who swim have an increased risk of hot spots if not properly cleaned and dried afterward. If your pet’s fur is allowed to accumulate too much moisture, the wet skin underneath can become the perfect breeding ground for bacterial growth and hot spots.
A very common issue is the excessive paw licking for the simple reason that most of a dog’s sweat glands are in the paws. Being in the hot weather, coupled with the dirt, even with a small amount of moisture, the skin between the toes and the paw pads gets irritated by the bacteria growth. The areas close by will get affected very quickly. Dogs try to soothe the paws by licking, but, in turn, it creates more moisture, thereby exacerbating the existing issue.
If hot spots are not treated right away, your dog may require antibiotics, something that should be avoided if at all possible.
TREATING HOT SPOTS AT HOME
As soon as you notice a hot spot, clean and disinfect the area with a warm damp cloth. It’s important to keep the area clean and dry — this may mean no swimming for Fido. Prevent your dog from biting, licking or scratching the hot spot affected area.
Next, apply a product like Vetericyn or NaturVet (keep a bottle in your pet first-aid kit) to the affected area. Both products are highly effective and gentle for treating common skin irritations.
In the hot summer weather, it’s important to take your dog for grooming or at least a bath regularly, as it will help to keep the fur and skin clean. Use soothing oatmeal shampoo and paw bubble bath, and remember to fully dry their fur and paws.
WHEN YOU SHOULD VISIT YOUR VETERINARIAN
Contact your vet if a hot spot continues to grow and/or gets worse over a 24-hour period of time.