Summer is in full swing, and the heat isn’t going anywhere anytime soon (or at least that’s how it feels right now). With the heat, days on the water, and humid air, dog hot spot season is here to stay for a little while, so let’s talk about how we can prevent and treat hot spots (also known as acute moist dermatitis) on your panting pals!
These red, inflamed, and often painful areas can appear suddenly and escalate quickly, so understanding how to prevent and treat hot spots is essential for maintaining your dog's health and comfort. Onward!
What are Hot Spots on Dogs?
Hot spots are localized lesions of skin inflammation and infection that are caused by repetitive licking, rubbing, and scratching at a specific area that is itchy. They are also referred to as acute moist dermatitis, or sometimes as pyotraumatic dermatitis.
Canine hot spots are self-perpetuating, meaning that the more a dog aggravates them in an effort to soothe the discomfort, the greater the itch becomes and the more the spot spreads and worsens.
Why Do Dogs Get Hot Spots?
Dogs acquire hot spots by damaging the skin when attempting to soothe an itch or irritation. The initial itch or irritation that leads to a hot spot can be caused by a wide variety of individual, or a combination of multiple factors, including:
- Allergies, such as seasonal, environmental, flea, and food allergies
- Poor grooming
- Bacterial infections, or pyoderma
- Fungal infections, such as Malassezia (yeast) or ringworm
- Parasites, such as fleas, ticks, mange mites, etc.
- Insect bites
- Bee or wasp stings
- Irritants, such as plants or chemicals
- Moisture trapped in the coat
- Constant friction, such as from a harness, collar, or skin folds (intertrigo)
Preventing Canine Hot Spots
Prevention is always a sound approach, so let’s start there! Here are some key steps to help keep your dog hot spot free:
Regular Grooming
Keep your dog's coat clean and free of matted fur. Regular brushing helps remove dirt, debris, and loose fur, and allows air to circulate through the coat.
Flea and Tick Control
Use vet-recommended flea and tick preventatives. These parasites can cause intense itching, leading to scratching and the development of hot spots.
Dry Your Dog Thoroughly
After bath time or swimming, ensure your dog's coat is completely dry. Moisture trapped in the fur can create an ideal environment for growing bacteria and yeast.
Be sure to dry those ears, too. Dogs that spend a lot of time in the water are more prone to ear infections, also known as otitis.
Monitor for Allergies
If your dog shows signs of allergies, such as excessive licking, scratching, or chewing, consult your vet for appropriate treatment options.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
A balanced diet rich in essential fatty acids can help keep your dog's skin healthy and reduce the risk of hot spots.
Treating Dog Hot Spots
If your dog does develop a hot spot, prompt treatment is crucial to prevent it from worsening. Here are a few effective solutions to treat hot spots:
1. Clean the Area
Gently clean the affected area with a mild antiseptic solution or warm water. Trim the hair around the hot spot to prevent further irritation and allow the skin to breathe.
2. Apply a Topical Hotspot Remedy
If you favor the natural, safe, backed-by-real-science option, we highly recommend Lavengel. It's a powerful skin and wound care gel for dogs that provides rapid, long-lasting relief, promotes healing of the lesion (and the return of any missing fur), and helps protect the area from bacteria.
If the hot spot is infected, Lavengel can also help resolve that as well, without the need for a separate topical antibiotic. Best of all, it's safe if dogs lick or ingested, unlike many prescription topicals that cause gastric upset.
Prescription Topicals
Don't get us wrong, topical antibiotics are often effective, and they can help control bacterial infections. However, they tend to require a prescription, carry a high price tag, and come with extra effort in keeping your dog from licking at them (bring forth the cone of shame!). Of course, we always recommend consulting your vet before using any antibiotics.
Hydrocortisone Creams
Topicals with hydrocortisone can reduce itching and inflammation, but should be used under veterinary guidance. They are likewise not to be ingested by your dog.
Medicated Shampoos
For extensive hot spots or other forms of dermatitis that cover a large area, regular baths with medicated shampoos can help treat the skin and fight skin infections.
3. Prevent Licking and Scratching
Healing a dog's hot spot requires that they leave the area alone. If you're using non-natural treatments or if your dog simply will not leave the area alone, you might consider a bandage, as well as an Elizabethan collar (e-collar) or a soft cone to prevent your dog from further agitating the spot.
4. Monitor Progress
Keep an eye on the hot spot to ensure that it's healing. If it doesn't improve or seems to be getting worse, consult your veterinarian for further advice or treatment.
Why Choose Lavengel for Hot Spots?
Lavengel is an excellent choice for treating hot spots due to its natural, soothing properties. Let’s dig into why:
Natural Ingredients
Lavengel is made with ingredients known for their healing and soothing properties like Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Zinc, and natural lavender oil.
Safe for Dogs to Lick
Unlike some other treatments, Lavengel is safe if licked, so no need to worry about your dog getting an upset stomach from licking the treated area. This means you can skip the e-collar (the dreaded "cone of shame")!
Backed by Years of Research
As our inventor, nutritional biochemist Andy Clark, Ph.D, RD, likes to say, Lavengel wasn't made in a bathtub. It's backed by nearly 15 years of microbiology research and a lifetime of expertise in animal nutrition.
Easy to Apply
The gel formulation makes it easy to apply directly to the affected area, providing immediate relief, plus it is highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way!
Trusted and Loved by Pet Parents
When your product has been used by pet parents and professionals on thousands of dogs, it comes with some stories!
For (Even) More Info on Canine Hot Spots
For more information on how to identify a hot spot as well as additional tips from our resident Veterinary Assistant and Microbiology Researcher, Tasha, see our Ultimate Dog Hotspot Guide as well as our Hot Spot Resource.
Finally, if you're itching to learn more about different canine skin conditions and diseases - along with photos, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments - dig into our Canine Skin Issues Hub.
