Many dogs have to deal with this at some point: a hot spot. It’s a painful area that’s very uncomfortable for your dog. A hot spot is a skin inflammation caused by excessive scratching and licking. Itching is often the cause. This itching leads your dog to scratch and lick a lot. A hot spot can develop quickly and seem to appear “out of nowhere.” In this blog, we’ll explain how hot spots develop and how to treat them!

Cause of a hotspot

Hot spots are caused by an overgrowth of bacteria that irritate the skin. Constant scratching and licking of the affected area creates the perfect breeding ground for bacteria—moisture and heat are ideal conditions for bacterial growth. Dogs prone to hot spots often already have an impaired microbiome. When the skin becomes bald and “rough,” it is more susceptible to bacteria that can cause inflammation. It may even bleed and ooze pus. This makes it all the more important to find out why your dog is itchy and therefore starts licking and scratching. However, itching is a symptom and can have many different causes. In our blog: “Help, My Dog Is Itchy!” you can read all about the causes of itching in your dog. 

Treating a Hot Spot

If your dog has a hot spot, it’s important to prevent them from licking or scratching it. This will only make the hot spot worse. To keep your dog from reaching it for a while, you can purchase various collars from a pet store or your veterinarian. In addition, it’s important to keep the affected area dry, as moisture creates an environment where bacteria thrive. It’s also important to keep the area both clean and dry. Therefore, it’s not advisable to let your dog play in mud or go swimming. You can also trim or shave the fur around the spot slightly to prevent dirt from getting trapped in the surrounding fur. 

If the area is dirty, you can rinse it with lukewarm water and then apply Doderm Hydro Repair Gel to soothe the skin. What makes our skin gel unique is that it contains filtered antibodies from cow colostrum, which naturally helps soothe skin irritation during recovery. Would you like to know more? Learn how Doderm Hydro Repair Gel can relieve your dog’s itching. Then read our page on how exactly how Doderm Hydro Repair Gel works. If you have any questions, please contact Contact us. We’re happy to help! 

All treatment steps at a glance:

• Avoid further licking and scratching;
• Keep the hotspot dry and clean;
• Support your skin with Doderm Hydro RepairGel;
• Call the vet immediately if your dog shows signs of illness, such as lethargy, refusal to eat or drink, or a fever.

The difference compared to Doderm Hydro RepairGel

We received a wonderful review from Mariska. Her dog, Beike, had a hot spot, which she treated with Doderm Hydro Repair Gel. Read Mariska’s full review below, check out the before-and-after photos, and see for yourself! 

For:

After 7 days:

"Beike is an 11-year-old Frisian Stabyhoun. She has a thick coat, which makes her prone to hot spots, especially during periods of high humidity. We tried honey ointment for the first time, but it didn’t work very well on her long hair. We then shaved the area and applied Doderm daily for a week—she’s licking it—and new hair is starting to grow back!"

Is a hot spot contagious?

The hot spot itself is not contagious. Whether it is contagious or not depends mainly on the cause of the hot spot. Is your dog licking and scratching excessively because it is plagued by fleas or mites? These parasites can easily be transmitted to other dogs, causing them to experience similar discomfort and potentially develop a hot spot. Therefore, check your dog regularly for fleas and mites and treat them promptly if necessary. 

With proper treatment, a hot spot will disappear completely after about two weeks. If a hot spot is not treated properly, the skin inflammation can worsen and your dog may even become seriously ill. So take action early to prevent the condition from getting worse. Always ask your veterinarian for the proper treatment.