Hot Spots in Dogs

If you have a dog, you may have seen them relentlessly biting at a small area of their fur. When you take a look at the area that seems to be driving them crazy, you notice they have eaten away the fur and there is a patch of bare skin exposed. And that skin may be red, moist, and even look infected. You may even notice a foul odor. Your dog has acute moist dermatitis, commonly known as a “hot spot.” Yes, dogs get dermatitis just like people! Hot spots are often painful – but that does not stop your dog from biting at the area and making it worse.

Hot spots may occur due to bacterial infection, infestation with fleas or ticks, injury, or allergy. They are more common when your dog’s fur is matted (especially dogs with thick coats) and during periods of stress or boredom. Hot and humid environments predispose to hot spots. 

How can you prevent hot spots? Important measures include regular grooming to prevent matting of fur, lots of exercise and play, and use of flea and tick medication. Adding fish oil to their food a few times per week is helpful. 

How can you treat hot spots once they occur? Careful attention to grooming, bathing, flea control are helpful. You can use topical aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, or anti-itch medicine such as Benadryl cream. Your vet may prescribe a topical corticosteroid, such as betamethasone cream, which calms down the inflammation in many types of dermatitis.

Note: Although I am a physician, the content in this article is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent illness or disease in the reader – it is for educational purposes only.

References

1. Cobb MA, Edwards HJ, Jagger TD, et al. Topical fusidic acid/betamethasone-containing gel compared to systemic therapy in the treatment of canine acute moist dermatitis. The Vet Journal 2005;169:276-280. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15727921/
2. Noble WC, Lloyd DH. Pathogenesis and management of wound infections in domestic animals. Vet Dermatol 1997;8(4):243-8. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-3164.1997.tb00270.x
3. Pet Health Hub, Hot spots (acute moist dermatitis) in dogs, https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/conditions/hot-spots-acute-moist-dermatitis-in-dogs.