Your dog is chewing constantly at a wet, raw
looking skin lesion. And it looks like it is bigger and nastier than it
was just hours ago.
You show it to your neighbour and they say your dog has a "Hot Spot". What
on earth is that, you ask? |
Moist
Eczema (Hot Spots) |
Now that the fur has been parted, the raw, weeping
circular Hot Spot can be seen. These often spread under the cover of the fur
so that by the time you notice them they are well established and
spreading.
This case of Moist Eczema may have
been caused by a tick bite. |
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Also known as Summer Sores or Moist Eczema, Hot Spots can seemingly
appear spontaneously anywhere on a dog's body and the area involved can
rapidly spread.
This moist, raw skin disorder has a variety of causes but the most
consistent factor is bacteria. Anything that irritates or breaks the
skin can create the environment for bacterial contamination if the skin
surface has just a bit of moisture on it. That moisture can be present
from a recently given bath,
from swimming or being out in the rain, from rolling in wet grass or even
from a slightly oozing sore that provides nutrients for bacteria.
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The fur should be shaved over the moist eczema
to allow the application of medication as well as to help drying. An
area well beyond the margins of the
lesion should be shaved. That tiny black spot at the top of the Hot
Spot is an
area where the skin has actually died and may be where a tick was
attached.
Why one tick will trigger Moist Eczema and others won't is still a
mystery. |
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Daily cleaning of the Hot Spot, even every two
hours for the first day or two, will speed up the healing. Also, any
topical anti-bacterial ointment will arrest the growth of the bacteria.
These skin lesions can take a week to finally dry and look like they
are going to heal. Once they are no longer oozing, simply keeping the
Hot Spot area clean will be all that's needed. The fur usually begins
to grow back within a couple of weeks. rarely will a hot spot leave any
scars. |
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So, now you know about Hot Spots, Moist Eczema
and Summer Sores. They seem much more prevalent in the summer
months. They can cause severe itching and self-trauma because the
infection goes into the deep layers of the skin. That's why Hot Spots
may take two weeks to finally look like they are going to heal. On
occasion if a dog has extensive and deep areas of Moist Eczema, oral
antibiotics and antihistamines may need to be prescribed and large areas
of skin will be shaved. Watch for
these skin sores and keep your dog well groomed especially in hot
seasons. Any dog that has matted, dirty hair coat is at greater risk of
developing Hot Spots. Many owners will have their long or
thick-furred dog shaved closely in the summer. This really does help
prevent the thick coat from covering any dampness on the surface of the
skin. By the fur covering any accumulated dampness and not allowing
evaporation, the wet skin surface is a perfect environment for bacterial
growth and invasion of the skin surface. |
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