Pressure Necrosis from Barking collar

Question
I didn't read the directions that came with the petsafe barking collar and Shiloh (male 6 yr old chow/retriever mix)wore it for ten days......I feel absolutely horrible and my poor dog has a huge skin irritation under his neck and it appears that his hair around this area is gone (burnt?).  As soon as I realized this I immediately took the collar off and soothed his neck with a wet towel patting it then gently washed the area and applied neosporin.  Please tell me what I should be doing to help him.  I don't know if I should bring him to the vet or if I can fix this.  He also has a nasty odor..Thanks so much for your help.

Answer
Debra, your dog's neck is not burnt. Pressure necrosis is caused by the pressure of the two probes against the same place on the dog's neck, for an extended period of time. This causes an infection, also called contact dermatitis, and that's where the smell is coming from. You might want to call your vet just to ask if they think a stronger antibiotic ointment or treatment is necessary, but as long as you keep it clean, it should completely clear up in a few weeks.