| HOT SPOTS |
| Hot spots are also known as Acute Moist Dermatitis or Moist Eczema. Hot spots can seemingly appear spontaneously anywhere on a dog's body and the area involved can spread rapidly. Typical locations for "hot spots" are the side of the face and the flank areas. Hot spots are suface skin infections caused when populations of normal skin bacteria grow and overwhelm normal resistance. they are generally circular patches that loose hair, can be swollen, may exude a smelly pus, and can be painfully itchy, causing the dog to scratch, lick, or bite to the point of self mutilation. There are a number of kinds of bacteria that can be cultured from a "hot spot" and most respond to oral and topical antibiotics. If left to develop the infection goes into the deep layers of the skin. Hot spots tend to occur most often in the summer months, and dogs with matted, dirty coats are at greater risk of developing them. Regular grooming enables swift intervention if a hot spot is developing. Owners must watch for: Scratching or biting at one area incessantly A patch of hair loss with reddened moist skin, often with a film of pus Scabs and Crusts Surrounding hair wet from saliva Diagnosis is usually obvious from the clinical signs, but your veterinarian may be inclined to search for any contributing factors by doing allergy testing, or take a bacteriology swab so that the antibiotic selection is targeted specifically at the bacterium responsible. Treatment: Clip the hair around the hot spot. The hot spot may be more extensive than it originally appears. Clipping will expose the area to the air and accelerate healing. It will also help to prevent further spread of the infection and expose the edges of the lesion. Wash the area in a mild water-based astringent or antiseptic. It is usually recommended not to use ointments or creams because they can seal in the infection and hinder recovery. Oral antibiotics are the best way to deal with a deep skin infection, it delivers antibiotics to the site of the hot spot via the blood steam. If a hot spot is quite advanced, at least a 10-14 day course of a broad spectrum antibiotic is required to prevent immediate recurrence. Elimination of predisposing factors--aggressive flea control, investigation to rule out food and pollen allergies etc. Back to Articles |