How to Recognize, Manage, and Avoid Hot Spots in Pets

Your pet may scratch, lick, and chew itself into a hot spot when their skin feels burning from scratching. Learn more about these highly irritating sores to assist your furry friend in overcoming the itching.

What are hot spots in pets?

Hot spots are infected sores that form on a pet’s skin and are also referred to as acute moist dermatitis or pyotraumatic dermatitis. These patches frequently appear overnight and can soon turn into an excruciating mess for your pet.

What creates hot spots in animals?

Hot spots are usually brought on by allergic reactions to food, fleas, or the environment. However, anything that prompts your pet to lick, chew, or scratch an area until raw skin is exposed can be to blame.

Hot spots may be brought on by:

  • Infections in the ears
  • Skin infections
  • Fur that is matted
  • Infections of the urinary system
  • Problems with the anal glands

How are hot spots in animals treated?

To avoid a severe skin infection, treating your pet’s hot areas right away is essential. Put your pet on an Elizabethan collar (also known as an e-collar) as soon as you discover a small patch of inflammation so they can’t irritate the skin even more.

As hot areas can be excruciatingly unpleasant to the touch, we may give your pet anesthesia along with a potent analgesic when they come to our facility for treatment. We will trim away matted fur after your pet is at ease to let air reach the region. To help the hot spot heal, the wet, matted fur must be removed since it acts as a breeding ground for infection.

To remove fur and debris and carefully clean the area, we will use an antiseptic rinse. Then, to relieve the itch and treat the infection, we will administer topical drugs to the clean, dry skin. We may advise allergy treatment, anal gland expression, ear medicine, routine grooming, or other therapies depending on the underlying cause of the hot area.

Don’t hesitate to act if you see an inflamed or irritated region on your pet’s skin. Call our staff to make an appointment before a slight annoyance develops into a significant, uncomfortable hot spot.