Dog Hot Spots: How to Get Rid of Them Fast

In this article "Dog Hot Spots: How to get rid of them fast", I'll explore the causes of dog hot spots and suggest how you can get rid of them.

Symptoms

Does your dog have the following symptoms?

' Licking, biting and chewing a spot on the skin endlessly.
' The spot suddenly increases in a matter of hours, sometimes with pus inside.
' The sore may sometimes ooze pus or blood out.
' The hot spot loses hair.
' The sore smells funny.
' Your usually friendly hairball best friend is now bad tempered and growls at you when you accidentally touch him/her.

If your dog has these symptoms and if the spot seems to breed other spots like it, then your dog may be experiencing what veterinarians call pyotraumatic dermatitis, or hot spots. A dog hot spot is a very annoying skin lesion that can grow rapidly if left untreated. These infuriating nuisances on your little pooch are not only making him or her suffer, it can also make your doggie friend look like he or she has a contagious disease.

Causes

Here are 3 of the main causes of a dog hot spot:

1. Hot spots are usually seen in dogs that have furry coats like Shih-Tzu's or Pomeranians because they are more susceptible to get tangled and matted hair that causes these irritating pyotraumatic dermatitis. Also, dogs with long coats are more prone to have trapped dead hair inside the skin which is also something that causes hot spots.

2. Dogs with allergic reactions to house dust, household chemicals, commercial dog food and even plant pollen are also vulnerable to hot spots.

3. Other dogs are just plain hyper and will end up biting, licking and gnawing at themselves if left alone. This can also cause hot spots to appear.

Solution

If you see that your loyal four-legged best friend has a hot spot then you must act quickly. Below are steps you can take to treat this horrible condition:

1. First of all, isolate the area by trimming the hair around the sore itself to prevent the spreading of the infection. Some find it easier to wipe away the fur if you put some water-based jelly on the fur that you will trim off. Trimming the hair around the spot not only makes it easier to treat the spot, it will also lessen the cause of itchiness.

2. Clean the sore well by using a mild antiseptic soap. Thoroughly wash the area to make sure no residual soap is left that can cause further irritation.

3. You need to dry out the sore so that it will not flame up and have some pus in it. Do this by applying wet tea bags on the sore.

4. A number of natural products have also proven to be very effective against dog hot spots. Among these are witch hazel and apple cider vinegar. Tepezcohuite, which forms the foundation of one of my pet related products (k9klearup.com), has been found to be quite effective on hot spots as well, so much so that we guarantee it's efficacy

Prevention

In preventing hot spots, you need to address the causes of course. So make sure you brush your furry friend's coat all the time to avoid tangles, clean your home or the area where your pooch loves to play regularly and give him or her proper exercise so your doggie pal will not get restless and mutilate his or her own skin.

So there you have it, some simple solutions to help get rid of a dog hot spot. Your dog should be wagging his tail again in no time!


------

Brandon Roe is the author of "The Official Dog Coat and Skin Care Guide", a comprehensive guide to help you dog maintain a beautiful and healthy coat and clear skin. Get your FREE copy today at http://www.k9klearup.com/guide. He is also the developer of K9 KlearUp, the worlds only pet balm that helps clear up the 17 most common canine skin and coat problems... Guaranteed or your money back.