Dealing With Dog Hot Spots
Among the painful skin problems your pet can have are dog hot spots. They are different from allergies because they often come with a pus and smell horribly. These hot spots tends to progress easily because they get terribly irritated when your dog licks on them to try to soothe themselves from both the pain and itch.
Yes, dog hot spots do not just come in ones or two’s. They can appear on more than one area and the result can really be very hard for your pet dog. They can be found beneath the ears’ flaps and they are also common among large breeds who exhibit thick furs.
There are different reasons why dog hot spots appear. It can be due to fur shedding or improper pet hygiene.
Because the spots can be painful to treat, it is advised that you seek the help of your dog’s vet. They would also be sedated before the spots will be treated to make sure that the entire process can be done smoothly. The surrounding area would also be clipped off so that the vet can see how bad the case is.
After the clipping has been done, the spots would now be treated first through sanitation. This is important so that the infection can finally subside. Drying should be done completely after this before the antibiotics would be applied directly on the area. This would be repeated for a maximum span of two weeks, twice daily.
On top of this topical medication, the vet might also ask you to have other types of medications done as well such as oral meds. These would only be done for a short period of time just enough to help your dog feel less itching as the hot spots start to heal. An Elizabethan collar would also be prescribed to protect the area.
Dog hot spots happen but it doesn’t mean that it cannot be prevented. One good way to do is by ensuring that your dog does not end up always wet. That is what often causes dog hot spots. Trapped moisture mixed with body heat can be a breeding ground for dog hot spots.
It also helps to keep your home clean. Make sure you also vacuum the place where your dog usually sleeps to help prevent mites and fleas from being picked up.
I’m a pet health authority who specializes in treatment for dogs’ itchy skin.
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