Common Dog Skin Disease
- Hot Spots Information, Sign, Symstoms and Treatment

Hot Spots also known as Pyotraumatic Dermatitis, Acute Moist Dermatitis, Moist Eczema or summer sores. It is a bacteria infection which spread rapidly. The wounds is always inflicted by self licking, bitting or scratching by the dog. Hots Spots mostly affected to dogs with heavy coat.

Signs and Symptoms of Hot Spots:

- self licking, biting, scratching excessively which cause the infection to spread.
- lose hair on the affected area
- smelly pus
- oozing
- redness

** Sometimes the wound will be hidden under the fur. If you see the symptoms of self licking, bitting and scratching, you need to move out the hair to check for the wound.

Treatment of Hot Spots

If once the dog is prone to this disease, it will very easily to get this disease again. So prevention is important. Groom the dog more often during summer and spring to remove the shedding undercoat.

Below are some treatments to improve the affected area and prevent it to getting worse. The underlying cause of Hot Spots should be found out to cure the disease successfully.

(1) Keep the wound clean and undisturbed

- Clip the overlying fur on that affected area. Shaving will worse the condition.

(2) Use mild, antibacteria or oatmeal based shampoos

- Bath the dog with mild or antibacteria shampoos several times per day.

(3) Apply tea tree oil, aloe vera and chamomile skin products

- These products can effectively cure hot spots and reduce pain.

Dogs with severe or persistant hot spots need to be brought to visit Veterinarian to get appropriate treatments. Oral antibiotics, steroids, antihistamines or other treatments may be given.