Acute moist dermatitis or hot spots are red, wet, moist, painful sores that occur due to scratching and biting at the skin. Dogs and cats will start scratching because of fleas, bug bites, or allergies and open the skin to bacteria, the bacteria grows and spreads and a hot spot develops. These hot spots can become very large and grow quickly.
Breeds commonly afflicted with hot spots - Heavy coated breeds are commonly seen with hot spots. The Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Newfoundland, German Shepherd Dog, and Saint Bernard are just some of the more commonly afflicted breeds. Cats can also develop hot spots but it doesn't occur as often. When they do occur in cats it is usually around the ears due to scratching at ear mites.
Symptoms of the canine hot spot - The spots are red, hot, moist, and painful. The dog or cat will bite and itch at a spot until they inflict this trauma. Hair loss will start to occur over the area, that is when many owners first see the sore. Dogs and cats with hot spots have another condition that started the itching to begin with, check for allergies, fleas, ear mites and/or bug bites.
Treatment of the dog hot spot -
- The fur around the sore needs to be clipped so that air and medication can reach the wound. The clipped area should include the wound itself as well as the edges of the lesion. If the wound is large and the patient seems especially painful, sedation may need to be used.
- The wound should be cleansed, many veterinarians use Chlorhexidine, and rinsed throughly with water.
- Topical medications are not always used but some, like Betagen Spray, are sometimes prescribed for hot spots and other skin irritations.
- The original problem needs to be treated. If fleas are the culprit then a flea preventative needs to be started. Cortisones (Prednisone) will help take away the itch from allergies and bug bites. Antibiotics are sometimes needed to help speed healing.
- The dog or cat needs to stop itching the spot, this may mean using an Elizabethan collar.
- Treatment can be done at home but these spots are very painful and dogs and cats will bite their owners if in pain. Also, antibiotics and steroids maybe needed to speed healing and stop the itch. Some veterinarians will also recommend the use of a steroid injections to speed relief to the pet.
References:
Common Diseases of Companion Animals, Alleice Summers, MS, DVM (Mosby, Inc. 2002)
The First Aid Companion For Dogs & Cats, Amy D. Shojai (Rodale 2001)
