TW: hot spot photo below - thank you to Deb and Essie for providing a helpful example
Painful, itchy red, inflamed skin lesions. Ouch. They’re a form of dermatitis most commonly found on your dog’s head, legs and hips.
Because your dog starts scratching the area, it inflames it further. What makes hot spots hard to discern, is all that beautiful fur. And, they spread - fast. Suddenly your beloved pet is super itchy, very uncomfortable and you need to get to the vet, stat.
How can you help your fur friend reduce the likelihood of hot spots?
remove your dog’s collar after the beach or swims
check your dog’s ears and clean them as often as you need
thoroughly dry your dog after play in the water - use as many towels as you need, time the visit so there’s enough sun or time in the day for your dog to dry out, completely
check your dog’s skin often during summer, get forensic
review your dog’s diet - dermatitis be assisted or reduced with a healthy, clean and simple diet
groom your dog regularly - brush, thin out fur and wash them in fresh water post swims
I was going to mention fleas, and their ability to create hot spots, but honestly, in our area, most folks are all over their treatments. But fleas can also cause hot spots. The scratching they incite breaks the skin and away we go.
Even the most observant, fastidious and thoughtful pet parent can get caught out by hot spots.
So your best bet is to head straight to your vet if your dog is scratching a lot, get the medication you need and stay vigilant. But don’t deny the fun! Still go to the beach, the pond and let those puddles happen - there’s so much joy in the frolicking.
