It seems that every day in the shop we get a customer or two that has a dog (much less frequently a cat) that is suffering from a hot spot.
"It happened so fast!" is what we hear most often and indeed it seems that these raw open sores can appear from nowhere. A few hours of determined licking and scratching is all it takes for your pet to create a painful skin infection on themselves.
Hot spots are also known as pyotraumatic dermatitis to vets and are basically a bacterial infection of the skin. They can be caused by a number of factors including external parasites, allergies, injuries, or even repetitive licking and scratching behaviors due to boredom or stress.
To treat hot spots it is vital to get and keep the area dry and clean. Shave or trim the fur around the hot spot making sure that no hair is covering it and potentially masking a larger area of infection.
Keep the area VERY clean using a green tea wash (brew 4 - 5 tea bags in a pint of water and cool thoroughly). Blot dry gently.
Apply cool green tea compresses 2 - 4 times a day for relief.
Apply a gentle topical skin soother such as Animal Essentials Fido Derm Spray, Natures Balance Bare Skin Barrier, Pal Dog Soothing Spot Spray, or Quantum Herbal Products Pet Cream.
All of the products named above are available at The Pet Cabaret.
Prevent your dog from getting at the wound either by using a comfortable "e collar" such as the Comfy Cone, or by walking or playing with him especially after applying topical treatments.
If you do not notice an improvement in your pet within a day or so of treatment or if the area appears to be getting worse, get your pet to a vet for more attention.
Always remember as well that the healthier your pet is, from the inside out, the more easily they will resist infection and heal when they do have a problem. Proper feeding and supplementation is essential to keep your buddies at their best and we can always help you out with that here at The Pet Cabaret. See you soon!
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