Spotting, Treating, and Preventing Hot Spots in Pets
When your beloved pet’s skin feels like it’s on fire from incessant itching, they may resort to scratching, licking, and chewing, inadvertently creating a hot spot. It’s crucial to understand these highly uncomfortable sores and learn how to help your furry friend find relief.
Understanding Hot Spots in Pets
Hot spots, also known as acute moist dermatitis or pyotraumatic dermatitis, are inflamed sores that develop on a pet’s skin. These troublesome spots often seem to appear overnight, rapidly becoming oozing, painful wounds that cause immense discomfort for your pet.
The Causes of Hot Spots
Hot spots are typically a result of skin inflammation caused by environmental, flea, or food allergies. However, anything that drives your pet to excessively lick, chew, or scratch an area, leading to raw skin, can be a contributing factor.
Some common triggers for hot spots include:
- Ear infections
- Skin infections
- Matted fur
- Urinary tract infections
- Anal gland issues
Treating Hot Spots in Pets
Prompt action is essential when it comes to treating your pet’s hot spots to prevent the development of deep skin infections. The moment you notice a small area of inflammation, it is crucial to place an Elizabethan collar, also known as an e-collar, on your pet to prevent further irritation of the skin.
When seeking hot spot treatment at our hospital, we may administer sedation along with a potent analgesic medication, as hot spots can be excruciatingly painful to the touch. Once your pet is comfortable, we will carefully clip away any matted fur, allowing air to reach the affected area. Wet, tangled fur creates a breeding ground for infection and must be removed to facilitate healing.
To cleanse the area, we will use an antiseptic rinse to flush away fur and debris. Subsequently, we will apply topical medications to the clean, dry skin to soothe the itch and treat the infection. Further treatment will depend on the underlying cause of the hot spot, and we may recommend allergy treatment, anal gland expression, ear medication, regular grooming, or other appropriate therapies.
If you notice an irritated, inflamed area on your pet’s skin, it is crucial not to wait. Contact our team immediately to schedule an appointment, as addressing minor irritations promptly can prevent them from escalating into large, painful hot spots that significantly impact your pet’s well-being.