Canine Hot Spots
Solutions for your dog

Dog hot spots are usually caused from excessive biting, scratching, and licking usually resulting from allergies, fleas, insect bits, or injuries. They can occur at any time and in any breed, although dogs with thick coats are more prone to get them and they occur more frequently in warmer temperatures.

Can the Coton de Tulear get them? Absolutely, here’s how you can tell if your dog has this skin problem.

What are the symptoms?

• Redness
• Pain
• Itchiness
• Hair loss
• Inflammation
• Warm to the touch
• Pus
• Odor

Treatment

It’s important to treat hot spots as soon as possible because they can get significantly worse in a short period of time. Early treatment can also prevent severe infections.

According to the book, Dog skin solutions – the ultimate guide, sometimes it helps to clip the hair, or shave it, in the affected area and then apply one of the following:

• Gold Bond Powder, OR

• A 50/50 mixture of Listerine and water in a spray bottle, OR

• Mix 1⁄2 teaspoon per pint of water of Tea Tree Oil and leave on. OR

• Using a cotton ball, coat the area with full-strength vinegar.

For severe cases, some dogs may need to be sedated and given pain medication and anti-itch drugs. Elizabethan collars may need to be used to keep the dog from getting to the infected area.

How can you prevent canine hot spots?

Preventing the underlying actual cause of the licking, biting, and scratching is the best prevention. This can be done by:

• Maintaining a monthly flea prevention program (Revolution, Advantage, Frontline).
• Treating dog allergy symptoms so dogs aren’t scratching and biting excessively.
• Keep ears clean and dry so infections don’t arise and cause scratching
• Bathe dogs more frequently if your dog is prone to hot spots

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