Anybody Know Anything About "Hot Spots?"

[jcj528]

Zack has a "hot spot" on his hip. He's never had one before. Zoey has had a couple over the years so I have a spray that has worked on hers. But it hasn't helped Zack. Zoey's were generally caused by a flea sensitivity. But all three dogs have been treated with Advantix (I think that's spelled wrong). So I am a bit confused as to what's happening.

I guess we'll have truck off to the vet on Saturday. Vibes for my buddy, please?

[disraeli ears]

Rhys had a flea allergy, too. He developed these crusty, weepy spots under his fur. The vet said that, even though he had been treated for fleas, his swimming was wearing down the medicine too much. He didn't have fleas, but they would get on him (at the dog park) just enough to irritate him.

So I had to switch him from combo flea/tick protection to JUST flea protection (stronger) for the summer.

Don't know if yours swim or anything...:LAUGH: but here are vibes for Zack anyway. +WUBCLUB+

[glencorgi]

Yea, I know a little. :(

Allergies can be a cause; fleas (as have been mentioned), food, contact allergies and dampness, anything that will get them chewing. Get some Gold Bond Powder and sprinkle on it, that really helps to dry them up and is soothing too.

Debbie

[taflar]

Yeah, I know way too much about hot spots. Tango would get them, turned out she was allergic to meat based dog food. Until I found a vegetarian food for her I became an expert at curing hot spots.

I don't go to the vet for hot spots. I can treat and heal them as good as the vets can.

My favorite remedy and the one that works the best for me is Gold Bond powder. I don't shave the spot I just sprinkle the powder on and rub it in gently. It drys the spot out and that helps it to heal. Drying the spot is the key to healing it. And the Gold Bond powder stops the itching so the dog stops biting and licking it. That also helps it to heal.

I have a post I wrote from Corgi L that I will post and hopefully it won't be too long. More than you ever wanted to know about hot spots.

Peggy

[taflar]

I compiled this when I was treating Tango's hot spots. Here's more than you ever wanted to know about hot spots. Remedies follow:

I got permission from the author to post the following. He says that
only one of the remedies is his, all the others were submitted by
various members of the Golden Retriever list.

HOT SPOTS-Acute Moist Dermatitis

contributed by John MacdonaldùCuordha Goldens
Email: cuordha@chebucto.ns.ca

This disorder is caused by self induced trauma as the patient
bites, rubs, or scratches at a part of its body in an attempt to
alleviate some pain or itch. The majority of cases are
complications of flea bite hypersensitivity, but allergic skin
diseases, other ectoparasites, anal sac problems, inflammations
such as otitis externa (inflamed ears), foreign bodies in the coat,
irritant substances, dirty unkempt coats, psychoses and painful
musculoskeletal disorders may be underlying causes. Owners
usually believe that some factor producing a diet that is too rich
may create the problem, but only a severe, essential fatty acid
deficiency has been shown to be a cause. These factors initiate the
itch-scratch cycle. The intense trauma produces sever large lesions
in a few hours. Animal particularly disposed to this problems are
those with a heavy coat that has a dense undercoat, such as Golden
and Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Collies and St.
Bernards. The problem is much more common in hot humid weather and
may have something to do with lack of ventilation in the coat.
A typical lesion is red, moist and oozing. There is a crust of
proteinaceous exudate in the center of the area surrounded by a
halo of red skin. The hair is lost from the area, but the margins
are sharply defined from the surrounding normal skin and hair. The
lesion progresses rapidly if appropriate therapy is not started at
once. Much pain is associated with the local area, and this may
eventually deter the animal from further trauma. Lesions are often
located in close proximity to the primary painful process, i.e.,
near infected ears, anal sacs and flea bites on the rump.

A study of the type of bacteria found in lesions of pyotraumatic
dermatitis reveals multiple organisms, with Staphyloccus
intermedius being the most common. It also showed that the St.
Bernard and Golden Retriever dogs tended to have a deeper pus
producing infection. Diagnosis is made by the history of acute
onset, the physical appearance, and the association with a more
or less primary cause. If the condition is persistent or recurrent,
consider bacterial hair follicle inflammation, fungal infections,
demodex infections, yeast infections or neoplasia (lymphosarcoma or
sweat gland carcinoma) as differential diagnoses. True pyotraumatic
dermatitis is a relatively flat, eroded to ulcerated lesion.
Lesions that are thickened plaque like and bordered by papules
(bumps) and or pustules should always suggest a primary eruptive
process, especially a staphylococcal infection. Therapy is
effective if applied promptly and vigorously. Sedation or
anesthesia is usually needed to allow thorough cleansing of the
area. Cleansing is the first and most important step in local
therapy. The hair is clipped away from the lesion and the skin is
thoroughly cleaned with a mild antiseptic solution or scrub such as
povidone-iodine. A single application of 5% tannic acid and 5%
salicylic acid in 70% alcohol is used as an astringent. This
can be followed by wet soaks with 5% aluminum acetate (Domeboro
solution) applied three or four times daily for 10 minutes each
time. This action is drying, astringent and antiseptic. Topical
application of antibiotic cream three times daily is useful. Five
days of systemic corticosteroids in anti-inflammatory doses
(prednisolone 1.1 mg/kg SID) is useful in alleviating the pruritis,
pain and local inflammation. As the lesion becomes dry and
crusted, topical medication should be changed to softening creams
and emollients. At the time of the initial treatment, it is most
important to find the predisposing factor and eliminate or modify
it to stop the patient's reflex self-trauma. The treatment to
accomplish this varies, depending on the primary cause.

Clients always clamor for ways to prevent future lesions, since
some unfortunate dogs may have repeated problems. There is no
simple means of prevention. However, constant attention to
grooming, hygiene, baths and parasite control and periodic cleaning
of the ears and anal sacs will help. Owners should be particularly
vigilant during periods of hot, humid weather. Although diet is
often suggested as a cause, except for severe fatty acid
deficiency or food hypersensitivity this has never been proven.

The above article was taken from "Small Animal Dermatology",
Fourth edition and was authored by Muller, Kirk and Scott.

Following are a number of hot spot remedies which have been
successfully used. These remedies were all submitted by various
members of the Golden-L list.

Shave the hair from the area and apply hydrogen peroxide (first
time only; H2O2 will kill new cells as well as bacteria and other
nasties), then Sulfodene, an amber liquid that smells yucky. Apply
the Sulfodene twice a day until the hot spot heals. Put the dog in
an E-collar (I call it an Easter bonnet) to keep the dog from
licking or biting at the sore.

Brew a regular Lipton tea bag in about 3 ounces of water in the
Microwave for about 10 minutes. Take the teabag and when it is
still very warm but not hot enough to burn, apply it to the hot
spot. Keep applying the tea bag for about 15 minutes, Repeat
application about 4 or 5 times a day. The warmth of the tea bag
soothes the pain. After the second application, there was an
indication of the drying effect of the tannic acid in the
tea. The principle behind this is the combined warmth and the
drying agent of the tannic acid in the tea leaves..

Tea Tree Oil (or Melaleuca Oil) is GREAT stuff. I use it for hot
spots and for a million things on humans as well. It is
antibacterial, antifungal, penetrates below the surface of the
skin, soothes the skin (try it on a burn-it's great) taking the
pain/itch away instantly, is slightly drying(great for hot spots)
and TASTES AWFUL. I haven't found a dog that will lick a spot with
Melaleuca oil on it yet.

There is a product put out by Farnham Labs. called Blue Lotion
Wound Dressing and Antiseptic and is used for treatment of sores on
horses. If you catch the hot spot in its early stages when it is
still smaller than a dime, application of Blue Lotion three times
a day will usually have it dried up in two days and scabbed over.
Anything bigger than this requires something else.

Here's my favorite hot spot remedy. I clip off the hair, clean the
area with peroxide, and then spray on Terra Cortril spray,
available from Foster & Smith. That spray will usually clear it up
in a couple of days. Also, at least for my guys, it must not taste
very palatable, because they never try to lick the area once I
spray it on.

I've had good luck packing the hot spot with Gold Bond Powder,
provided it's a small hot spot and I've caught it early.

I have three goldens and live in South Florida. With our heat and
humidity we are hot spot experts. 'Mineral Ice' works very well to
dry them up within a day or two. In many cases they are dry
overnight. It does help to trim the fur first to air it out and get
better coverage.

I've been told to clip the fur and apply a solution of betadine and
water to the area once a day. This has worked successfully with my
current foster dog who has extensive hot spots on his back and
stomach. He is also on antibiotics.

For hot spots I like the Gentocin spray. I also trim the hair
around it. If I catch it soon enough, Gentocin also seems to help
the rather frequent outbreaks of Staph on her belly (allergy
-related). It has saved us from putting her on systemic antibiotics
this winter while we have been giving her allergy shots.

Shave the affected area so the air can get at it, clean it with
peroxide and then use a topical antibiotic powder such as Eye and
Wound Powder.

Still another treatment I've heard of is to put Desenex foot powder
on the hot spot. Sounds crazy but Desenex is a zinc based compound
and has good drying properties. Sounds to me like it would be good
for small spots but when we get to the large ones the itch drives
the poor dog crazy and good old Cortisone comes to the rescue to
relieve the itch and then I would get my vet to prescribe

One last suggestion is to give the hot spot a thorough cleaning ,
remove the hair from around it and apply Nu-Skin to it.

To summarize all of the suggestions, first isolate the spot by
removing the hair, clean it thoroughly with hydrogen peroxide, and
apply the treatment of choice - Gentocin spray, Terr- Cotril, or
whatever. The treatment should ideally contain antibiotic and a
drying agent. For severe hot spots cortisone is recommended to
remove the severe itching.
=================
More remidies that I've collected from various sources- if any are
duplicats of the above article- I didn't keep track of what's where.

Oh, also, I don't shave my guys to treat hot spots. Shaving the area
first is the recommended first step. However, if you are showing the dog
they can be treated without shaving.

-50% Apple Cider Vinegar, 50% water mixed in a spray bottle, and sprayed
on the spot several times a day.

-rub in iodex ointment (from druggist) several times a day. This has
iodine in it so you might not want to use it on the white areas before a
show. Not easily found- you may have to ask for it.

- "Terra-Cortril Spray," which is made by Pfizer. Available in the dog
catalogs or at your vets. Spray it on the hot spot, ensuring you go out
past the outer edge of the hot spot, and within a few hours, hot spots
almost always have already started to shrink. Spray 2-3 times a day.

- Vitamin E oil--just prick a capsule squeeze out the oil-- mix with
something they don't like as they will lick this off.

-'Caldesene' powder...it's made for diaper rash (another 'moist sore').
(can be found at grocery stores) Once the hot spot has healed, rubbing
Noxema into the skin daily will keep the skin supple, and also deters
further licking...both will help the coat grow back in more rapidly!
If you get the powder on right away, you shouldn't lose coat at all.

- Gold Bond Medicated Powder. Just sprinkle on the hot spot and work in.
(it's also good for when they lick the paws and the paws become raw.)

- Pepto-Bismo applied to the hot spot also helps neutralize irritations.

-to promote hair re-growth take a vit E capsule and squeez out the
contents into a small dab of A&D ointment (its available in the baby
section for use with diaper rash). Mix together spread it on over the
bare 2-3 times a day. This person suggests waiting about a week or when
there is a full, hard scab over the hot spot before I started applying
it over the area.

Good luck! There MUST be something in there that will work!

Peggy

[jcj528]

Thanks, Peggy amd Debbie.

With your input, I'm sure we can get this thing under control. I'll be off to get the Gold Bond Powder in a few minutes.

Thanks, again for your help!

Zack say thanks too!

[taflar]

Thanks, Peggy amd Debbie.

With your input, I'm sure we can get this thing under control. I'll be off to get the Gold Bond Powder in a few minutes.

Thanks, again for your help!

Zack say thanks too!

Zack will be much happier when they stop itching. You might have to put it on a few times a day. At least twice a day. I think it's wonderful and has never let me down yet!

Peggy