infected hotspots

Question
My dog has had a really bad time with hotspots.  They started last winter when we got a different dog house(wooden). I kept doctoring them but they got worse. Took him to vet and was told he had staph. He was put on meds by mouth and sauve.  I have fought this all summer long and he still has them seems like the antibotics worked for a while then stopped. A co-worker told me to put vicks on them. At this point I was willing to try anything. It has seemed to help some at least kept it from spreading anymore, it has dryed up some what. But still fighting it. Have you ever heard of using vicks on hotspots before? I'm open to any more suggestions. Thanks Patricia OKC

Answer
"Hotspots" are actually acute, moist dermatitis.  We never put anythnig occlusive on a weepy skin lesion because that seals in all of the serum and pus and will actually cause a chemical burn. That is why a hotspot can grow large very rapidly. These chemicals are trapped on the skin and are caustic. That's why I do not think that Vicks will do much.

Hotspots usually result from an allergy to something, so if the dog's allergic skin disease is not being treated, then the hotspots will continue.  YOu should have the vet check the dog to give speciofic therapy for the primary disease allowing the hotspots to continue.