Treating Seasonal Hot Spots on Your Pets

With warm weather just around the corner, pet owners are going to face another season of increased outdoor time with their pets. With the warm season comes some issues, like ticks, fleas, and even hot spots.

What is a hot spot?

A hot spot is a bacterial skin infection that can cause itching on your pet. Often your pet will compulsively scratch, chew, or lick these spots, causing further irritation. The site of a hot spot will often show hair loss, scabbing, and oozing. A pet can show signs of aggravation when a hot spot is present; this is simply due to the level of discomfort the hot spot is causing.

What causes a hot spot?

Usually a hot spot can begin with a general wound, whether that be from a tick bite, flea bite, or a thorn stuck under the skin. Hot spots can also occur due excess scratching or an allergic reaction to their food. If the hot spots occur in the summer, the humidity can often prolong the healing process.

Treating hot spots

When considering treatment, it is always recommended to take your pet to the vet. Veterinarians can recommend a specific course of action to take with your pets recurring hot spots. That said, there are a few different things a veterinarian might recommend.

Firstly, a veterinarian can help determine the cause of a hot spot. This is in an essential first step; determining the cause determines the treatment plan. Determining the cause can also give you an idea of how to prevent them in the future, which is in the best interest of both you and your pet. Once the cause is determined, there are a number of ways to give your pet relief from hot spots on their skin. These include, but are not limited to, the follow:

• Trimming the hair around the hot spot
• Washing the hot spot with antiseptic spray
• Keep the hot spot dry and clean
• Antibiotics- oral, topical or injectable
• Consider putting a cone on your pet to discourage licking/biting

It is important to speak with your veterinarian; they can make suggestions based on your personal situation and set up and treatment plan that will benefit you and your pet. With proper diagnosis, you can ensure optimum comfort and treatment for your pet with the coming warm season.

← Previous Post Next Post →