Part of being a loving pet owner is caring for your pet’s wellbeing. This means providing nutritious food, fresh water, and shelter plus grooming, giving love and affection, and either heading out yourself or hiring dog walkers in Annandale to make sure your dog gets regular exercise.
It also means being aware of when something isn’t right. There are lots of common issues you need to be aware of to keep your pet healthy and happy. These include addressing and preventing fleas, ticks, and worms, as well as vaccination, dental health checks, and more.
For dogs, it also includes understanding and treating hot spots.
What are Hot Spots?
Hot Spots are a common issue found in many dogs, especially when the weather is warm and humid. As such, summer in Sydney is the prime season for hot spots.
Hot Spots are officially known as superficial pyoderma or moist eczema. They are areas of skin irritation that can pop up anywhere on your dog’s body.
This issue is only really seen in dogs, and even though cats are obsessive self-groomers, it is extremely rare for a cat to develop a hot spot.
Why Does your Dog have Hot Spots?
It’s a dog’s instinct to scratch and lick at an area that is irritated, and this can become obsessive behaviour. Doing this can go on to form a wet scab in the fur; which in turn encourages even more licking and scratching. This creates a vicious cycle and a hot spot is a result.
A hot spot can appear very suddenly. But what triggers them in the first place?
Common triggers include:
- A flea bite
- A mosquito
- A tick bite
- Allergies
- Anxiety
- Having a thick or long coat of fur
- Going for a swim and then rolling on the ground
- Licking and biting at a painful area from injury or arthritis
A dog’s skin has natural bacteria present, and this can multiply on moist parts of the skin. So too, if the skin becomes irritated or broken, it sets a foundation for an environment for bacteria to flourish. This is compounded if there’s moisture present. Going for a swim, having a bath, or being out in the rain can encourage a bacterial skin infection to settle, and having an oozing sore like a hot spot is almost a guarantee it will get worse.
Is it a Hot Spot??
Parting the fur over the hot spot will reveal a circular spot on the skin that is raw and weeping. There may be pus or even bleeding if it is severe. If left untreated, hot spots can spread very quickly and may cause severe infection, ulceration, and deep scarring. Most will respond very well to either vet-prescribed topical ointments or oral antibiotic treatment.
Treatment Tips
1. See your vet for advice and appropriate products to use and to try to identify the cause.
2. Expose the sore to air to help dry the hot spot and speed the healing process.
3. Carefully trim the fur around the hot spot with animal clippers.
4. Clean and disinfect the sore area with a mild antiseptic spray every day.
5. Use hydrocortisone cream or spray (from your vet) to help alleviate itching.
6. An E-collar (“Cone of Shame”) will prevent your dog from biting and licking at the spot.
7. Keep an eye on the spot to make sure it continues to heal.
It can take at least a week for the hot spot to dry out and begin healing. The fur will usually begin to grow back within a couple of weeks once healing has begun.
Prevention Tips
• Feed a well-balanced, meat-based diet.
• Grooming is important, and long- or thick-coated dogs should be trimmed for spring and summer.
• Give vet-approved omega fatty acid supplements for skin health.
• Treat regularly to prevent flea and tick infestations and regularly check with a flea comb.
• Check your pet regularly for hot spots.
If your professional dog walker notices a hot spot on your pet, they will alert you to this so that you can take your pet to the vet promptly.
At Hot Dog Walking, we also have a pet taxi for your convenience, so you know that no matter what, your pet can easily access the care he or she deserves.