Hot spots on pets require care
Although common, helping the healing process best bet

Although common, helping the healing process best betHow far would you go to make sure your companion animal is healthy? Why would some pet owners let their dog live with pain and discomfort, when giving a little extra attention to their pet's health care would help the animal live a happier life? A little education goes a long way to help pet owners keep their charges comfortable and content during the hot summer months.
Past articles have addressed timely vaccinations for pets, flea and tick prevention, and behavioral problems. Now, I would like to address a problem that many readers have either written or called me about: hot spots.
Hot spots, more accurately described as "acute moist dermatitis," usually affect dogs with long hair or those with dense undercoats. According to Dr. Joe Wurster of Colonial Park Veterinarian Clinic, hot spots are often caused by a local allergic reaction to a specific antigen. Insect bites, especially from fleas, are often the cause. Other causes include inhalant or food allergies, mite infestations, ear infections and poor grooming. Hip dysplasia or other types of arthritis and degenerative joint disease could also be a source of pain and cause a dog to chew itself into a major medical problem.
Wurster explains that hot spots are surface skin infections caused when populations of normal skin bacteria grow so rapidly that a dog's normal ability to fight off infection becomes overwhelmed. These skin irritations are generally circular patches that lose hair, can swell, and may exude a smelly pus. Because the spots can be painfully itchy, the dog may scratch, lick or bite itself to the point of self-mutilation. While hot spots are generally not fatal to dogs, they can cause a normally even-tempered dog to growl or snap when touched.
Dogs most susceptible to hot spots are those with heavy coats, a history of allergies, ear infections, flea infestations, irritated anal sacs, and grooming problems such as hair tangles and mats. Any dog can develop this infection, though.
Dogs in warm, humid climates may develop hot spots when they shed their undercoats if the dead hair is trapped next to the skin. These unfortunate canines may mutilate themselves by excessive licking and chewing, thus encouraging a painful infection to become established.
The most common locations for hot spots are the legs, feet, flanks and rump - areas that can be reached by licking or biting - but these localized infections can also appear on ears, neck and chest if the dog is continually scratching.
Wurster prescribes two approaches that are necessary for dealing with hot spots: Treat the sore, and remove the underlying cause to prevent recurrences. He suggests the following: Trim the hair around the sore to prevent further spread of the infection and expose the edges of the lesion; wash the area in a mild, water-based astringent or antiseptic; be prepared to use antibiotics if the washing does not give results.
To facilitate the healing process, your vet may let you use a special "Bite-Not" collar that restricts the dog's ability to reach back to chew infected areas.
If the underlying cause of hot spots is tangled or matted hair or trapped dead hair, Wurster suggests putting the dog on a regular grooming schedule either at home or at a grooming shop. Breeds with long hair that tangles easily should be thoroughly brushed at least twice a week so that snarls and mats do not form. Never bathe a dog with matted or tangled hair - comb the snarls out first. Have a groomer clip mats if you cannot easily comb them out, and make a grooming appointment for every four to six weeks if you cannot keep the dog mat-free on your own.
If the underlying cause is allergies, Wurster urges pet owners to attempt to rid their home and yard of fleas. He also points out that household dust, plant pollen, lawn chemicals and diet can all cause allergies if the dog's sensitivities cross a threshold. So, work with your veterinarian on a plan to reduce allergy triggers for your pet. Frequent vacuuming, nutritional supplements to keep the skin and coat healthy, air purifiers and baths in skin-soothing herbal or medicated shampoos with aloe, oatmeal, jojoba or eucalyptus can help.
Finally, Wurster suggests that if your pet has not been diagnosed with allergies or fleas or a more serious skin condition, the cause of hot spots could be due to behavioral problems. Your pet could be bored, stressed or lonely to a point that it self-mutilates by constant licking or scratching. The answer for this can be that your dog may need more exercise, playtime and attention. This can be the either the easiest or the hardest form of treatment to implement because there is no magical pill to keep the problem in check. Wurster reminds us that the requirements are time, consistency, and perhaps an investment in training books, obedience classes, a dog sitter, doggie day care or an animal behaviorist.
So how far would you go to keep your pet healthy? When you decided to bring an animal into your home, you took on a major responsibility. If you follow a few easy guidelines in attending to the health of your dog's skin, you can help your pet keep from developing hot spots. Both you and your canine companion can enjoy a comfortable time during the hot weather ahead.
Eamon P. Riley is a professional dog trainer and animal behavioral consultant. For suggestions or comments, he can be emailed at dogmanusmc@aol.com or by calling 689-9483.