Dog days of summer are starting...
What does that mean usually? Fleas..... and fleas can lead to a number of problems with our babies. One of which i am going to talk about now... The famous Hot Spot... it is usually a round area, can be anywhere, that is very red and may have a thin yellowish layer on top. It starts from a bug bite, usually fleas and as the animal begins scratching it turns into a wound.. The dogs nails scratch the surface of the skin making perfect little openings for bacteria to set up house keeping. The more they scratch the bigger the area gets. It is a complex issue at this point, you cant just put hydrocortosone cream on it because that helps with the itching but does nothing for the bacteria. Hot spots are a usually a very complex issue with acouple areas to think about. If not seen quickly they can cover the whole side of a face or rump area and are extremely painful for the animal. They appear to us like a burn or something. Because there is usually more than one factor involved with these, they really need to be treated by your vet. He/she will decide what medicines need to be used to aid in the healing and bring relief. I have seen some people shave the area around the sore to keep the hair off and clean it with an antibacterial soap. Make sure that the soap is completely rinsed off as the residue can add to the problem and you don't want that. If it needs antibiotics,injections or to air dry will be up to the discretion of the veterinarian.
hope this helps some of you.....
I did everything you suggested and something must have worked because his hot spots have all but diminished. His hair has grown back where there were bald spots and he doesn't scratch nearly as much. I know it's very hot outside and since his coat color is all black, I usually try to bath him in cool water and not leave him outside for very long!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your help.... Regina
I am very happy to help.. if you have any problems in the future don't hesitate to ask.
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