Hot spots in dogs

A hotspot is a localized skin inflammation that you can recognize by a dog experiencing intense itching in one specific area. The animal continuously bites, licks, and scratches this spot. When you inspect the dog's skin, you will notice a bald, red, and moist patch. The skin is clearly irritated and extremely itchy, as the dog cannot leave the area alone. Time for a visit to the vet—the dog is probably suffering from a hotspot…

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How can a dog get a hotspot?

A hotspot is a localized skin inflammation that a dog causes itself. This happens because the animal keeps licking, scratching, and/or biting an itchy spot.

There are various ‘culprits’ that can cause this itching, such as parasites (fleas or ticks), an insect bite, or a (food) allergy. Stress can also be the cause of a hotspot. Some dogs suffering from stress start biting and licking one specific area excessively, thereby causing a hotspot.

Any dog can develop a hotspot, but some breeds are more susceptible than others. These include breeds with a thick, woolly undercoat, such as Golden Retrievers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Akitas, or Leonbergers. If the coat of these animals is not properly maintained, the skin can become irritated and start to itch. Frequent swimming and slow-drying coats can also cause skin irritation.

What is a hotspot?

Licking, biting, and scratching damage the top layer of the skin. But it does not stop there. Bacteria that are always present on the skin but normally cause no problems can now cause inflammation in the damaged skin; this is called a hotspot. This localized skin inflammation causes even more itching, prompting the dog to lick and scratch the area again, resulting in a hotspot that keeps getting bigger and bigger.

This creates a vicious cycle: the hotspot itches, the dog scratches it, the hotspot spreads, and this causes even more itching, making the dog scratch even more.

How do you treat a hotspot on your dog?

To heal a hotspot, it is essential to break the vicious cycle, starting by stopping the itching. It is also necessary to clean the hotspot and keep it clean. The best thing to do is visit a vet. A vet will take several steps:

• The vet will remove the fur around the hotspot and then clean the area with a disinfectant, such as Betadine,
• A dog with a hotspot may be fitted with a collar so it can no longer reach the irritated area of skin, or it may be given a sock if the hotspot is on one of its legs,
• A vet may also prescribe medication to relieve the itching,
• The treatment of the localized skin inflammation will consist of an *ointment or, in severe cases, antibiotics.

*Treatment of a hotspot may consist of applying a corticosteroid ointment to the area. Corticosteroids are effective against inflammation and the associated symptoms.

Make sure the skin stays clean and dry after treatment; otherwise, the healing process will be delayed. It is also necessary to identify and eliminate the cause (parasites, stress, etc.) of a hotspot; this will help prevent a new hotspot from developing.

How can you reduce the risk of a hotspot?

• Treat your dog regularly (as a preventive measure) against ticks and fleas,
• Treat dogs that swim frequently against ticks and fleas more often,
• Brush a dog with a thick, woolly undercoat regularly,
• Choose a food that supports the skin and coat (for example, Riverwood Scottish Salmon & Whitefish with Herring) or provide salmon oil alongside the food (see Riverwood Norwegian Salmon Oil here).

You now know what a hotspot is and how you can reduce the chance of your dog developing one. Nutrition also has a significant effect on the quality of a dog's skin and coat. Riverwood Scottish Salmon & Whitefish with Herring was specially developed for dogs with skin and/or coat problems. View the product Riverwood Scottish Salmon & Whitefish with Herring here.

Many dogs already enjoy Riverwood every day. Would you like your dog to enjoy our delicious foods too, and are you curious which variety would suit your dog best? Answer a few questions here and order an affordable trial pack right away.