Spotting, Treating, and Preventing Hot Spots in Pets
Easing the Itch: Understanding, Treating, and Preventing Hot Spots in Pets
When your pet’s skin is ablaze with itching, they may go to great lengths to scratch, lick, and chew, leading to the formation of hot spots. These highly uncomfortable sores can cause significant distress for your furry companion. Let’s dive into a comprehensive exploration of hot spots, discovering effective ways to provide relief.
What are hot spots in pets?
Hot spots, also referred to as acute moist dermatitis or pyotraumatic dermatitis, manifest as inflamed sores on your pet’s skin. These troublesome spots can seemingly appear overnight, quickly evolving into oozing, painful lesions that cause immense discomfort.
What causes hot spots in pets?
Hot spots are typically the result of skin inflammation caused by environmental, flea, or food allergies. However, any behavior that leads your pet to excessively lick, chew, or scratch an area to the point of rawness can contribute to their development.
Hot spots can be triggered by:
– Ear infections
– Skin infections
– Matted fur
– Urinary tract infections
– Anal gland issues
How are hot spots in pets treated?
Swift action is essential to prevent deep skin infections when addressing your pet’s hot spots. As soon as you notice a small area of inflammation, it’s crucial to put an Elizabethan collar (e-collar) on your pet to prevent further irritation.
Upon visiting our hospital for hot spot treatment, we may administer sedation along with a potent analgesic medication, as hot spots can be incredibly painful to the touch. Once your pet is comfortable, we will carefully clip away matted fur to promote airflow to the affected area. Wet and matted fur serves as a breeding ground for infection and must be removed to facilitate healing.
We will gently cleanse the area with an antiseptic rinse to flush away debris and fur, followed by the application of topical medications to soothe itching and address the infection on clean, dry skin. Further treatment will depend on the underlying cause of the hot spot. We may recommend allergy treatment, anal gland expression, ear medication, regular grooming, or other appropriate therapies.
If you notice an irritated, inflamed area on your pet’s skin, it is vital not to delay seeking help. Contact our team promptly to schedule an appointment before a minor irritation escalates into a larger, painful hot spot.