Hot-spot, also called moist eczema, acute dermatitis or moist dermatitis, is a common form of acute, superficial skin infection that occurs locally in the skin in dogs. All breeds can be affected, but hot-spot is more common in breeds with long and/or dense fur, such as Retrievers, Rottweilers and Newfoundlands.
Hot spots can have many different underlying causes, such as parasites (fleas, lice, ticks), allergies, or dense and moist fur.
Symptoms
Hot spots are often seen in the form of sticky, inflamed, tangled and tender areas of the skin, which typically ooze fluid and are intensely red.
Hot spots can appear overnight and can cause significant itching and pain. Hot spots are typically seen on the cheeks, neck, back, thighs and tailbone.
What can you do yourself?
To prevent hot spots, it is a good idea to keep the coat dry and free of lint. Check that the dog does not have parasites (fleas, lice or ticks), or has small wounds, which can be the start of hot spots.
It can be difficult to prevent your dog from bathing in the summer. Keep in mind that a coat that feels dry on the surface may be soaked all the way down to the skin.
In the early stages of hot spots, the inflammation can be stopped and treated if the fur is shaved and washed with a bactericidal agent, such as chlorhexidine.
When should you see a vet?
The vet should be contacted if the infection spreads or if the dog is in a lot of pain due to the inflammation.
Treatment at the vet
The treatment consists primarily of shaving away the fur over the skin lesion with a margin of several centimeters around the wound. Hot spots can be quite painful, which is why it may sometimes be necessary to give the dog something to calm down before shaving and treatment. The dog should wear a mask to prevent it from licking and scratching the wound, which could worsen the condition. The dog often needs painkillers.
Dogs with repeated cases of hot spots should be investigated for underlying cause to prevent recurrence.
By AniCura
Hotspot
Hot-spot, also called moist eczema, acute dermatitis or moist dermatitis, is a common form of acute, superficial skin infection that occurs locally in the skin in dogs. All breeds can be affected, but hot-spot is more common in breeds with long and/or dense fur, such as Retrievers, Rottweilers and Newfoundlands.
Hot spots can have many different underlying causes, such as parasites (fleas, lice, ticks), allergies, or dense and moist fur.
Symptoms
Hot spots are often seen in the form of sticky, inflamed, tangled and tender areas of the skin, which typically ooze fluid and are intensely red.
Hot spots can appear overnight and can cause significant itching and pain. Hot spots are typically seen on the cheeks, neck, back, thighs and tailbone.
What can you do yourself?
To prevent hot spots, it is a good idea to keep the coat dry and free of lint. Check that the dog does not have parasites (fleas, lice or ticks), or has small wounds, which can be the start of hot spots.
It can be difficult to prevent your dog from bathing in the summer. Keep in mind that a coat that feels dry on the surface may be soaked all the way down to the skin.
In the early stages of hot spots, the inflammation can be stopped and treated if the fur is shaved and washed with a bactericidal agent, such as chlorhexidine.
When should you see a vet?
The vet should be contacted if the infection spreads or if the dog is in a lot of pain due to the inflammation.
Treatment at the vet
The treatment consists primarily of shaving away the fur over the skin lesion with a margin of several centimeters around the wound. Hot spots can be quite painful, which is why it may sometimes be necessary to give the dog something to calm down before shaving and treatment. The dog should wear a mask to prevent it from licking and scratching the wound, which could worsen the condition. The dog often needs painkillers.
Dogs with repeated cases of hot spots should be investigated for underlying cause to prevent recurrence.
By AniCura