Hotspots in dogs are skin conditions that are especially common in the summertime or moist, warm climates.
A hotspot, also known as acute moist dermatitis, is a red, oozing, itchy, quickly-expanding skin rash that can develop on your dog, usually with little to no warning. Hotspots can appear anywhere on the body but most commonly occur on the cheeks, neck, or flanks.
During the development of a hotspot, the dog begins licking or scratching at an area of skin, causing it to become irritated. This, in turn, leads to more licking and scratching. A vicious cycle ensues. Bacteria and yeast that normally live on the dog's skin can surge because of the break in the immune defenses in that area. The result is an infection, odor, gooey discharge, and more misery. Hotspots grow quickly. A dime-sized hotspot may become a large, oozing, infected mess in a matter of hours.
Dogs with long hair or dense undercoats, such as collies, German shepherds, and golden retrievers, are particularly prone to hotspots and may have several occurrences over their lifetime. There is no age or sex predilection to developing a hotspot.
Hotspots can be triggered by anything that causes an itch, tingle, pain, or irritation in the skin such as:
Identifying and addressing the underlying cause of the hotspot is essential to proper long-term management.
If your dog has a hotspot and there will be a delay before you can visit the veterinarian, home care may help mitigate further skin damage. Use extreme caution because hotspots can be quite tender to dogs. Even the gentlest dog can snap or bite when he is in pain.
Hotspots escalate quickly, so if you suspect that one is starting on your dog's skin, contact your veterinarian right away. Once at the office, the doctor will:
Addressing the underlying cause of your dog's hotspot may require additional tests and treatments. Your veterinarian may want to test the skin for bacteria, yeast, fungus, or mange mites using a culture, cytology, or skin scrape. Flea treatments, ear medication, or a hypoallergenic diet may be prescribed.
Hotspots are easier to prevent once the underlying cause is identified and treated.
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