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A hot-spot below a Golden Retriever's ear. Google.image.ca

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

What is a hot spot?

posted by csenay at 7h33

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A hot-spot below a Golden Retriever's ear. Google.image.ca

Do you have a Golden Retriever, a Labrador, a German Shepperd,  or any hairy medium  to large breed dog? Well, get ready, because hotspot season is back!
 
Also known as "pyotraumatic dermatitis", a hot spot is a localized area of skin inflammation and infection. These common skin lesions are usually caused (and made worse) by biting, licking, or scratching. Broken down, "pyo-" refers to "pus", "-traumatic" refers to self-inflicted trauma of biting, licking, scratching, and so on, and "dermatitis" means inflammation of the skin. 
 

Hot spots are most common in dogs with thick coats. If your dog will swim in the lake this summer, be aware! A common cause for hot spots is moisture getting caught next to the dog's skin, making an ideal spot for an infection to start. Moisture can become trapped by matted fur, a dog collar, or simply thick fur. Many times chronic dog hot spots stem from an allergic condition (seasonal and/or food allergies). Though some dogs are simply more prone to hot spots than others.

Redness, oozing, pain, and itchiness are hallmark signs.
It is best to treat hot spots quickly to prevent further spreading of the infection, and for the relief of your dog. Also, some dogs will scratch at a hot spot to the point of breaking the skin. This makes the condition even more painful, and provides the opportunity for a more serious infection to occur.

The first thing to do is speak with your veterinarian. Due to the rapidity of spread and possibility of deeper skin infection, it is wise to start treatment with your vet.

The first step in treating a hot spot is to get it dry. Clipping the hair over and around a hot spot can help a great deal in allowing it to dry.

 

Then, depending on the severity and size of the hot spot, your veterinarian may prescribe oral antibiotics, topical drying sprays and/or special shampoos. And because hot spots can be very painful to the animal, a painkiller can be prescribed.

 

Keeping in mind that the first line of defense for our dogs is their coat and skin, maintaining those two outer layers of defense as healthy as possible will go along way in the battle against most skin outbreaks.

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