Your dog or cat can develop hot spots, also known as acute moist dermatitis, due to a combination of moisture and bacteria on her skin. As the condition becomes more bothersome, you will notice her licking, scratching, or biting her skin to try to relieve the discomfort. This only makes the problem worse. Some of the most common causes of hot spots include lack of grooming, flea allergies, mange, food allergies, and tick bites.
Hot spots can be more of a problem during the hot and humid months of summer. The excess moisture on your pet's skin provides a warm, moist place for bacteria to multiply. Be sure to groom your pet consistently and to check his skin for signs that he could be developing a hot spot.
Symptoms of Hot Spots in Dogs and Cats
Companion animals with hot spots typically have at least a few of these symptoms:
- Pus build-up or oozing from a sore
- Swelling not otherwise explained
- Constant chewing, licking, and other attempts to relieve the discomfort
- Raised or red lesions
- Brown or red coloring in or around the area
- Odor coming from the area of the hot spot
If you notice any of these signs, please contact us to schedule an immediate evaluation for your pet.
Treat Hot Spots and Preventing Future Outbreaks
The best way to prevent your pet from developing hot spots in the first place is to keep her skin healthy. This includes regular grooming and year-round parasite protection. Your pet's fur is more likely to attract moisture if it's matted, which in turn can attract parasites. Sometimes the excess scratching, biting, and licking is due to a behavioral cause rather than a medical one. In either case, the staff at Minnesota Veterinary Hospital can help you develop a treatment plan.
The best way to prevent your pet from developing hot spots in the first place is to keep her skin healthy. This includes regular grooming and year-round parasite protection. Your pet's fur is more likely to attract moisture if it's matted, which in turn can attract parasites. Sometimes the excess scratching, biting, and licking is due to a behavioral cause rather than a medical one. In either case, the staff at Minnesota Veterinary Hospital can help you develop a treatment plan.
The first thing we do for an animal with hot spots is to trim the fur around it and clean the area using a mild anesthetic. Cortisone cream may be useful if your pet has severe itching. We have a wide range of flea and tick, grooming, and other products that can help you treat and prevent your pet's hot spots in our online store. Summer is short enough as it is. Make sure your pet has a fun and safe summer by treating hot spots right away.