Unless you are an experienced dog owner, you may not realize how common the skin conditions are in our pets. The most common but quite unknown problem is hot spots. It is a painful and irritating skin condition and it may sound like a summer problem, but it can occur in dogs any month around. Diagnosing the problem and knowing how to treat it can help us in ensuring that your pet doesn’t have to suffer from it.
Hot Spots
They are also known as acute moist dermatitis, these hot spots are an allergic reaction that is caused by your dog’s immune system when the pet’s body comes in contact with something that the pet is hypersensitive to.
Hot spots look like moist, red, and irritated skin lesions that can vary in size and can appear on any part of a dog’s body. Most owners find that these spots tend to occur on the head, chest, hips, and even on the tail. These lesions are sometimes painful, extremely itchy, and will grow and spread rapidly if they are scratched, rubbed, or licked something which always happens as dogs simply cannot help themselves. With time they become infected, meaning that they may bleed or could become crusted over.
Cause Of Hot Spots
Dogs can be hypersensitive to a wide variety of things, which can cause hot spots to develop. Some of the most common triggers are:
* Flea, mite, or tick bites
* Insect bites
* Food intolerances
* Skin infections due to tangled hair
* Skin or ear infections
* Allergy to grass, pollen, or mold
In some cases, hot spots can be caused by your dog repeatedly scratching, licking, or chewing the same patch of coat again and again. Pets generally do this when they are stressed or bored.
The breeds with thick fur can also develop hot spots, particularly during summertime when the temperatures are higher and their fur traps an excessive amount of heat and their skin cannot breathe properly, and the chances of developing infections increases.
Treating Hot Spots
Thankfully, the hot spots are quite easy to treat, and your dog will make a full recovery with no post effects. However, for a successful treatment, you must do everything once you identify the cause of the condition to avoid further exposure in the coming future.
The precautions the vet recommend depends by looking at the condition of your dog. The most common treatments for curing hot spots include:
1.) Giving antibiotics to treat infections.
2.) Antihistamines
3.) Anti-inflammatory medications
4.) Dietary supplements for boosting your dogs’ immune system
5.) Cleaning the wound daily with the prescribed solution
6.) Parasite medications
7.) And the last Removing the hair around the lesions for better air circulation, for ease in irritating and cooling the wounds.
If your dog is suffering from hot spots, and you have questions about their condition seeking the advice of our expert vets book an appointment today and make your pet free from irritation and suffering.
