Get Rid Of Dog Hot Spots As Soon As You Notice Them

Loss of fur for a dog in some areas of the body is sometimes an indication of a condition known as dog hot spots. Sometimes moisture is noticeable in the area but this is not necessarily so. The condition is very uncomfortable for the animal.

Hot spots are caused by bacteria on the skin. The environment also plays a role as the problem may be worse if the owner lives in a place where the environment provides a favorable breeding ground for the bacteria. Other factors, such as insufficient grooming, allergies or issues linked to behavior can also contribute the development of the hot spots.

Sometimes the pet may show allergic reaction to food or parasites. The animal licks an area of its body excessively creating a damp warm spot. These are the kind of conditions ideal for the bacteria. The skin starts to itch and the dog scratches a lot. It loses fur as a result. Loss of fur can sometimes be attributed to other factors as well such as anxiety or boredom.

Clipping of the hair around the problem area and applying a mild antiseptic sometimes take care of the infection, but if it does not, it is best to call in the advice of a vet as other factors may also be at play. If your dog licks the area during treatment, an e-collar must be used. This will help keep the area dry which is essential.

The issue can have a bigger picture in which case one treatment will not be enough to solve it. There may be another problem such as regular contact with allergens. It will be necessary to find out exactly what this is to get rid of the problem.

Grooming the dog more often will help if the problem is either poor grooming or lack of attention. Use the right brush and groom the dog at least twice a week. This is especially important if the dog has long, thick fur. Clip the fur from time to time if the weather is not too cold or take the dog to a groomer. Home grooming should also be done making use of a brush that is suitable for the dog.

Beating an allergy can be a very tricky problem. First it will be necessary to find out what causes it. It may be that the dog has fleas or other parasites in which case a bath with a flea killing shampoo or medication may solve the problem. May the food is to blame. Try changing it to see if you get results. On the other hand almost any item in the household could cause the allergy. In that case you can try and solve it by keeping the dog away from some parts of the house or yard at various times. In this way you can try and find the culprit through a process of elimination.

To keep your animal the top dog it should be, make sure it does not have dog hot spots. Start treatment as soon as you notice loss of hair in some places. Give the dog the attention it needs and help prevent boredom by giving it some toys. Prevention is better than cure and taking away the underlying causes may stop the bacteria from gaining a foothold.

I'm a dog health professional who specializes in pet skin care.