Help with healing a hot spot

[carlycorgi]

Carly had been licking, unknown to me, a 1-2 inch area on her left front paw. By the time I noticed, all the fur was gone and she was working on the skin! I took her to the vet, and he said the best thing was to put the plastic collar back on to dry it out and let it heal. I also dabbed it with witch hazel to soothe it.

I don't know what may have started her licking this area, other than it is where the IV was for her knee surgery. But the fur had all grown back, no indication of a scratchy area.

Problem: if the collar isn't on, she immediately licks it. A scab is forming, but how am I to stop her from licking? How do I get her to leave it alone so it can heal properly? Any luck with bandages? It's a big, ugly scab on the inside of her leg.

Thanks!

[Bobbie]

Try Benadryl.

[funnyfarm]

The cone of shame is truly the best idea, but to give it a break I have used baby socks taped on..they can lick and chew at it, but it takes a while to get through it and by then you can put the cone back on. You also can apply a variety of anti-chew solutions and gels to the area, but most corgis laugh at such attempts lol!
Soothing it with witch hazel is a good idea, but ultimately it has to dry and begin to heal so the hair can grow back. Plus you kinda need to figure out why it happened in the first place so you can prevent it from happening again. Sometimes dogs will do this due to an allergy or anxiety...
Wouldn't it be nice if they could just talk!
Good luck:TWITCHY:

[Westwood]

There are soft collars and blow up collars you can buy that are slightly less horrible than the plastic ones. We got a soft one from Petco for Henry when he was neutered and he seemed a little less miserable lol.

I've also used Benadryl and baby socks when he was licking one foot a little too much, but I wouldn't leave the sock on too long as I think you want the scab exposed to the air so it heals faster. The bitter spray we have says it can be used right on the skin, but I would maybe double check with your vet. I've sprayed it on Henry's feet before and it did deter him, but he didn't have a sore or a scab.

[Kassie]

We use Gold Bond powder, helps heal and keeps them from licking.

[midgesmom]

I've used a similar method to the baby sock, only "industrial strength" due to Midge's determined streak. We wrapped it in gauze and then duct tape. That kept the gauze clean and dry for walks and kept her from working it off. Every other day I cut it off and put a clean one on. I'd try the baby sock first if you're going that route, and save the duct tape for the last resort - Carly may be more cooperative than Midge.

[Corgifan]

There's an over the counter cortisone spray you can get for hot spots. I've had good success with it in the past but when the dogs are persistent with the licking the cone of shame is the best way to keep them away from the spot until it heals.

Doug

[2CrazyCorgis]

I've always had good luck with tea tree oil for hot spots. Won't keep her from licking it though, gotta go with the cone for that one.

[gogogiraffes]

Once it heals, you can try some capzasin gel. The ones in the red, with only capzasin as the only active ingredient. NEVER put it on an open wound though as it burns. But it'll give them a soothing effect. It's what the allergist has us doing for Gizmo.

But please, remember NEVER on an open sore.

[Anniesmom]

The vet gave us a spray called Chew Gard. It is stronger than Bitter Apple and seemed to work w/ Annie. I do think it stung when the area was first being treated. Thank goodness we never had to do the baby sock or the cone of shame.

Good luck as these guys can chew something open really quickly!

[carlycorgi]

Thanks guys. I truely hope it is not an allergy.

Gold Bond is on my list to get when the streets are less difficult to maneuver. I have Tea Tree oil but was told to dilute it first? It stops the infection and dries it out? I tried the gauze method last night to give her a break from the cone, but in five minutes it was off. She chose to remove the gauze instead of working on the tempting beef bone! The area must really be bothering her. I wonder if wiping it down with the witch hazel is helping to dry it out?

Tonight I noticed that there is flaking dry skin in patches above the armpit with reddish skin areas too. Is this normal? Could there be another rash or skin infection of some kind?

Guess it back to the vet tomorrow for another look. By now, the cone is just another part of life. She is very good at enduring! Carly is NOT more cooperative than Midge! I'm sure they are equals in this category!

[taflar]

Thanks guys. I truely hope it is not an allergy.

Hot spots can be caused by many things. An allergy is just one of the things that can cause a hot spot.

If there's a scab that means it's on it's way to healing. Usually anyway.

The trick to healing a hot spot is to dry it out and stop it from itching. If it's itching or hurts her she'll continue to chew it. The Gold Bond powder stops the itching and dries it out. Another remedy I've had very good success with is Wham! spray made by Nature's Specialties. (It has Tea Tree oil in it.)

I wonder if wiping it down with the witch hazel is helping to dry it out?

I suspect that might help too. Maybe try putting some in a spray bottle and spray it on. I've found that spraying something on a dog's injury seems to hurt worse than wiping something on it.

Tonight I noticed that there is flaking dry skin in patches above the armpit with reddish skin areas too. Is this normal? Could there be another rash or skin infection of some kind?

A hot spot is moist dermatitis. So if the rash is dry, it's not a hot spot, or at least not yet. It could be just skin irritation. Try the Gold Bond powder in the area and see if that helps.

Peggy