Bulldogs World

This is an article from the BCA Division III THE WHELPING BOX. I thought it would be of interest to everyone so I have put it on the General Forum instead of the Medical Forum.

"S easonal allergies are in full bloom! Along with allergies come itching, scratching, and chewing – which often lead to red, raw, inflamed skin. These irritated patches of skin are commonly called hot spots and allergies are just one of the possible causes of hot spots.

What is a Hot Spot?

A hot spot is a general term for an area of the skin that is infected, inflamed and itchy. Common sites for hot spots are on the face, neck and around the tail base although they can occur anywhere on your dog’s body.

What Causes a Hot spot?

Hot spots come from excessive scratching and/or licking which creates a red oozy wound. There are many reasons why dogs will scratch themselves raw. According to a local veterinarian, hot spots on the face are often secondary to an ear infection and hot spots at the base of the tail are usually from flea bites. Other reasons our dogs may be itchy are allergies, a wound, bug bite, mites or a tumor. Sometimes the reason a hot spot forms is a mystery, however, they are always a nuisance for us and painful for the Bullie.

How Do We Treat Hot Spots?

The typical treatment for a hot spot is to shave the hair over the affected area for better inspection and treatment. Once it is shaved, the hot spotshould be cleaned with an antibacterial soap, rinsed well and dried. The infected area is often treated topically with a combination of an antibiotic and steroid cream. A vet may also prescribe oral or injectable antibiotics or steroid medications. Sometimes, an e-collar is used to prevent the dog from scratching or chewing the hot spot and causing further damage.

If there is an underlying reason for the hot spot, it will also need to be addressed. For example applying flea control or treating an ear infection might be part of the treatment plan.

Can Hot Spots Be Treated at Home?Honestly, yes, they can. One remedy that the editor uses for a beginning hot spot after inspecting and cleaning it is to spray it with an over-the-counter product called Dermasol which contains retinol and vitamin A. Dermasol will dry the hot spot very quickly. However, if you are going to be showing your dog and the hot spot will be visible to the judge, don’t use Dermasol. The Dermasol spray is yellow and will yellow the spot for a few days.

If there is an underlying problem for your dog’s hot spot, treating at home means you may miss it or the hot spot might get out of control (which happens fast!). So, for optimum treatment you may want your dog checked out by a veterinarian."