Canine Hot Spots
Solutions for your dog

What are canine hot spots? They are (moist dermatitis or pyotraumatic dermatitis) one of the most common dog skin problems. They are inflamed welted areas on the skin that often become infected.

Dog hot spots are usually caused from excessive biting, scratching, and licking usually resulting from allergies, fleas, insect bits, or injuries. They can occur at any time and in any breed, although dogs with thick coats are more prone to get them and they occur more frequently in warmer temperatures.

Can the Coton de Tulear get them?

Absolutely, here’s how you can tell if your dog has this skin problem.

What are the symptoms?

Redness
Pain
Itchiness
Hair loss
Inflammation
Warm to the touch
Pus
Odor

Treatment

It’s important to treat hot spots as soon as possible because they can get significantly worse in a short period of time. Early treatment can also prevent severe infections.

According to the book, Dog skin solutions – the ultimate guide, sometimes it helps to clip the hair, or shave it, in the affected area and then apply one of the following:

Gold Bond Powder, OR
A 50/50 mixture of Listerine and water in a spray bottle, OR
Mix 1⁄2 teaspoon per pint of water of Tea Tree Oil and leave on. OR
Using a cotton ball, coat the area with full-strength vinegar.

For severe cases, some dogs may need to be sedated and given pain medication and anti-itch drugs. Elizabethan collars may need to be used to keep the dog from getting to the infected area.