Jump to content
BC Boards

Hot spots?


Mary & Dogs
 Share

Recommended Posts

What causes hot spots? I have never had a problem before and this year I have had two dogs get them.

 

Mollie had one on the inside of her back leg and the vet said those are usually from running in high grass. I guess the grass cuts the skin and that gets irritated.

 

Ellie has really long, fine hair on the back of her legs and it mats. And if I try and cut it she just goes ballistic. A couple of days ago I noticed that she had started really chewing on her back legs. Last night I got home from work and looked at her and she had a raw spot. So we went off to the emergency clinic - I couldn't get into my vet until Monday.

 

The vet there was really rude - and acted like I was out of my mind - wanting help shaving off the mats. But I couldn't even see what was wrong because of the hair. But after he shaved off the hair you could see that her back legs were all raw. He gave her two shots, some spray, and some antibiotics. And said that it was a good thing we came in. Within 24 hours those places would have been as big as dinner plates. I guess dogs get started chewing and can really make a mess of themselves very quickly.

 

I just don't understand why this year. It has been really dry. But my dogs aren't even outside that much. They stay inside in the air conditioning.

 

So here I am $168 dollars poorer. But I think we caught Ellie in time.

 

 

 

------------------

Mary Hartman

Kansas City, MO

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As told to me by a vet:

If the skin becomes irritated and the dog starts chewing, bacteria begins to grow in the area. It is worse in breeds whete the coat is to thick for the air to get at it and dry it out.

 

Because she had the mats covering the area, this maybe was why you had the problem.

 

My husky had hotspots really bad when I got him (he was given to me, what a mess). The vets wanted to shave him and sell me very expensive creams etc. I called a few husky breeders and was told not to shave the dog but rather use tea tree shampoo because of its natural antibacterial qualities. He healed up in no time and as long as he was bathed with it fairly regular (once a month or so), he never developed any new ones.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks, Shawna

 

I use Tee Trea Oil all of the time for skin problems and bug bites. It really works.

My dogs hate the smell of it, though, and run if I get out.

 

Ellie seems better today. I was just home for lunch and sprayed her again - I don't know what the spray is but it must not hurt because she doesn't seem to mind. I think it is a germ killer that also helps to dry out the hot spots.

 

After the cortizone kicked in last night she seemed to feel quite a bit better.

 

I will just watch her this weekend and give her all of her medication and then take her in Monday to have my vet check her out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest PairDogx1.5

I'm in the same boat as you Mary, never had any such thing as "hot spots" until this year. My 4? year-old developed a spot first at the base of her tail. When we shaved the hair away you could see it began in a crease in the skin where tail meets body. I guess many different things can cause the initial irritation, then they just make it worse biting at it. The spray given me was a combination anti-bacterial & cortisone equivalent, and also got the pills for the irritation and some anti-biotics. It improved very quickly, but then another spot broke out a little further down the tail, like it just moved. Glad I still had some medecine left, because the first treatment drained my funds.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

shortly after I got boston she started getting hot spots everywhere, and puking. I couldn't figure out what it was and the poet store talked me into buying 14$ oatmeal shampoo that I could've made at home myself. the shampoo didn't help much except it smelled really nice and rinsed out easily. I took her to the vet and they told me she was having food allergies and suggested I switch her food to nutro. so I did. that has stopped the puking for the most part but she still has a sensative tummy. the hot spots however are still there. not nearly as bad though. now she just has a few. but recently she has been losing so much hair I could weave 50 wigs with it. i can't figure out how to stop the shedding and I thought I saw a bald spot last night. her hair has really gotten thin and I'm starting to worry. She doesn't chew on herself, except once in a while and it's nothing major. I do stop her from doing it though. She also licks the insides of her legs alot and itches alot and I've had her checked for fleas, mites etc. vet says she doesn't have them and that she probably just has dry skin. my gut instinct says there's something else going on. Should I consider another food change? I've read on here about a raw diet, is it good. how can I find more info on it. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

Boston and Kelli

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is there an allergy specialist you could go to? It sounds like that dog needs help.

 

All of my dogs are having allergy problems this year. I think it is the long, hot, dry

summer we are having.

 

But I have been able to control things with cortizone shots and benedril.

 

Bandit really had a bad spell last week - even his eyes were swollen - and he itched all over. The vet gave him a shot of benedril and then a long lasting cortizone shot and he has done much better.

 

Molly is itching and has lost most of her fur - her undercoat. But I have been able to control her with just benedril tablets.

 

 

------------------

Mary Hartman

Kansas City, MO

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is there an allergy specialist you could go to? It sounds like that dog needs help.

 

All of my dogs are having allergy problems this year. I think it is the long, hot, dry

summer we are having.

 

But I have been able to control things with cortizone shots and benedril.

 

Bandit really had a bad spell last week - even his eyes were swollen - and he itched all over. The vet gave him a shot of benedril and then a long lasting cortizone shot and he has done much better.

 

Molly is itching and has lost most of her fur - her undercoat. But I have been able to control her with just benedril tablets.

 

 

------------------

Mary Hartman

Kansas City, MO

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...