To say that Americans love their dogs is truly an understatement — like, completely. Dogs aren’t just animals that people own. They’re not even really pets. They’re literally part of the family, with many dog parents going as far as to consider their dogs like children. For example, did you know that it’s estimated that as many as one millions dogs in the United States are named as the primary beneficiary in their owner’s will? That means in the event of their owner’s death — whether natural or untimely — the dog would get what’s left of their estate and their assets. Talk about bow wow wow yippy yo yippy yay!
And as man’s best friend, man puts a lot of time, effort, and money into keeping their tail wagging best friend happy, healthy, and well taken care of. Each year, Americans collectively spend billions at the veterinary office in order to take of their dogs and provide them with the medical attention they need in order to stay happy and healthy. But sometimes despite these best efforts, dogs can still experience minor health problems and conditions, such as itchy skin in dogs, skin irritation on dogs, and other minor skin related issues that can become major problems if not taken care of in the right way.
Dog skin conditions and treatments are among the most common causes for a trip the veterinarian’s offices, especially when it comes to hot spot treatment for dogs.
What are hot spots and how or why do they development?
Also commonly referred to as pyotraumatic dermatitis or superficial pyoderma by veterinarians, hot spots are an area of dry, inflamed, raw, itchy, and perhaps even infected skin. They can occur on the tail or on any other area of a dog and are caused by a number a of reasons. Think of it this way — anything that causes a dog to repeatedly itch any part of their skin can be the reason behind a hot spot. This can be caused by fleas or ticks, an allergic reaction to something, dry skin caused by not using a shampoo for dogs, poor grooming, warm weather, and even being wet for a prolonged period of time.
Are certain dogs more prone to hot spots than others?
Dogs that have skin allergies may be especially sensitive to mosquito, tick, and flea bites and therefore are at a greater risk of developing a raw, sore area that requires hot spot treatment for dogs. In addition, dogs that are not regularly bathed and properly groomed by their owners are also at a higher risk of developing hot spots. Dogs that go swimming regularly, are out in the rain, or are otherwise moist a lot of the time are also a risk of developing hot spots on a regular basis.
What are the signs of a hot spot?
Hot spots can come on very, very quickly. One minute you may not see anything and then suddenly, whoomp there it is! Look for bald, raw, bloody, open, and oozing patches of skin. If you see your dog constantly itching or licking an area, be sure to check it out to make sure it’s not a hot spot.
What hot spot treatment for dogs is best?
A hot spot treatment for dogs will vary depending very much upon the severity of the hot spot, but typically speaking, treatment involves three separate parts. First, it’s important to try to get to the bottom of whatever caused this in the first place. Does your dog have a history of allergies and skin disorders? Was he or she playing outside? Second, you’ll want to remove the excess hair as gently as possible surrounding the hot spot. This makes applying any hot spot treatment for dogs easier and allows you to see the full extent of the damage. Third, you’ll want to wash the wound to disinfect it and apply a soothing, antibacterial dressing. You may even want to bandage the wound and have your dog wear a collar until it’s sufficiently healed.
When to go to the vet
Always err on the side of caution when it comes to your pet dog. Trust your gut!