Caring for Your Pet Bestie
It’s June! Time to enjoy those lovely days and longer nights, spending more time outdoors with your family, friends, and your true bestie – your dog. Their goofy antics bring such joy into our lives! They are, truly, (wo)man’s best friend. As such, we want to keep them healthy and happy so we can enjoy a wonderful summer season together.
Summertime TLC
One of the perils of summer for our canine companions is the increased risk of developing hot spots, or areas of skin that are reddened, inflamed, and, possibly, bleeding or oozing. Hot spots, or Acute Moist Dermatitis (ACM), occur more frequently during the summer than in other months, although they can develop at any time. They’re more commonly seen in summer months because of the moisture associated with high humidity, and they can be caused by moisture trapped in your dog’s fur after swimming.
What Are Hot Spots?
Hot spots are areas of redness and inflammation that initially appear small but progress very quickly. What may appear to be the size of an insect bite can become a much larger area in just a few hours. Although they’re not life-threatening, they’re very uncomfortable and itchy, so your dog will become agitated as he or she licks and scratches the affected area. The continuous scratching and itching of the area make it more irritated and more likely to develop a secondary bacterial infection.
Causes of Hot Spots
As mentioned above, hot spots are more common during the summer months. Some causes of them are:
- Moisture trapped in fur from swimming
- Flea bites
- Other insect bites
- Other parasites
- Matted and/or dirty fur
- Boredom
- Stress or anxiety
- An allergic reaction
- Injury or arthritis
- Autoimmune issues
Hot spots can occur anywhere on your dog’s body, but they’re commonly seen on the head, hips, and legs.
Treatment for Hot Spots
Hot spots can become infected if left untreated, so it’s important to contact your vet as soon as you notice them. Some of the treatments South Hyland Pet Hospital may employ include:
- Shaving the affected area
- Gently clean it with an appropriate antiseptic and sterile saline
- Giving your dog a shot or shots of medication including antibiotics, anti-itch medicine, and/or an anti-inflammatory
- Prescribing one, or a combination of, these medications for oral use at home
- Recommending a topical medication to help alleviate symptoms
For some dogs, the hot spot is so painful and itchy that sedation is needed to safely treat them. Hot spots are extremely uncomfortable for dogs, so quick treatment of them is very important.
Preventing Hot Spots
There are several things you can do to prevent hot spots from happening. You should:
- Make sure your dog is thoroughly dry after a swim (or bath)
- Groom them often and well
- Use flea and tick products
- Treat a hot spot immediately upon finding them
If you find that your dog is particularly susceptible to them, he or she might benefit from a daily fish oil supplement. We’d be happy to talk with you about that.
South Hyland Pet Hospital
South Hyland Pet Hospital in Minneapolis, MN is available to help treat your dog’s hot spots or any other kind of care they might need. We can be reached at 952-884-1868 or by email at southhyland@southhyland.com. Contact us today so our caring hearts and caring hands can help your pet stay healthy and happy!
Image credit: Unsplash
