How to Identify and Treat Hot Spots on Your Dog
This means if you notice your dog scratching, licking, or biting one spot on their skin constantly, there is a good chance your dog is dealing with a hot spot. Hot spots (acute moist dermatitis) are the red, swollen, painful sores on a dog’s skin. If not treated, they grow fast, and they can get infected.
Every dog owner must learn how to recognize, treat, and even prevent hot spots. In this guide, we will cover:
- What are hot spots and the reason for their existence?
- How to recognize the symptoms
- Home and medical solutions that work in your home
- This could avoid hot spots from coming back
With these tips, simple and effective, you can keep your babies comfortable and away from hot spots.
What Are Hot Spots?
Hot spots are specific areas of irritated and infected skin that can become painful and itchy. Usually they look more reddish, wet, and inflamed with crusty or mucous surface. Hot spots can easily proliferate and make your dog feel very uncomfortable.
Why Do Dogs Get Hot Spots?
These are areas that are irritated from continued scratching, licking, or biting. A few of the more regular remarks are:
✔ Itching due to allergies – Flea bites, food allergies, and environmental allergens (pollen, dust, grass).
✔ Fleas and Parasites — If your dog has fleas or mites, they will scratch and damage their skin.
✔ Excess Moisture and Poor Grooming – Wet fur from swimming, bathing, or rain attracts moisture and causes skin infections.
✔ Skin Infections – Bacterial or fungal infections damage skin barrier function, increasing the skin irritation.
✔ Underlying Causes of Hot Spots — Dogs with depressed immune systems, endocrine disorders, or chronic diseases may be more susceptible to hot spots.
✔ Stress and Anxiety – Behavioral issues can make some dogs lick or chew themselves excessively because they are bored, stressed, or have separation anxiety.
Hot spots can arise quickly, it is important to be aware of and recognize the early signs of hot spots developing, and to work on them right away.
Symptoms of Hot Spots in Dogs
Only once you know how to identify them, it is relatively straightforward to locate hot spots. Common symptoms include:
✔ Bloated, angry skin that looks broken and angry
✔ Open-wound boils that can drain pus or odor
✔ Shedding in the affected area
✔ Knibbling, gnawing or scratching at the area
✔ Scab or dry skin around the area where the skin is starting to heal
✔ Tenderness and soreness when the area is touched
✔ Fast play of infection if no immediately cured
Hot spots can occur anywhere on a dog, although they are more frequently seen on the head, neck, hips, and limbs.
How to Treat Hot Spots On a Dog
Step 1 : Find and Block The Spot
When you see a hot spot:
Use an Elizabethan collar (E-collar) or inflatable recovery collar and prevent your dog from licking or scratching the area.
✔ Look at the skin around that area as well and make sure that there are no other sores or infections.
Step 2 : The next thing to do is to shave the surrounding fur of the hot spot.
It is important to keep the area clean and dry to ensure proper healing.
✔ Using pet-safe clippers or scissors, shave or trim the hair from the area surrounding the hot spot.
✔ This will ultimately stop the moisture storage & provide some room for fresh air to circulate around.
✔ Get gentle – If your canine is in pain, Go to a vet for professional trimming and cleaning.
Step 3 : Clean the Affected Area
That goes away and cleaning keeps bacteria away from hunting you down and triggers an additional infection.
✔ Clean the wound with a mild antiseptic solution (chlorhexidine, povidone-iodine or diluted betadine) — See Antiseptic: Reference guide for appropriate use
✖ Do not use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which slows healing and irritates skin.
✔ Pat it dry with a clean towel around you.
Step 4 : Use a Calming Solution
Gently clean the abrasion and apply a topical treatment to soothe and heal the area (with your vet's approval) Some options include:
✔ Antiseptic sprays (either chlorhexidine or sprays recommended by a vet)
✔ Creams with hydrocortisone to relieve itching and swelling
✓ Natural aloe vera gel for soothing relief
✔ Coconut oil (in small quantities) to hydrate and repair skin
Don't use human medications for dogs like Neosporin unless your veterinarian advises you to do so, as some ingredients can be toxic to dogs.
Step 5: Avoid Your Dog from Licking the Wound
Dogs instinctively lick their wounds, causing both a delay in healing and additional infection.
Use an Elizabethan collar (cone) to prevent licking ✔
✔ Inflatable collar or pet recovery suit if your dog hates the cone.
✔ Provide your dog with toys, treats, or extra attention to distract them from the hot spot.
Step 6: Take Action On Root Cause
Root cause should be treated otherwise hot spots will reappear. Consider these solutions:
✔ Monitor for fleas and pests — Apply flea preventatives and remedies.
✔ Allergy identification & management – Check if food, pollen or other allergens are responsible for hot spots and please consult with a vet.
✔ Regular grooming – Comb your dog regularly to minimize matting and maintain a healthy, intact skin.
✔ Stay dry – Make sure you completely dry your pooch off after swimming or washing.
✔ Offer mental challenges — Increase exercise and enrichment activities if tension or monotony are involved.
If the hot spot does not get better in a few days or seems to be getting worse, take to the vet for additional treatment.
When to See a Vet
For hot spots that are mild, veterinary care does not need to be pursued, but do get veterinary care if:
Won't: The hot spot is extensive, accelerating transmission, or deteriorating.
❌ With too much pus swelling or smell(meaning infected).
❌ Your dog is in extreme discomfort, or is constantly scratching the area.
🚫 A hot spot that doesn't go away—within a week—despite treatment.
Reason No. 2 ❌ You think a health condition could be triggering repeated hot spots.
If needed, a vet can prescribe anti – inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, or allergy medications.
How to Prevent Hot Spots on Your Dog
The best way to keep your dog hot spot-free is to prevent them. Follow these tips:
✔ Frequent Grooming – Brush your canine regularly to keep away from mats and lose skin.
✔ Flea and tick prevention — Use flea and tick medications to prevent skin irritation.
✔ Bathing Continue — Bathe using a mild dog shampoo — and be sure to dry him off fully.
✔ Allergy Management – Identify and manage allergies with a vet
✔Stress Reduction – Give toys and exercise and attention so they don't lick when they're anxious.
✔Skin Diet – Give your animal a balanced, nutritious food that will help keep their skin healthy.
✔Watch for Hot, Humid Weather—keep your dog dry and cool during the summer months.
Simply follow these steps and you can prevent hot spots and keep your dog happy and healthy.
Conclusion
Hot spots can be uncomfortable and annoying for dogs, but they are treatable and heal in a few days if you act swiftly and follow the correct method. Identify the early indicators, manage the injury appropriately, and treat the underlying problem will reduce its recurrence.